Great Battling Performance by U12 Footballers in Dunmanway

Dunmanway on last Sunday evening was the venue for the meeting of Bantry Blues U12 footballers with Sam Maguire’s in the league semi final. After a great battling performance from the Blues they went down by 2-07 to 1-5.

Up against a physically much bigger side Bantry held their own in the first quarter. Maguire’s went two points up early on but Blues fought back with scores from Paddy O’Neill and Shane Crowley. However the home team finally broke down the Bantry Blues defence getting two goals to leave the half time score 2-05 to 0-2.

After the half time team talk, the Bantry lads took to the field with a resolve that they were not going down easily. They piled on the pressure but the excellent Dunmanway keeper made save after save. Ayrton Doyle reduced the deficit with a pointed free and eventually Blues made the breakthrough with the smallest man on the field, Aiden O’Sullivan beating the Sam Maguire’s goalie from close range. The lads in blue gave a great second half performance with further points from Ciaran Thornton and Ayrton Doyle but in the end the comeback too much to ask for.

Great displays all around with Matthew Harley very safe in goals, Jack O’Brien, Ted Wiseman, Greg Cotter, Paddy O’Neill and Charlie Lavin very strong in defence. Midfielders Shane Crowley and Ayrton Doyle fought to the end and up front Ciaran Thornton, Kevin Clifford, Daniel Downey, Aiden O’Sullivan and Keelan Lynch were tigerish.

Team: Matthew Harley, Charlie Lavin, Greg Cotter, Ted Wiseman, Paddy O’Neill (0-1), Jack O’Brien, Shane Crowley (0-1, F), Ayrton Doyle (0-2, 1F), Daniel Downey, Ciaran Thornton (0-1), Kevin Clifford, Aiden O’Sullivan (1-0), Keelan Lynch.

Great Day Out for U10 Footballers at Monster Blitz in Clonakilty

Bantry Blues U10 footballers who took part in the Go Games Monster Blitz in Clonakilty on Saturday, October 12^th.

On Saturday last Bantry Blues U10 footballers travelled to Clonakilty to take part in the final Go Games Monster Blitz of the year, hosted by Coiste na n-Óg. The group of twenty one players who travelled split into two teams to play three games each in the Go-Games format. Team 1 played Kilmacabee, Caheragh and St Marys, while Team 2 were up against Ilen Rovers, Carbery Rangers and Clonakilty. Both teams gave impressive performances, putting the skills they had learned over the year into practise with some fantastic displays of passing and blockdowns.

Team 2: David Shields, Oran Wiseman, James Crowley, Dara McCarthy, Daire Kingston, Noah Cronin, Cillian O'Brien, Cathal Dullea, Dara McSweeney, Ruairi O'Shea. Team 1: Eoin McCarthy, Dylan McCarthy, Vincent Kotarja, James Collins, Matthew O'Donovan, Conor Hanley, Sean Cronin, Paddy Cronin, Ronan O'Sullivan, John Crowley.

U10 mentors were Ivan Kingston, Ger O'Brien, John Cronin, Dan O'Sullivan, Eddie Wiseman and the team sponsors were Murray Bros Painters.

Club members and players parents are reminded that the Cork GAA Clubs Draw closing date is October 30^th. Fabulous prizes to be won each month, information on www.corkgaadraw.ie . To join the draw, contact Mark O'Donovan on 086 175 0764 or Eamon McCarthy on 086 228 8619. Tickets €100.00 for 12 monthly draws, payable either in one payment or €10.00 per month over 10 months by direct debit. Bantry Blues get €50.00 per ticket sold so it’s a great way of helping fund our teams, facilities etc.

Kilbree take the points in Minor Hurling League Game

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.

Team:  James Lavin, Owen O’Flynn, Eoin Lynch, Robyn McCarthy, Kieran Daly, Killian O’Sullivan, Danny Hutchinson, Seán O’Leary (1-7,7F, 1-65), Jimmy O’Leary (0-1), Sean Hodnett, Paul Hennessy (0-2), Arthur Coakley (0-1), John Lavin, Daniel Murray, Tom Daly. Subs: Sean Thornton, Aaron Barry, Ronan O’Mahony.