Bantry Blues U16 footballers must do it all again on
Saturday next in Cloughduv at 2.00 after playing out a thrilling draw in their
County Final against Mallow at that venue on Sunday last.
In a downpour, it was first blood to Mallow when they
pointed from a free. Bantry had a couple of attacks following this and took the
lead when a 45 from Tim Foley dropped in around the square and Arthur Coakley
finished it to the net. Shane McCarthy and Nicholas O’Sullivan both had options
at goal following this but wisely took their points to put Blues 1-02 to 0-1
up. Mallow pulled one back from a free but Tim Foley and Shane McCarthy
extended Bantry’s lead further with points from play. Once again Mallow were
accurate from the placed ball as halftime approached but this was cancelled out
by a Daniel Murray point before the break leaving the score Bantry Blues 1-05,
Mallow 0-3 as the teams made for the dressing rooms.
Mallow upped the tempo from the restart and were
first on the board with another pointed free. Daniel Murray replied with one
from play but then followed a period when Mallow grabbed the initiative and
pulled back three points on the trot, remarkably all from frees. Bantry needed
to get back into the game and it looked like captain Shane McCarthy had stopped
the rot when he ran at the Mallow defence and hit a cracking goal. He followed
up with a great point to put Blues two goals clear with ten minutes to go.
However Mallow were dogged in their determination and continued to press
forward. They were rewarded with a goal and now one score separated the sides.
Bantry hearts sank as the North Cork side hit
a second to level the game with minutes left. The Blues showed their fighting
spirit by winning possession and pushing forward in search of the winner and it
looked like it had come when Tim Foley shot a point in injury time. But the
drama was not over and in the sixth minute of injury time Mallow were awarded a
free which they converted to leave the sides tied at 2-08 each as the ref blew
time from the kick out.
Credit is due to both teams for the match they served
up in the conditions. All fifteen of Bantry Blues players gave outstanding
performances but the conditions were energy sapping and mistakes were
inevitable from both sides. It would be hard to single out individuals as every
man battled to the end but captain Shane McCarthy was a constant thorn in the
Mallow team’s side with his handling, speed and shooting.
Team: Michael Casey, Fionn O’Driscoll, Ronan
O’Mahony, Savo Dragos, Sean Hodnett, Kieran Hanley, Owen O’Flynn, Killian
O’Sullivan, Gavin Cronin, Arthur Coakley (1-0), Tim Foley (0-2), Shane Keevers,
Nicholas O’Sullivan (0-1), Shane McCarthy (1-03), Daniel Murray (0-2). Subs: Michael
Healy, Aaron Barry, Patrick Casey, James Lavin, Sean Thornton, Russell Barry, Eoghan
O’Shea, Jack McCarthy, Aiden O’Sullivan, Barry O’Sullivan.
The club would ask that everyone possible travel and
shout on the lads this Saturday as they go to finish the job off and bring the
cup back. Come on the Blues!