The 2011 County League Final between Bantry Blues and Passage was played at Macroom on Monday, March 19th. Bantry had 21 players available and togged out for the match. Blues opted to play with the wind in the first half and opened the scoring through a free from Henry Deane. Unluckily for the Bantry men however, Passage got a fortunate goal when a free came back off the upright and their centre forward was first to react and finish to the net. Despite playing against the wind, Passage dominated the first half and deservedly lead at half time on a scoreline of 1-04 to 4 points. Bantry’s four first half points came courtesy of three frees from Henry Deane and a point from play by Donal Casey.
At the beginning of the second half, Bantry selectors brought on Jimmy O’Leary and Jack McCarthy and followed this with the move of Colm O’Sullivan to midfield and Joe Murphy to full-forward. Blues continued to battle but midway through the second half, were still behind by four points when the score stood at 1-06 to 5 points. Bantry then upped a gear against the wind and kicked five unanswered points. Shane Delaney scored three excellent points from wing-back and Henry Deane converted another free and the last and winning point was scored by Donal Casey. Bantry finished much the stronger and held out for a one point victory. Final score: Bantry Blues 0-10, Passage 1-06.
Passage had dominated the game but the loss of one of their mid-fielders to injury was a big blow to them in the second-half and the fitter Bantry team overran them in the end. Bantry were poor with the wind in the opening period but there was a huge improvement in their play in the second half. Despite being behind by four points and playing against the wind they never panicked and kept plugging away, kicking points until eventually they won. Shane Delaney gave a man of the match performance from wing-back. Noel O’Flynn and Cathal Power also had excellent games at the back, as did the subs who came on. Midfield and the forwards played well and Colm O’Sullivan in particular had a great last twenty minutes. This 2011 Bantry Minor team has now won both the West Cork League Final and the County League title, so once again another cup headed for Whiddy Island in the capable hands of Connie O’Leary. Team captain Connie thanked team sponsors Biggs Supervalu, Bantry in his victory speech.
The Bantry squad lined out as follows:
Donal Casey, Cathal Power, Connie O’Leary, Noel O’Flynn, Shane Delaney, Colm O’Sullivan, Daniel Lynch, Seán O’Leary, Joe Murphy, Kevin Casey, Gavin O’Shea, Peter Kelleher, Henry Deane, Gary Hurley, Donal Casey, Jimmy O’Leary, Jack McCarthy, Brian Crowley, James Foley, Dermot Spillane, Ayrton O’Shea, Joe Piggott.
Bantry Blues U16 footballers suffered a narrow defeat on Sunday last in Wolfe Tone Park when Valley Rovers won the game with a late goal to take the league points. This was a game that Blues had lead all through and looked in a commanding position at half time. However the factors of Valley Rovers getting to grips with Bantry’s midfield in the second half and Blues failure to convert scoring chances allowed the visitors to win at the death. There was nothing lacking on the home teams part in terms of effort as everyone played their part but lessons will be learned from the defeat. On a gloriously sunny day Owen O’Flynn and Killian O’Sullivan were good at the back, midfielders Brian Murphy and Seán O’Leary worked well and the addition of Tim Foley and Darren Cronin to the attack proved very positive.
Final score: Bantry Blues 0-08, Valley Rovers 1-06.
Team: Michael Casey, Phillip Dowling, Tim Cronin, Owen O’Flynn, Busby Clayton, Killian O’Sullivan, Anthony Hanley, Brian Murphy, Seán O’Leary, Tim Foley, Mark Keohane, Shane McCarthy, Darren Cronin, John Lavin, Sean Hodnett. Shane Keevers, Aaron Barry, Arthur Coakley, Cathal McCarthy, Nicholas O’Sullivan, Michael Healy, Kieran Hanley, Liam Downey, Paddy O’Shea.
At the beginning of the second half, Bantry selectors brought on Jimmy O’Leary and Jack McCarthy and followed this with the move of Colm O’Sullivan to midfield and Joe Murphy to full-forward. Blues continued to battle but midway through the second half, were still behind by four points when the score stood at 1-06 to 5 points. Bantry then upped a gear against the wind and kicked five unanswered points. Shane Delaney scored three excellent points from wing-back and Henry Deane converted another free and the last and winning point was scored by Donal Casey. Bantry finished much the stronger and held out for a one point victory. Final score: Bantry Blues 0-10, Passage 1-06.
Passage had dominated the game but the loss of one of their mid-fielders to injury was a big blow to them in the second-half and the fitter Bantry team overran them in the end. Bantry were poor with the wind in the opening period but there was a huge improvement in their play in the second half. Despite being behind by four points and playing against the wind they never panicked and kept plugging away, kicking points until eventually they won. Shane Delaney gave a man of the match performance from wing-back. Noel O’Flynn and Cathal Power also had excellent games at the back, as did the subs who came on. Midfield and the forwards played well and Colm O’Sullivan in particular had a great last twenty minutes. This 2011 Bantry Minor team has now won both the West Cork League Final and the County League title, so once again another cup headed for Whiddy Island in the capable hands of Connie O’Leary. Team captain Connie thanked team sponsors Biggs Supervalu, Bantry in his victory speech.
The Bantry squad lined out as follows:
Donal Casey, Cathal Power, Connie O’Leary, Noel O’Flynn, Shane Delaney, Colm O’Sullivan, Daniel Lynch, Seán O’Leary, Joe Murphy, Kevin Casey, Gavin O’Shea, Peter Kelleher, Henry Deane, Gary Hurley, Donal Casey, Jimmy O’Leary, Jack McCarthy, Brian Crowley, James Foley, Dermot Spillane, Ayrton O’Shea, Joe Piggott.
Bantry Blues U16 footballers suffered a narrow defeat on Sunday last in Wolfe Tone Park when Valley Rovers won the game with a late goal to take the league points. This was a game that Blues had lead all through and looked in a commanding position at half time. However the factors of Valley Rovers getting to grips with Bantry’s midfield in the second half and Blues failure to convert scoring chances allowed the visitors to win at the death. There was nothing lacking on the home teams part in terms of effort as everyone played their part but lessons will be learned from the defeat. On a gloriously sunny day Owen O’Flynn and Killian O’Sullivan were good at the back, midfielders Brian Murphy and Seán O’Leary worked well and the addition of Tim Foley and Darren Cronin to the attack proved very positive.
Final score: Bantry Blues 0-08, Valley Rovers 1-06.
Team: Michael Casey, Phillip Dowling, Tim Cronin, Owen O’Flynn, Busby Clayton, Killian O’Sullivan, Anthony Hanley, Brian Murphy, Seán O’Leary, Tim Foley, Mark Keohane, Shane McCarthy, Darren Cronin, John Lavin, Sean Hodnett. Shane Keevers, Aaron Barry, Arthur Coakley, Cathal McCarthy, Nicholas O’Sullivan, Michael Healy, Kieran Hanley, Liam Downey, Paddy O’Shea.