Bantry Blues 0-05 Nemo Rangers 2-13

In the end, it was something of a canter for Nemo Rangers as they claimed a 12th Cork County U21AFC title against Bantry Blues at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

While they trailed 0-2 to 0-1 after 11 minutes, once Luke Connolly’s goal put them 1-2 to 0-2 ahead on 16 they began to dominate and, bar a brief suggestion of a Bantry revival at the start of the second half, the outcome was never in doubt.
Central to the victory was the excellent display of captain David Nation, included as a late change despite suffering from a cruciate injury. His aerial ability was key, especially in turning the momentum in the middle period of the first half, and manager Larry Kavanagh admitted it had been a gamble to play him.

"We targeted their midfield," he said.

"We took a risk with Nation, we didn’t know if he’d last five minutes. We brought Conor O’Donovan out as well to leave space inside and that made a difference."

Connolly took full advantage of that space, and the creativity of centre-forward Alan Cronin was also evident, the pair finishing with 2-5 between them, while Cronin’s brother Stephen excelled at centre-back.

Nemo had nine scorers in all, contrasting sharply with the fact that Bantry pair Joe Murphy and Ruairí Deane were the only two to register for their side. Far too often, the delivery to the Bantry attack was not up to par, with Deane’s strong running often their only means of advancing the ball up the field.

Their starting configuration did not look as balanced as Nemo’s, with the relocation of Nation from his starting spot of full-forward to midfield resulting in Bantry’s Donagh O’Sullivan – who returned from his summer trip the US for the game – being drawn away from his optimum position in the full-back line, something that was not rectified until midway through the first half.

And yet, with Mark Delaney beginning brightly in midfield, Bantry got off to a good start, two Murphy frees giving them that lead. After Alan O’Donovan equalised for Nemo, Connolly gave notice of his prowess, however, with a shot which fizzed across the fact of goal.

By this stage, Nation had come to the fore, winning four kickouts in a row and after the last of these the ball was worked to Connolly via Conor O’Donovan, with a lovely finish giving Donal Casey no chance.

Further points from Connolly and Nation resulted in a five-point lead by the half-time break, Darragh Kerins extending the advantage before Deane gave Bantry some hope with two in quick succession.

That was as good as it would get for them, as by the time Murphy would get their next score with another free in the 52nd minute, Nemo had put the game firmly beyond them.

The impressive Conor Horgan (two), Connolly and Conor O’Donovan all got scores as a nine-point lead was opened up and then Connolly showed great skill before opening up the defence with a perfect pass for Alan Cronin, who fired home to make it 2-10 to 0-4 in the 49th minute.

Though Murphy did interrupt the one-way flow, an outstanding Connolly free from the right sideline, Jack Horgan and sub James Garvan ensured Nemo had 14 points to spare at the end.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: L Connolly 1-4 (0-3fs), A Cronin 1-1, C Horgan 0-2, D Nation, D Kerins, J Horgan, A O’Donovan, C O’Donovan, J Garvan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Bantry Blues: J Murphy 0-3fs, R Deane 0-2.

NEMO RANGERS: MA Martin; D O’Donovan, C McWhinney, D Barrett; D Kerins, S Cronin, K Fulignati; J Horgan, A O’Donovan; C Dalton, A Cronin, C O’Donovan; L Connolly, D Nation, C Horgan.

Subs: D Buckley for Dalton (54), G Irwin for Nation (57), T Forde for C O’Donovan, J Garvan for Kerins (both 59), S Creedon for Connolly (60).

BANTRY BLUES: D Casey; C Power, D O’Sullivan, C O’Leary; D Daly, T Downey, T O’Brien; M Delaney, A Keane; G O’Shea, R Deane, C O’Sullivan; J Murphy, K Casey, D Power.

Subs: D Casey for Keane (ht), S Delaney for O’Sullivan (41), G Hurley for O’Shea (51), H Deane for K Casey (55).

Referee: M Moynihan (Grenagh).

County Final

Under 21 County Final Saturday night at 07-30 PM vs Nemo Rangers at Pairc Ui Rinn. Please Support

Bantry Blues 1-12 Beara 0-14

Deane and desire see Blues home

Bantry 1-12 Beara 0-14
By Derry Farr

Monday, July 16, 2012

Pride and a fanatical will to win were abundant ingredients in Bantry’s win over Beara in Saturday’s semi-final thriller in Kealkil.

