Bantry Blues
minor hurlers brave bid to make the West Cork
final ended in Ballydehob when they went out to St Patricks in the replay on
Monday evening last.
St Pats opened
the scoring with a point but Blues got into gear and Paul Hennessy hit back
with a pointed free. As Bantry pressed forward, they were rewarded with a well
taken goal by Ronan O’Mahony, followed by a Seánie O’Leary point. St Patricks
pulled one back from play and then scored three points from frees to equalise.
Paul Hennessy edged Blues back in front before half time with a point from
another free to leave the score at the break, Bantry Blues 1-03, St Patricks
0-5.
The teams were
level again shortly after the restart St Pats converted a 65. Seánie O’Leary
put Bantry back in the lead again with a free but St Patricks hit back with two
points to go in front. Once again it was Seánie who pointed from play to
equalise but then St Patricks got the break they wanted when they were awarded
a penalty. They duly dispatched this to go ahead by the goal. Once again Bantry
fought back with points from Seánie O’Leary and Paul Hennessy to leave the
minimum between the sides. Unfortunately for Blues, it was St Patricks who made
the breakthrough with a goal and as the hardworking Bantry defence tired, they
tacked on three unanswered points to close the game out. As time ticked away
Bantry pressed for a goal but the last score of the game came from the superb
Seánie O’Leary and so it finished, Bantry Blues 1-08, St Patricks 2-11.
For the
spectator this was exciting fare with the lead changing hands throughout. Bantry’s
full back line of Killian O’Sullivan, Eoin Lynch and Owen O’Flynn were heroic in their
efforts. At centre back, Tim Cronin had a great game with James Foley alongside
very strong. The O’Leary cousins, Jimmy and Seánie at midfield led the fight and did everything
possible for the cause. All of the forwards tried hard against a resolute St
Patricks defence with Paul Hennessy and Ronan O’Mahony especially standing out.
Special mention must go to Cathal McCarthy in goals who was safe as ever and
his well placed puck outs were of great help to the team.
Team: Cathal McCarthy, Killian O’Sullivan, Eoin
Lynch, Owen O’Flynn, Kieran Hanley, Tim Cronin, James Foley, Seán O’Leary (0-5,
2F), Jimmy O’Leary, Paul Hennessy (0-3, 2F), Arthur Coakley, Sean Hodnett,
Shane McCarthy, John Lavin, Ronan
O’Mahony (1-0). Subs used: Donal Casey, Peter Kelleher, Kieran Daly. Paddy
O’Shea, Aaron Barry, Tom Daly, Daniel Murray, James Lavin, Danny Hutchinson.
On Saturday afternoon Blues U16 footballers
played a league fixture against Valley Rovers in Wolfe Tone Park. Bantry led by 2-04 to 0-08 at half
time with Arthur Coakley and Shane McCarthy the goalscorers. The visitors were
the stronger team in the second half and went on to record a 2-06 to 2-10 win.