U10 Hurlers Have Good Day Out In Clonakilty

Bantry’s U10 hurlers took part in the Monster Blitz in Ahamilla, Clonakilty on Saturday last. This event had eighteen teams present and was organised by the Carbery Beara GAA Games Development.

In the first game Blues faced St Colums (2) and played very well to earn a seven point win. They were up against a strong Gabriel’s side in the second game and found the going tough in the first half. With a few positional changes for the second, Bantry matched their opponents and lost by a few points in the end.

The third game proved to be a very close affair against Leap. Bantry scored three goals in this match and some great points, and were just a goal behind at the final whistle.

This was a great day out for the young hurlers of Bantry Blues. The team did very well with Conor Hanley in goals and Jayce Cronin, Jack O’Sullivan and James Collins in defence. Midfield was made up of cousins Dara and Dylan McCarthy and up front we had James Crowley, Eoin McCarthy and the Wiseman brothers Ted and Oran.

There was some great freetaking on show from Dylan McCarthy who scored six points and Dara McCarthy who hit three. Goal of the day had to go to Ted Wiseman with a great over head pull. Overall a great day out for this team.

The clubs minor footballers bowed out of the championship on Thursday evening, August 23^rd when they lost to Boherbue in Macroom. Bantry were a point behind at half time in a tight game, but it was Boherbue who pushed on to win by a margin of eleven points to eight in the end.

Mixed Fortunes in West Cork Finals

U16 Hurling West Cork Champions with coach Danny O'Leary

West Cork U16 Hurling Cup Presentation to team captain Seánie O'Leary

West Cork Football U14 Finalists, 2012

On Tuesday, August 14^th Blues U16 hurlers won the West Cork championship in a one sided final against Carbery Rangers played in Ballydehob. Bantry had four points on the board courtesy of Anthony Hanley, Sean Hodnett and two from Tim Foley before Rangers registered their only point of the first half. Tim Foley converted a free, Anthony Hanley kicked a goal and Seán O’Leary pointed to leave Bantry ahead by 1-6 to 0-1 at the break.

Blues opening three points of the second half came from placed balls before John Lavin hit one from play. Carbery Rangers had some consolation when they scored 1-3 in the closing stages as Bantry emptied the bench and at the final whistle the score stood Bantry Blues 1-12, Carbery Rangers 1-4.

Team: Cathal McCarthy, Killian O’Sullivan, Eoin Lynch, Paddy O’Shea, Tim Cronin, Shane Keevers, Seán O’Leary (0-2, F’s), Shane McCarthy, Tim Foley (0-7,4F), Sean Hodnett (0-1), Anthony Hanley (1-1), Stephen Hanley. John Lavin (0-1), Owen O’Flynn, Arthur Coakley, Kieran Hanley, James Lavin.

Ballydehob was also the venue for the much anticipated West Cork U14 football final against Castlehaven on Sunday evening last. The Haven were on the attack from the start and went into a two point lead before Daniel Murray pulled one back for Bantry. Continued pressure from Castlehaven resulted in a goal. Daniel Murray got Bantry’s second point from a free but Castlehaven hit 1-2 without reply to put them well in front. Blues started to get a grip on the game and Eoghan O’Shea broke free in front of goal only to be upended by the Haven goalkeeper. Daniel Murray’s penalty went over the bar but as Bantry continued to attack they tacked on two more points to reduce the deficit. However Castlehaven finished the half with two points to leave the score Castlehaven 2-6 to Bantry Blues 0-5 at the break.

Blues opened the second half well and opened the scoring through a Daniel Murray free. Castlehaven scored next but Bantry continued to push forward. Dylan Carthy knocked over a point and when Eoghan O’Shea was taken down in the area Dylan stepped up and put away the penalty. With a goal now between the teams Blues continued to press but could not convert their possession to scores. Castlehaven scored a point but Dylan Carthy kept the difference to a goal with his second point from play. As time ticked away it was the Haven who got the goal to put the game out of reach and run out winners in the end on a scoreline of Castlehaven 2-8, Bantry Blues 1-8.

Though Bantry fought hard and pushed Castlehaven close in the second half they sorely missed their captain Ronan O’Mahony who was unable to line out through injury. The team refused to give up and displayed a never-say-die attitude to the end.

Team: Barry O’Sullivan, Robyn McCarthy, Gavin Cronin, Kevin Coakley, Aiden O’Sullivan, Shane McSweeney, Sean Thornton, Jack McCarthy, Fionn O’Driscoll, Eoghan O’Shea, Daniel Murray (0-6, 3F, 1P), Dylan Carthy (1-2, 1P), James Lavin, Patrick Casey, Jack O’Neill. Subs used: Eric Dowling, Eoghan Minihane.    

