Bantry Blues minor footballers had a great
start to their championship campaign when they won by a decent margin against
Macroom in Drimoleague on Sunday last.
The sides looked even in the opening
exchanges with Macroom kicking a few wides but Tim Foleys point from 45 metres
out settled the Blues. Shane McCarthy knocked over his sides second and Seán
O’Leary made it three when pointed following a pass from Shane Delaney. Macroom
opened their account but Joe Murphy capitalised on a ball from Donal Casey to
put Bantry four points to one up. Blues looked to be well on top at this stage and
Tim Foleys nearly opened the gap further when his shot came back off the
crossbar. However it was Macroom who hit the next two points to bring the
margin back to one. Bantry got back in their stride when corner forward Mark
Keohane captured Tim Foleys sideline kick and finished to the net. Joe Murphy
converted a free and then Shane Delaney ran at the Macroom defence and kicked
his side further in front. Donal Casey finished the first half scoring with a
point, to leave Blues looking good at 1-07 to 3 points in front.
Shane McCarthy showed his soccer skills
when he scored an unorthodox point from close in soon after the restart. Even
though Bantry were well ahead on the scoreboard Macroom continued to fight and
pulled back a point from a 45 following a point blank save from Michael Casey.
They kicked the next point but Peter Kelleher put an end to any comeback when
he got his side’s second goal and made the lead nine points. Mark Keohane
tacked on another point when he fielded a high ball, turned his man and shot
over the bar. Substitute Gerald O’Sullivan looked to be going all the way when
he made a great run through the heart of the Macroom defence only to be hauled
down. Tim Foley pointed the resultant free and this proved the final score of
the game with Bantry Blues 2-10 to 0-5 at the final whistle.
As a spectacle the game was closer than the
score suggested with the Bantry defence having to be on their toes. In that
department Jimmy O’Leary was rock solid in the corner, with Killian O’Sullivan
giving a sweeping display in the half back line. Seán O’Leary put in a very
solid hour at midfield and with every forward scoring it was a satisfying day
out for management and supporters.
Team: Michael Casey, Jimmy O’Leary, Eoin Lynch, Ayrton O’Shea, Killian
O’Sullivan, Tim Cronin, Anthony Hanley, Seán O’Leary (0-1), Joe Murphy
(0-2,1F), Tim Foley (0-2,1F), Peter Kelleher (1-0), Shane Delaney (0-1), Shane
McCarthy (0-2), Donal Casey (0-1), Mark Keohane (1-1). Subs: Stephen Hanley, John Lavin, Brian Murphy, Gerald O’Sullivan, Owen
O’Flynn, Arthur Coakley.
Later on
Sunday evening, the U13 footballers went down to a strong St Brogans side in
the championship game played in Dunmanway.