On Sunday afternoon last our minor hurlers
played a league game versus Kilbree in Wolfe Tone Park. With some players just getting
back from Dublin
in time both teams just had the numbers for the throw-in. However the game that
followed turned out to be a good even contest with Kilbree just pulling away in
the last ten minutes to secure the win.
Seán O’Leary opened the scoring with a
converted 65 with his cousin Jimmy O’Leary adding a point from play moments
later. Kilbree levelled from two placed balls but Paul Hennessy put Blues ahead
again with well taken point. Once again Seán O’Leary was accurate from a free
to put Bantry 4-2 up but Kilbree kept coming back and levelled the game at four
points each. Bantry pulled ahead by two again courtesy of Seánies freetaking
but soon after Kilbree goaled from a penalty to go ahead for the first time.
Arthur Coakley equalised with a point and Seánie put Blues ahead from a free
only for Kilbree to leave the teams level again with a pointed free just before
half time.
From the restart Bantry were on the attack
and Seán O’Leary edged his team in front again from the placed ball. A few
minutes later when Blues were awarded a 21 yard free Seánie did an “Anthony
Nash” on it and smashed to the net. Unfortunately this was cancelled out when a
long ball into the goalmouth from Kilbree slipped from James Lavin’s grasp in
the wet conditions and trickled over the line to get them back in the game.
They edged ahead, scoring the next two points but once again the teams drew
level with Paul Hennessy equalising. The sides exchanged points and with ten
minutes to go they were all square with Bantry 1-12 to Kilbree’s 2-09.
However it was the visitors who broke the
deadlock with a goal and they finished strongly with two more points to leave
the final score Bantry Blues 1-12, Kilbree 3-11.
An exciting game with good performances all
over and especially from James Lavin in goals, Robyn McCarty, Eoin Lynch and Killian O’Sullivan in
defence and the two O’Leary’s at midfield.