Sean Carthy being Presented with Momento by Underage Chairman Eamon McCarthy.
Bantry’s U16 footballers are through to the
county final after overcoming Glanmire by the narrowest of margins in
Castletown-Kinneigh on Saturday last. Despite conceding two goals in the first
half due to defensive errors they were still level at half time at 0-9 to 2-03.
After the break both teams both teams really went for it but great blocking and
defensive work by the Bantry’s backs led by Tim Cronin and Eoin Lynch kept
Glanmire at bay. However the concession of a third goal put Blues behind but
Seán O’Leary and Tim Foley drove the team on to get back on level terms with a
few minutes to go. With the game on a knife edge Tim Foley landed a sideline
ball into the square. Substitute Cathal McCarthy won it and passed to Anthony
Hanley who scored the point to win the game for Bantry. Final score: Bantry
Blues 0-16, Glanmire 3-06.
This hard fought win was a result of great
defensive work throughout the game by Bantry along with good displays in the
forwards by Mark Keohane and Daniel Murphy and the freetaking of Tim Foley. The
scorers were Tim Foley (0-10), Daniel Murphy (0-2) and Shane McCarthy, Mark
Keohane, Darren Cronin and Anthony Hanley with a point apiece. The team will
now play Clonakilty in the final on Sunday, October 14th in
Drimoleague.
In U13 football, Blues beat O Donovan Rossa
to qualify for a West Cork semi final but lost to Sam Maguire’s by 0-16 to
2-03. The Bantry lads tried hard throughout and came within three points of
their opponents in the second half but Dunmanway finished strongly. In goals
John Enderson was superb as was Sean O’Regan. Blues scorers were Shane Murray (1-0), Matthew Barry (1-01), Shane
Mc Sweeney (0-1) and Billy Foley (0-1). Dylan Carthy was unlucky to have to go
off injured in his last game before his family heads to the U.S. He has been with this group
since he was U8 and will be a big loss.
The U12 hurlers had
two games last week. On Tuesday evening they played Sam Maguire’s in Dunmanway
and were unlucky to lose by a point in a very close game. On Saturday morning
they played their last hurling game of the year against Gabriel Og and finished the season with a good win. Among those who
played in both games were James O’Shea, Billy Foley, Greg Cotter, Oisin
Bennett, Conor O’Shea, James Buckley, Mike Hanley, David O’Sullivan, Tim
O’Driscoll, Shane Crowley, Tom Flynn, Charlie Lavin, James Crowley, Mike Cronin, Keelan O’Sullivan, Luke O’Shaughnessy,
Cillian O’Crulai, Patrick Barry.
A large crowd gathered at the club house on
Friday evening last to show their appreciation for Sean Carthy who leaves for
the U.S.
in the next few weeks. Sean has done a huge amount of work in terms of coaching
for Blues underage teams, work in Bantry schools and with Carbery development
squads. His unique style and well prepared sessions brought benefit to every
team he was involved with and he will be missed by all in Bantry Blues.
Underage chairman Eamon McCarthy presented Sean with a clock inscribed with the
words “Sean, A Gifted Coach To All Ages. Thank You From Gorma Beanntraí”. Sean’s
son Dylan played in both the U14 football and hurling West
Cork finals this year and will also be a loss to the club. All in
Bantry Blues wish Sean, his wife Bina and Dylan the very best of luck with
their move.