In a titanic struggle, a sixth-minute Bantry goal ultimately decided the contest when Ruarai Deane was put through by Colm O’Sullivan and the Cork U21 player gave capable Beara keeper Alan Dunne no chance.

It was a score Bantry were quick to build on and with Cathal Power, Tadhg Downey and David Daly keeping things quiet at the back, the Blues, with Kevin Casey drawing the fouls, had eased six points clear before the divisional side got out of blocks.

They began with a superbly taken point from midfielder Brian Terry O’Sullivan, who had a mighty game in a midfield sector where there was little soft on offer. Deane was also prominent around this department from where Mark Delaney made his usual quota of strong runs.

Up with the best was Finbarr Dwyer and, for a spell, Beara dominated and when on top were denied a goal by Bantry keeper Donal Casey, who enhanced his reputation by saving from Connie O’Shea.

Then David Harrington looked to have forced home the rebound only for Cathal Power to save the Blues.

The winners led 1-6 to 0-5 at the break but with Harrington and Dean Murphy prominent up front Beara were on terms with 10 minutes still to play.

There was torture and delight in equal measures in a titanic close where the accurate Joe Murphy and Deane slipped over Bantry scores to which Beara could only reply with a lone Harrington point.

Scorers for Bantry; R Deane 1-3 (0-3f), J Murphy 0-5 (4f), G O’Shea, M Delaney, C O’Sullivan, D Power (1 45) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Beara; D Murphy 0-5 (3f), D Harrington 0-4, J Walsh 0-2 (1f), B Terry O’Sullivan, T Joe O’Sullivan, C O’Shea 0-1 each.

BANTRY; D Casey; C O’Leary, D Daly, S Edgeworth; C Power, C O’Sullivan, T O’Brien; M Delaney, R Deane; K Casey, A Keane, G O’Shea; J Murphy, T Downey, D Power.

Subs: S Delaney for A Keane, H Deane for T O’Brien, G Hurley for S Edgeworth (inj).

BEARA; A Dunne (Urhan); D Cronin (Garnish), S O’Shea (Adrigole), E Murphy (Garnish); L Harrington (Adrigole), F Sheehan (Garnish), C O’Shea (Adrigole); B Terry O’Sullivan (Garnish), F O’Dwyer (Urhan); H O’Sullivan (Garnish), S Terry O’Sullivan (Garnish), T J O’Sullivan (Adrigole); J Walsh (C’t’bere), D Murphy (do), D Harrington (Adrigole). Subs: C O’Neill (Adrigole) for S O’Shea; C McCallenny (Glengarriffe) for H O’Sullivan.

Referee: M Moynihan (Grenagh).

Bantry Blues 4-14 Millstreet 1-06

With Rory Deane and Mark Delaney involved from the outset the west cork champions were boosted by a David Power goal, in the 10th minute from a penalty and, though keeper Donal Casey was called on twice to make a name for himself, it was the men in blue who produced the goods when afforded the scoring chances.
With Timmy O'Brien adding a brace of points from half back, in a defence where David Daly was outstanding. Kevin Casey added a second goal 12 minutes before half time. The contest was effectively over at half time with Bantry going in 2-12 to 0-5 to the good.
Any faint Millstreet hopes of a revival were ended when Colm O'sullivan slipped home Bantry's third goal early in the second half, while a fine individual effort from Mark Delaney secured number four.
Millstreet pulled a goal back late in the game but by then the blues had a weekend semi-final meeting with Beara to look forward towards.
Scorers for Bantry:
D Power 1-2, R Deane 0-5, CO'Sullivan, M Delaney1-1 each, K Casey 1-0, T O' Brien, J Murphy 0-2 each, T Downey 0-1
Bantry: D Casey, C Power, C O' Leary, S Edgeworth, D Daly, T Downey, T O' Brien, M Delaney, A Keane, K Casey, R Deane, G Hurley, J Murphy, C O' Sullivan, D Power.
Subs: G O' Shea for G Hurley, S Delaney for C O' Sullivan, D Lynch for C Power, P O'Brien for S Edgeworth, B Crowley for J Murphy.

Bantry Blues v Millstreet

Bantry Blues 1-8 Millstreet 0-11
By Therese O’Callaghan

Monday, June 25, 2012

A dogged Millstreet came from five points down to draw their quarter-final tie at Inchigeela on Saturday night.

The drama didn’t end there though, as confusion reigned about whether extra-time would go ahead or not. However, it was confirmed the match would go to a replay and with daylight disappearing it was the right decision.

