Bantry Blues U13 footballers bid for a West Cork title ended in disappointment on Tuesday evening, May 15th when they lost out to a stronger Kilmeen side in the final played in Dunmanway.
In ideal conditions it was Bantry who were first to settle with a well taken point from Shane McSweeney. However Kilmeen began to win the majority of possession and had missed a couple point chances when a looping shot beat Bantry keeper Sean O’Regan to put them ahead. They followed up with a two points. Bantry battled away and Shane McSweeney was unlucky not to score when the Kilmeen goalie brought off a great save to deny him. Things were looking ominous for the Blues when Kilmeen scored their second goal and even though Liam Coakley clipped over a nice point for Bantry, Kilmeen finished the first half with a third goal to leave the score at the break Kilmeen 3-02, Bantry Blues 0-02.
Kilmeen continued their scoring ways from the restart, knocking over two points before Shane McSweeney narrowed the gap when he hit the net for Bantry. Dylan Carthy knocked over a free shortly afterwards but Kilmeen kept the scoreboard ticking over and had a good lead up at the end of the second half when Liam Minihane got the last point of the game. At the final whistle the score stood Kilmeen 4-06, Bantry Blues 1-04. The Bantry lads were disappointed that things had not gone their way in the final but can have no complaints as they came up against a stronger and more balanced Kilmeen side who deserved their U13 A West Cork title. The Blues U13 team had done well to reach the final and the experience will benefit them in the future. On a tough evening out, players who stood out for Bantry were backs Liam De La Cour, Kevin Coakley and Dylan Carthy. The midfield pairing of Eoghan Minihane and Eric Dowling tried hard and up front Billy Foley, Shane McSweeney and Shane Murray looked sharpest.
Team: Sean O’Regan, Aaron McCarthy, Liam De La Cour, Kevin Coakley, Eoin Black, Dylan Carthy (0-1,F), Jack Maguire, Eoghan Maguire (0-1), Eric Dowling, Billy Foley, Shane McSweeney (1-1), Ronan Shiels, Liam Coakley (0-1), Shane Murray, Matthew Barry. Subs (all played) Sean Downey, David Clifford, Liam Clifford, Dean Horgan, James McGlinchey, Mike Hanley, John Enderson.