Bantry Blues U16
footballers got through the first round of their championship on Monday evening
last when they just held out to win by two points against Beara in a thrilling
game in Aughaville.
Daniel Murray
opened the scoring for Bantry with a point which was cancelled out almost
immediately with a Beara reply. Blues continued to attack and Daniel Murray
struck again, this with a goal. Moments later Killian O’Sullivan laid on a pass
to Shane McCarthy who hit the net to stretch Bantry’s lead. The next spell
belonged to Beara when they kicked three points to bring the margin back to the
minimum. Bantry responded and hit six unanswered points through Ronan O’Mahony,
Nicholas O’Sullivan (2), Daniel Murray and two frees from Arthur Coakley. Beara
replied with a point but the hard working Killian O’Sullivan hit back with
another, this followed up by a fine Shane Keevers effort straight from a
Michael Casey clearance. Beara finished the first half scoring with a point to
leave Bantry ahead by 2-09 to 1-5 at the break.
Beara were first
to score after the restart with a point but Bantry looked to be in command when
they knocked over three points on the trot, two from Shane McCarthy and an
Arthur Coakley free. However as was the story of this game, Beara never lay
down. They came back with two points and a goal to pull the deficit back to
four. Daniel Murray looked to have stemmed the tide when he bagged his second
goal but Beara continued to come. Bantry looked to have run themselves to a
standstill on the hot evening as Beara scored 1-3 without reply to bring
themselves to a point behind. The game was up for grabs in the closing minutes
but it was full forward Daniel Murray who snapped the point to put two between
the sides and that was the way it finished at Bantry Blues 3-13, Beara 3-11.
This was a
hugely exciting game with Bantry pushed all the way to the final whistle. It
was a credit to both teams on a very hot evening with great football from both
sides. Every Blues player worked their socks off with Owen O’Flynn at full back, Kieran Hanley at
centre and Sean Hodnett in defence leading the way. Killian O’Sullivan and
Gavin Cronin in the middle of the field were immense with Nicholas O’Sullivan
and Daniel Murray very effective in the full forward line. Once again Shane
McCarthy with his darting runs and overall speed proved a handful for the
opposing defence.
Team: Michael Casey, Fionn O’Driscoll, Owen
O’Flynn, Patrick Casey, Ronan O’Mahony(0-1), Kieran Hanley, Sean Hodnett,
Killian O’Sullivan(0-1), Savo Dragas, Arthur Coakley(0-3,F), Shane Keevers(0-1),
Nicholas O’Sullivan(0-2), Shane McCarthy(1-2), Daniel Murray(2-3). Subs: Aaron
Barry, Jack McCarthy, James Lavin, Aiden O’Sullivan, Michael Healy, Sean
Thornton, Russell Barry.
On the previous Friday evening this team had
made the journey to Ovens to play Eire Óg in the league. In a game where Bantry
made a late surge to level matters at the death, a draw was probably the
fairest result.
Bantry were behind by a point at half time,
five points to four, Shane McCarthy, Arthur Coakley (2) and Jack McCarthy the
scorers. The opening period of the second half was even enough until Eire Óg
were awarded a penalty which they converted to put them four points ahead.
However Blues fought back through points from Tim Foley and Shane McCarthy to
gain parity at 1-10 apiece at the final whistle.
Team: Michael Casey, Sean Hodnett, Owen
O’Flynn, Eoghan O’Shea, Ronan O’Mahony, Killian O’Sullivan, Aiden O’Sullivan,
Kieran Hanley, Gavin Cronin(0-1), Nicholas O’Sullivan, Arthur Coakley(0-2),
Jack McCarthy (0-1), Patrick Casey, Shane McCarthy(1-3), Aaron Barry, Subs:
Philip Dowling, Tim Foley(0-3,1F), James Lavin, Russell Barry, Jack O’Neill.
On Wednesday, July 3rd the Bantry
U14 hurlers went down in the West Cork final
played in Aughaville against neighbours St Colums. Missing a few players they
put up a good fight but were foiled time and again by the excellent Colums
keeper. In this 12-a-side format every player tried his heart out with
especially good performances from Tom Flynn and Mike Hanley.
Team: James McGlinchey, Shane Buckley, Kevin
Coakley, Mike Hanley, David O’Sullivan, Eoghan
Minihane, Shane McSweeney(0-1), Matthew Barry, Tom Flynn(0-1), Billy
Foley(1-04), Ronan Shiels, James O’Shea. Eric Dowling.