Bantry forged 1-5 to 0-3 ahead at the beginning of the second half and appeared to be in the driving seat. But Millstreet, with midfielder-cum-centre-forward Michael Vaughan spearheading their attack, refused to give in. Vaughan finished with seven superb points and along with Brian G Murphy, Kevin Crowley and Michael Murphy led the revival.

It was Vaughan’s pointed free in stoppage time that saved the day after sub Beircheart O’Connor was brought down. The Blues, while disappointed to let their advantage slip, will be grateful for another chance after seeing out the final quarter a man down, following a second yellow card shown to Tadhg Downey on 48 minutes.

Mark Delaney and Ruairi Deane (two) landed three outstanding points and when Alan Keane capitalised on a rare error by goalkeeper Mark O’Donovan before the break, Bantry went to the dressing room in a more favoured position, 1-4 to 0-3.

Their restart was effective too, when David Power pointed inside the opening minute. Brian G Murphy and Vaughan combined to leave the board reading, 1-6 to 0-6 on the three-quarter mark. The Three points on the trot from Vaughan then tied the match.

Bantry’s Shane Dunphy bore down on goal but blasted narrowly wide. Deane then kicked a huge point and Joe Murphy knocked over a free to edge them ahead, 1-8 to 0-9 with normal time elapsed. Millstreet came back, even when it looked like the game might be over.

Michael Murphy kicked a point. Then Robert Kelleher hit the post and from the resultant break, sub O’Connor was fouled left of the target. Vaughan did the necessary with his equalising point two minutes into added time.

Scorers for Bantry Blues: A Keane 1-0, R Deane and J Murphy (3f) 0-3 each, M Delaney and D Power 0-1 each.

Scorers for Millstreet: M Vaughan 0-7 (5f), M Murphy 0-2, E Hickey and B G Murphy 0-1 each.

BANTRY BLUES: D Casey; C Power, C O’Leary, S Edgeworth; T O’Brien, T Downey, D Daly; M Delaney, A Keane; G O’Shea, R Deane, C O’Sullivan; D Power, G Hurley, J Murphy.

Subs: S Delaney for S Edgeworth (50), C Darcy for G Hurley (55).

MILLSTREET: M O’Donovan; P Sheehan, A Murphy, M O’Connor; D McCaul, B G Murphy, D Lenihan; M Vaughan, C Sheehan; M Murphy, L Murphy, K Crowley; R Kelleher, K Sheehan, E Hickey.

Subs: J Kelleher for E Hickey (55), B O’Connor for K Sheehan (59).

Referee: J Ryan (Macroom).

Bantry v Castlehaven - West Cork U21A Final

Bantry Blues 0-13
Castlehaven 1-8

IT WAS hard to believe that Bantry came within one magnificent save of losing this cracking U21 A football final in Aughaville on Sunday afternoon last.

Shrugging off the tag of underdogs and trying to bridge a fifteen-year gap since they last lifted the title, Bantry took control of this game from the first whistle. Despite a delay of almost an hour while the Haven’s Niall O’Leary was being treated for a neck injury, Bantry refused to be ruffled and led by four points at the break.

They faced the strong breeze in the second half but with their midfield pairing of county U21 player, Rory Deane, and Mark Delaney, dictating terms and their lively attack looking much more dangerous than the opposition, the Blues continued to control matters and led by six points at the three-quarter stage.

The Haven did up their disappointing challenge in the last quarter as they cut the lead to four points with three minutes left on the clock. There seemed little danger to the Blues at that stage as they had succeeded admirably in curtailing the threat from the Haven’s main attacker, Brian Hurley, who managed only a single point from play throughout the hour.

However, there’s many a slip between cup and lip, and Damian Cahalane, very subdued on the day, put the cat among the pigeons when he struck for goal in the 30th minute. Now only a single point separated the sides and it looked like the Haven, doughty battlers but hardly deserving of a draw, were about to escape with just that.

A Haven free 45m out on the left wing gave Brian Hurley the chance to level the game but his effort went narrowly wide. It was into injury time when Bantry conjured up a great point from sub, Shane Delaney, to open up a two-point gap.

The Haven now needed a goal as the final seconds ticked away and they very nearly got it. A fast attack saw sub, Darren Collins, let fly on the ground from 10m out and it took a magnificent save at the butt of the upright by Bantry goalie David Casey, to prevent a goal. It was that close as the final whistle blew on the kick-out but it would have been a travesty of justice had Bantry lost this game.