The minor hurlers took on Sam Maguire’s in Clonakilty on Monday evening last in the West Cork championship semi-final. This proved to be a cracking game with the teams level at half time; 0-6 to 1-3, Tim Foley having scored five of Bantry’s points.

Blues pushed into the lead after the restart, a point from Jimmy O’Leary, a rasping goal from Gary Hurley and a Tim Foley free putting them 1-8 to 1-3 ahead. The Dunmanway lads got going and scored 1-2 without reply to level matters. The sides exchanged points and it was substitute Donal Casey who made the breakthrough for the Blues when he shot to the back of the net. Sam Maguire’s pulled back two points as full time approached but it was Bantry who were ahead by the minimum at the long whistle, Bantry Blues 2-9, Sam Maguire’s 2-8.

This most entertaining game was in the balance throughout with both teams giving it everything but man of the match had to be midfielder Jack McCarthy who was immense for the winners.

Cathal McCarthy, Joe Murphy, James Foley, Colm James, Killian O’Sullivan, Jimmy O’Leary (0-1), Eoin Lynch, Jack McCarthy, Noel O’Flynn, Tim Foley (0-7,6F), Gary Hurley (1-0), Shane McCarthy, Anthony Hanley, Seán O’Leary, Gerald O’Sullivan. Sub used Donal Casey (1-1).

U14 footballers into West Cork Final

Last weekend proved a successful one for the U14 and U16 football teams in their respective championships with both sides recording wins.

On Friday evening Blarney travelled to Wolfe Tone Park to take on the Blues in U16 championship. The visitors hit the first point but Bantry showed their dominance on the scoreboard with 2-04 without reply, the goals coming from corner forward Darren Cronin. Blarney knocked over two points before half time to leave the score Bantry Blues 2-04, Blarney 0-03.

From the restart Blarney pulled back another point but Tim Foley converted a free to cancel it out. Centre forward Mark Keohane shot a fine goal and Blues looked like they were on their way. However Blarney pulled back 1-02 to reduce the gap to four points. Blues got back into their stride with two points from Mark Keohane and one from Shane McCarthy. Blarney did kick another point before the end but the last score of the game from substitute Arthur Coakley left the final score Bantry Blues 3-09, Blarney 1-07.

This was a workmanlike performance from Bantry and they will face stiffer opposition in this competition than the Blarney lads.

Team: Michael Casey, Owen O’Flynn, Eoin Lynch, Phillip Dowling, Killian O’Sullivan, Tim Cronin, Paddy O’Shea, Seán O’Leary, Tim Foley (0-2,F’s), Shane Keevers, Mark Keohane (1-3), Brian Murphy, Darren Cronin (2-0), Daniel Murphy (0-1), Shane McCarthy (0-2). Subs used: Anthony Hanley, Arthur Coakley (0-1), Kieran Hanley, Stephen Hanley.  

On Saturday the U14 footballers overcame Ahan Gaels in an exciting semi final in Drimoleague. From the throw-in Ahan Gaels were on the offensive and it took a great save from goalie Barry O’Sullivan to deny them the dream start. They continued to attack and went into a two point lead before corner forward James Lavin pulled one back for the Blues. Daniel Murray equalised and converted a free to put his team into the lead. James Lavin extended Bantry’s lead when he shot a goal but soon after Gaels pulled one back to leave just a point between the teams. Just before the half time whistle Patrick Casey hit Bantry’s second goal to put Blues ahead by 2-03 to 1-02.

Daniel Murray scored the first point of the second half and followed up with a goal. When Jack McCarthy tacked on a point Blues were looking good. The sides exchanged points before Ahan Gaels hit back with a goal. Daniel Murray shot a point but Gaels goaled again to reduce the deficit to four points. Bantry were finding it hard to close out the game but when Eoghan O’Shea took a pass from James Lavin and buried it in the net the margin was back to seven points. Ahan Gaels were not finished and came back with yet another goal but a Jack O’Neill point and a goal at the end of normal time from Daniel Murray sealed the win for Bantry. The final score stood Bantry Blues 5-08, Ahan Gaels 4-03. Even though Blues finished eight points ahead the game was up for grabs throughout and Bantry will need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to overcome Castlehaven in the West Cork final.

Team: Barry O’Sullivan, Robyn McCarthy, Gavin Cronin, Kevin Coakley, Shane McSweeney, Fionn O’Driscoll, Sean Thornton, Jack McCarthy (0-1), Ronan O’Mahony, Eoghan O’Shea (1-0), Daniel Murray (2-05,1F), Dylan Carthy, James Lavin (1-01), Patrick Casey (1-0), Jack O’Neill (0-1). Sub used: Eric Dowling. Subs: Russell Barry, Matthew Barry, Liam de la Cour.