The Bantry Blues GAA Club

Bantry 2-16 , Dohenys 1-8

From The Southern Star

Last quarter Blues for battling Dohenys as Bantry finish on a high! What threatened for long periods of this most enjoyable and at times exciting South West under-21 A football championship quarter-final tussle between old adversaries and great rivals Bantry and Dohenys, finally came to pass at a splendid Rath, Baltimore, venue on Sunday afternoon last.
For forty-five minutes of this enthralling affair, Dohenys,decimated by injuries and suffering the loss of key players Patrick McCarthy and Denis OMahony prior to the game, were buoyed by the excellence of Gerry McCarthys free-taking, and showing immense courage in the face of adversity had given as good as they had got in this sporting contest. A classy emerging young Blues fifteen had on occasions looked like pulling away for a facile victory, only to be pegged back by the exuberance and commitment displayed by the lads from Dunmanway.
However, just when we had visions of a dramatic last quarter, the bubble burst, as Bantry exploded into action and scored a picture-book second major, a gem destined and worthy of winning any match. From one end of the pitch to the other in a series of lightning moves the Blues carried the ball from a deep defensive position into a threatening attacking situation.
Finally, inspirational centre forward Dave Keohane picked out the overlapping Aidan Mullins. In one complex and gifted motion, the latters strike entered the Dohenys rigging leaving Brian OMahony truly helpless. It was a score of inspirational and monumental proportions, a dream for the Blues, the beginning of a nightmare scenario for Dohenys.
From this to the long whistle they could only watch and admire the Blues scoring blitz, a staggering seven points on the trot inside twelve minutes, the lone reply by the vanquished being a lovely point from the boot of Conor Moloney (one of the losers better players on the day), with ten minutes left on the clock.
Granted, the lion-hearted Gerry McCarthy hit the post in the interim period, but it was a token resistance from a brave side, as Bantry systematically bisected them effortlessly on the scoreboard from this to the long whistle. With the Drummey duo, Shane and Paul, Shane ONeill, Keohane, Hennessy and OSullivan all interlinking splendidly, the points flew over the lath with clockwork rapidity. 
The expertise of dominant midfielders Stephen Kelly and the talented talisman Kevin Harrington was being exploited to the full by the eager-beaver Bantry forward sextet. Back at the ranch, Jason Griffin, Brian Keohane and the magnificent Aidan Mullins were now in cruise control; where earlier they had looked more than a trifle uneasy as Dohenys ran at them. The confidence too was now evident in a solid full-back division where Killian OLeary, Kenneth Deane and Shane OBrien were at this juncture giving marvellous cover to so dependable goalie and skipper Danny Murray.
To their eternal credit, Dohenys never gave up the ghost. Declan ODwyer was foraging tirelessly for the full hour, while Darren Kelly took his goal with real panache, while the forays of Conor Hurley and the tireless runs of Gerry McCarthy (also carrying an injury into the game), lifted the spirits of the Dohenys troops.
Conor Moloney was another to emerge with much credit from this encounter, scoring a hat-trick of glorious points, one bicycle-kick effort really spectacular. Around the middle of the park captain Tadhg OLeary was full of running, while in defence I was impressed by the never-say-die attitude of young Alan Ring on the right flank, while Keith Sheehan, James McCarthy and goalie Brian OMahony, as well as substitute Alan Sheehan could not be faulted, despite being under intense pressure in the closing quarter. 
However, as a unit Dohenys were fragmented, depending heavily on outstanding individual performances to carry the day, while their attack failed to carry the same degree of potency exhibited by the Blues. It had been a totally different scenario in a close and exciting first-half.
The stiff cross-field breeze was to Dohenys advantage, but a sublime effort from Kevin Harrington as early as the second minute gave indications that Bantry meant business. Dohenys quickly replied per a Gerry McCarthy free, but Bantry with the Drummey duo and Harrington and his midfield partner Kelly in positive attacking mode quickly moved into a 0-4 to 0-1 advantage by the 20th minute.
One effort from Paul Drummey whistled just over the bar, with the Dohenys defence spread-eagled. Arthur Doyle had now moved to offset the threat posed by Dave Keohane, while Keith Sheehan was picking up the tab on Shane Drummey. The ploy imposed by Bantry of playing the impressive Shane ONeill deep as an extra defender against the wind was at this juncture working handsomely for Bantry.
However, the unerring skills of the talented Gerry McCarthy augmented by the hard grafting of OLeary, Moloney, ODwyer and James McCarthy ensured that Dohenys were very much in the frame at the interval, a mere three points, 0-7 to 0-4, separating the sides as efficient referee Seamus ODriscoll from Ilen Rovers concluded the half.
When Gerry McCarthy narrowed the gap further on resuming, it was all to play for. Then, out of the blue a frenetic burst of scoring had the good crowd in throes of excitement. An innocuous looking ball landed in the Dohenys danger zone. With the defence dithering and dallying Paul Drummey made hay without the sun shining on the particular afternoon as he toe-poked the ball home.
When the talented Bantry youngster added a point in the very next Bantry attack, the floodgates appeared to be ready to burst. Not on your life. Dohenys, sweeping downfield saw Darren Kelly slip a delightful ball past Danny Murray and we were back in business big-time. Then shortly afterwards, with a mere two points between the sides, 1-9 to 1-7, came the crushing blow courtesy of Aidan Mullins that eventually signalled lights out for gallant Dohenys.
Our verdict: The match was won by the better team. Of this there can be little argument against. What is not disputed either is the courageous display of injured-ravaged Dohenys. On a wing and a prayer at times, it looked as if their Novenas were answered at different stages. However, that devastating last quarter display by Bantry showed what they are capable of.
They proudly march into the penultimate stage, where they will be a match for the best, and given the fact that like opponents Dohenys they had a good sprinkling of young players in the team.
We debated hard and long on our man of the match selection, with practically half of this emerging Bantry side in the frame. We eventually settled for the talented Shane Drummey, the Bantry full forward. Sturdy, yet fleet of foot and a player in the great Donal Hunt mould, he can turn on a six-pence and score in the twinkling of an eye.
Man of the match, Shane Drummey, Bantry.
Scorers ; Bantry: Paul Drummey 1-3, Shane Drummey 0-5, 0-2 from frees, Aidan Mullins 1-1, Kevin Harrington 0-2, Dave Keohane 0-2, Stephen Kelly 0-1, John Connolly 0-1, John Hennessy 0-1. Dohenys: Gerry McCarthy 0-5 from frees, Darren Kelly 1-0, Conor Moloney 0-3.
Bantry: Danny Murray, Killian OLeary, Kenneth Deane, Shane OBrien, Jason Griffin, Brian Keohane, Aidan Mullins, Kevin Harrington, Stephen Kelly, John Hennessy, Dave Keohane, Shane ONeill, Michael OSullivan, Shane Drummey, Paul Drummey. Subs: John Connolly for Michael OSullivan, Pat Daly for Jason Griffin, Stephen Coughlan for Shane ONeill, Patrick Delaney for Shane Drummey.
<B>Dohenys: Brian OMahony, James McCarthy, Arthur Doyle, Cian Cahalane, Dave Collins, Keith Sheehan, Alan Ring, Tadhg OLeary, Finbarr Cronin, Conor Hurley, Declan ODwyer, Darren Kelly, Gerry McCarthy, Barry McCarthy, Conor Moloney. Subs: Brian McCarthy for Conor Hurley, Tom Collins for Dave Collins, Alan Sheehan for Barry McCarthy.