The U16 footballers journeyed north to Kanturk for their first league game of the season against Wolfe Tones on Sunday morning last. On a firm pitch the Blues got a dream start when corner forward Cathal McCarthy goaled for Bantry on the first attack. Things were looking good when Seán O’Leary hit a second goal shortly afterwards. Wolfe Tones settled to the task and began to get the edge at midfield. They pulled back three points and during this period Bantry were kept in touch only by some wayward shooting from the home team and some great goalkeeping from Michael Casey. As halftime approached Michael made a point blank save but the referee deemed it to be a foot block and gave a penalty. Kanturk converted this, despite Casey getting a touch and when they got another point from play it left the score at the break, Wolfe Tones 1-04; Bantry Blues 2-0.
After a robust halftime team talk and with some fresh legs from the bench, Bantry hit the ground running from the restart. Killian O’Sullivan came back on at midfield, having had to come off in the first half and the Blues started to notch up the scores. Shane McCarthy got the equalising point and Shane Keevers put them in front with another. Substitute Aaron Barry hit the crossbar and was unlucky not to score a few moments later when his shot at goal went narrowly wide. Shane Keevers stretched the lead when he shot to the net and Blues looked to be coasting when midfielder Seán O’Leary added a point. However Wolfe Tones had other ideas and during a period of dominance, scored three points without reply to pull the margin back to two points. Bantry dug in and were rewarded when Shane McCarthy popped over his second point with what proved to be the final score of the game. At the final whistle Bantry took the points on a score of Bantry Blues 3-04, Wolfe Tones 1-07.
This game was typical early season fare with both teams struggling to find their rhythm at times. A squad of twenty one players from Bantry travelled with everyone getting a good period of game time. Whereas there is still plenty of work for this team to do, it bodes well for the coming season to be able to say that everyone in the squad was well capable of contributing to a good team effort. In the backs Tim Cronin stood out along with Anthony Hanley, Seán O’Leary worked his socks off at midfield and up front Shane McCarthy and Shane Keevers looked liveliest.
Team: Michael Casey, Stephen Hanley, Owen O’Flynn, Sean Hodnett, Anthony Hanley, Tim Cronin, Paddy O’Shea, Seán O’Leary (1-1), Killian O’Sullivan, Busby Clayton, John Lavin, Shane McCarthy (0-2), Shane Keevers (1-1), Mark Keohane, Cathal McCarthy (1-0). Nicholas O’Sullivan, Liam Downey, Phillip Dowling, Arthur Coakley, Ben O’Shea, Aaron Barry.
After a robust halftime team talk and with some fresh legs from the bench, Bantry hit the ground running from the restart. Killian O’Sullivan came back on at midfield, having had to come off in the first half and the Blues started to notch up the scores. Shane McCarthy got the equalising point and Shane Keevers put them in front with another. Substitute Aaron Barry hit the crossbar and was unlucky not to score a few moments later when his shot at goal went narrowly wide. Shane Keevers stretched the lead when he shot to the net and Blues looked to be coasting when midfielder Seán O’Leary added a point. However Wolfe Tones had other ideas and during a period of dominance, scored three points without reply to pull the margin back to two points. Bantry dug in and were rewarded when Shane McCarthy popped over his second point with what proved to be the final score of the game. At the final whistle Bantry took the points on a score of Bantry Blues 3-04, Wolfe Tones 1-07.
This game was typical early season fare with both teams struggling to find their rhythm at times. A squad of twenty one players from Bantry travelled with everyone getting a good period of game time. Whereas there is still plenty of work for this team to do, it bodes well for the coming season to be able to say that everyone in the squad was well capable of contributing to a good team effort. In the backs Tim Cronin stood out along with Anthony Hanley, Seán O’Leary worked his socks off at midfield and up front Shane McCarthy and Shane Keevers looked liveliest.
Team: Michael Casey, Stephen Hanley, Owen O’Flynn, Sean Hodnett, Anthony Hanley, Tim Cronin, Paddy O’Shea, Seán O’Leary (1-1), Killian O’Sullivan, Busby Clayton, John Lavin, Shane McCarthy (0-2), Shane Keevers (1-1), Mark Keohane, Cathal McCarthy (1-0). Nicholas O’Sullivan, Liam Downey, Phillip Dowling, Arthur Coakley, Ben O’Shea, Aaron Barry.