Grabbed control

From the throw-in Bantry grabbed control of this final with Deane and Delaney rampant at midfield. Up front, although ace forward David Power was quieter than usual, Joe Murphy was the main man with four points to his credit, while Gearóid Hurley and Gavin O’Shea were also causing problems. The tactic of playing a two-man full forward line, with full forward Tadhg Downey acting as an extra defender to cut off the supply of ball to Brian Hurley, worked very well for the winners.

Points from Murphy, O’Shea and Deane had the Blues three points in front before the game was stopped in the tenth minute for an injury to Niall O’Leary, Castlehaven, and the break lasted almost an hour as the player couldn’t be moved until the ambulance arrived. Thankfully, reports are positive on his condition.

When the game resumed the Haven seemed in a much more determined mood and had their first point from a Brian Hurley free. Play was much more even now with Michael Dineen and Jack Nolan finally coming to grips with Bantry’s powerful midfield.

The Blues still looked more dangerous in attack and points from Cathal Power and Delaney opened up a four-point lead. Eoin Dennehy, the liveliest of the Haven attack, swapped points with Deane and when Hurley pointed his second free, the Haven were only three points in arrears despite limited possession.

The Haven moved Brian Hurley to centre forward in an effort to get him into the game but it still wasn’t happening for the U21 county star as full back, Donagh O’Sullivan, did a fine marking job. When Joe Murphy, free, and Gearóid Hurley pointed, the Blues were five to the good and worth every point but the Haven got a boost just before the break when Hurley pointed his third free.

It was 0-8 to 0-4 at the break and despite playing second fiddle for most of that long, drawn-out half, the Haven were still well in contention as they had the advantage of the strong breeze in the second half.



Six-point gap

When Brian Hurley kicked his only point from play in the 33rd minute, it seemed the Haven would drive on but the opposite was the case as it was again Bantry who gained control.

With Donagh O’Sullivan, Tadhg Downey, Cathal Power and Connie O’Leary doing great work in defence Bantry kicked the next three points from Gearóid Hurley, Rory Deane and Joe Murphy to open up a six-point gap, 0-11 to 0-5, at the three-quarter stage.

At that stage it looked like a decisive victory for the Blues but the Haven never die easily, and with Cahalane finally asserting himself and good work from Dineen, John O’Regan, Bobby Nolan, Hurley and Eoin Dennehy, the Hoops began to battle back. Mike Dineen and Darragh O’Mahony kicked points to close the gap to four with eight minutes remaining but the impressive Joe Murphy answered with a Blues’ point.

Five points to the good with three minutes left on the clock, Bantry seemed to have done enough to win their first title in fifteen years but then came the hectic finish as a Hurley free cut the gap to four and the Haven very nearly snatched the cup from the Blues, so it was a relieved and delighted Bantry camp that celebrated a great win afterwards.

There were tremendous scenes of delight as the Liam Farr Cup was presented to outstanding captain, Mark Delaney, by Bantry chairman, Patjoe Connolly, treasurer of the SW Board.

The best wishes of all GAA people go to Niall O’Leary, Castlehaven’s injured player, on a swift recovery.

Referee: David Whyte, St Mary’s.

Scorers — Bantry Blues: Joe Murphy 0-4, 0-1 free, Rory Deane 0-3, Gearóid Hurley 0-2, Mark Delaney, Gavin O’Shea, Cathal Power and Shane Delaney 0-1 each. Castlehaven: Brian Hurley 0-5, 0-4 frees, Damian Cahalane 1-0, Michael Dineen, Darragh O’Mahony and Eoin Dennehy 0-1 each.

Bantry Blues: David Casey, Connie O’Leary, Donagh O’Sullivan, Shane Edgeworth, Cathal Power, Colm O’Sullivan, Timmy O’Brien, Mark Delaney, Rory Deane, Gavin O’Shea, Alan Keane, Gearóid Hurley, Joe Murphy, Tadhg Downey, David Power. Subs: Shane Delaney, David Daly and Kieran Darcy.

Castlehaven: Brian O’Donoghue, John O’Regan, Stephen Collins, Adam Davis, Darragh Leonard, Bobby Nolan, Damien Cahalane, Michael Dineen, Jack Nolan, Darragh O’Mahony, Patrick O’Brien, Darragh Cahalane, Niall O’Leary, Brian Hurley, Eoin Dennehy. Subs used: Darren Collins, Jonathan Burns.