Friday evening last saw the visit of
Ballinascarty U13 footballers to Wolfe
Tone Park
to play the game that had been cancelled on the previous Monday due to weather.
This turned out to be a very even contest with Bantry edging it in the end by
three points.
Blues got the ideal start when Kevin
Clifford rounded the keeper and put his team a goal up for the games opening
score. Ballinascarty replied with a point but Kevin Clifford pointed off his
left to keep the goal advantage. The sides exchanged points with Shane Crowley
pointing from a free for the home side, then the team in red struck with a goal
to make it all square. Kuba Ratajczak restored Bantry’s lead with a pointed
free and a further exchange of points left the Blues ahead by the minimum at
the break, Timmy O’Driscoll getting the last score of the half. HT score 1-4 to
1-3.
Ballinascarty came out all guns blazing
after the interval and scored three quick points without reply. James Crowley’s
point for Bantry point was followed by a further 1-2 from the visitors to put
them six points ahead at 2-8 to 1-5. A goal from Billy Foley reduced the margin
but Ballinascarty pointed from a free shortly afterwards. It was time for
Bantry to fight their way back into this game and to their credit they upped
the tempo. Shane Murray struck with a goal, followed up by James Crowley’s
second point of the evening. Shane Murray hit another goal and now Blues were a
goal to the good. Ballinascarty were not gone and kicked a point but David O’Sullivan
roved forward from centre back and shot two points in succession to edge his
side further in front. Ballinascarty fought to the end and got the last point
of the game but Bantry had done enough and ran out winners by 4-8 (20) to 2-11
(17).
In a most entertaining game both sides
displayed a never-say-die attitude. In goals for Bantry, Killian Crowley was
outstanding, clearing his lines time after time. Other players who caught the
eye were Greg Cotter, Charlie Lavin, Kuba Ratajczak, Ayrton Doyle and Tom
Flynn.
Team: Killian Crowley, Greg Cotter, Billy
Foley (1-0), Shane Buckley, Paddy O’Neill, David O’Sullivan (0-2), Matthew
Harley, Kuba Ratajczak (0-1,F), Shane Crowley (0-1,F), Timmy O’Driscoll (0-1),
Shane Murray (2-0), Ayrton Doyle, James Crowley (0-2), Tom Flynn, Kevin
Clifford (1-1), Charlie Lavin, Daniel Downey, Patrick Barry, Luke
O’Shaughnessy.