Bantry beat St. Nicks

The Bantry Blues GAA Club

By The Southern Star

Bantry Blues 0-14 , St. Nicholas 0-9

A sparkling first-half performance, which brought back memories of the glory days in the nineties, was enough to power Bantry Blues to an emphatic victory over struggling St. Nick’s in this disappointing permanent tsb senior football third-round game in Enniskeane on Sunday last.

While experienced Bantry entered this clash as firm favourites, it was expected that St. Nick’s young side, which had beaten Clonakilty in the first round, would make a good contest of it. Unfortunately, it was not to be as this game was practically over as a contest by half time with the Blues having built up a convincing nine-point lead with the aid of a strong blustery breeze. Bantry rifled over ten points in that Blues-dominated first period while the city side could only manage one point from a free.

The expected comeback by St. Nick’s looked as if it would materialise at the start of the second half when they had two points in three minutes, but as the half wore on it was evident that they just did not have the power up front to trouble a strong Bantry rearguard and as the half wore on, the game deteriorated with Bantry also fading.

St. Nick’s badly needed a goal to close the big gap and, while they created a few chances, they never possessed the experience or cutting edge to convert them. Bantry coasted through the second half, content to soak up the often aimless St. Nick’s pressure and it is hard to say just how good this Blues side is, as the veterans were never really pushed in the second half.

In the first half Bantry looked back to their very best, under new coach Gene O’Driscoll, as they completely dominated exchanges. Mark O’Connor was unbeatable at full back with great assistance from young James Griffin in the corner. The all-Canty half back line was in total control and rarely allowed St. Nick’s to develop any attacks, while Mick Moran made a welcome return at midfield where he worked his socks off as usual. However, Damien O’Neill only showed his class in patches and Bantry were well beaten here for much of the second half.

Five of the Bantry attack got on the scoreboard but man of the match must go to centre forward Declan Barron. He orchestrated every move in attack during that first half and as well as scoring two points was involved in most of Bantry’s scores. Strangely, he disappeared from the action in the second half. Wing forwards, Donal O’Shea and the returned Richard Lynch were busy all through while Philip Clifford showed a return to form but dropped his head too easily in the second period.

While St. Nick’s were over-run in the first half and one feared for their wellbeing, there was nothing wrong with their spirited comeback in the second period but they just didn’t possess the football to really trouble the Blues. Wing forward David Busteed was their top performer and never gave up looking for scores, while young Diarmuid Dorris showed a great turn of speed in the corner and was the only real threat to Bantry near goal. He looks a good prospect. Eoghan Geaney tried hard on the wing while midfielders Graham Callinan and Robert Brosnan could be pleased to have bettered O’Neill and Moran in the second period.

Referee, Richie Murphy of Lyre, didn’t please everybody and made some strange decisions at times but, overall, it was a very sporting encounter.

Bantry started with the strong breeze to their backs but took some time to settle. In fact, in the opening exchanges St. Nick’s gave as good as they got and had they brought their shooting boots, with Dorris very prominent, they could have led, as they kicked four wides in the opening six minutes, following a pointed free for the Blues by Donal O’Shea in the third minute. It was all square after eight minutes when Eoghan Geaney pointed a free but that was to be St. Nick’s only score in the first half as Bantry assumed total control.

With Graham Canty very strong at centre back, midfielders O’Neill and especially Moran lording midfield, Bantry roared forward. On the forty, Declan Barron was orchestrating every attack in style and the scores began to flow. Philip Clifford hit two smashing points, the first following an O’Shea pass and the second following a great move involving Griffin, O’Connor and Barron.

Set up by Paul O’Rourke, Barron kicked his first point in the 13th minute but in a rare break-away St. Nick’s nearly stole a goal when Dorris forced a fine save from alert ’keeper Des McAuley. Seán McCarthy pointed in the 15th minute and Bantry were four in front, 0-5 to 0-1, at the end of the first quarter but in light of the strong breeze one wondered if it was adequate.

As the half went on Bantry increased the pressure against a struggling Blackpool side and Seán McCarthy almost goaled in the 17th minute. It was all Bantry as Philip Clifford pointed a free and impressive Richard Lynch stretched the lead to six points. Barron raced through but opted to fist over the bar and then came a great goal chance when Graham Canty burst through after a great Barron pass, but, somehow, goalie Michael Brosnan managed to impede him and the Blues star opted for a point.

Donal O’Shea finished a great first half for the Blues with their tenth point and it was hard to see them being caught in the second half, 0-10 to 0-1 in front, even though they turned to face the wind.

St. Nick’s emerged in determined mood and Dorris signalled their intent with a sweet point in the 32nd minute. Even though Donal O’Shea replied for the Blues, set up by Clifford, back came St. Nick’s and when John Kearney pointed it looked as if we might just have a real comeback.

It was not to be as the Blues’ defence, with Niall Canty outstanding on the wing, dealt comfortably with the disjointed St. Nick’s attacks. It was scoreless for eight minutes before Dorris pointed after some very scrappy play around the Bantry goal and, as the Bantry midfield faded, St. Nick’s looked to have claims for a penalty when sub Kevin Herlihy was forced to shoot wide from in front of goal.

It was 0-11 to 0-4 at the end of the third quarter as it was becoming obvious that St. Nick’s were struggling to turn their supremacy into scores. Damien O’Neill increased their problems when he pointed and the hard-trying David Busteed replied for St. Nick’s. As a series of St. Nick’s attacks floundered on the solid Bantry defence the minutes were ticking away before Richard Lynch practically sealed the win with a point in the 53rd minute and then brought a good save from goalie Michael Brosnan.

To their credit, St. Nick’s never gave up and they kicked two points from Dorris and sub Gavin Moylan to close the gap to six points as the game edged into injury time. Jeremy Canty, who had moved from wing back to wing forward where he looked more comfortable, blazed a shot over the bar but it was the city men who had the last say when Robert Brosnan and David Busteed kicked two late points, but it was too little and too late. It was hard to see where the referee got all the injury time in both halves, as there were very few stoppages throughout.

While the crowd was most disappointing, the quarter-final clash between Bantry and Clonakilty in Dunmanway, probably on the 19th, should draw a huge crowd.

Scorers – Bantry: Philip Clifford 0-3, 0-1 free, Dónal O’Shea 0-3, 0-2 frees, Declan Barron 0-2, Richard Lynch 0-2, Graham Canty 0-1, Jeremy Canty 0-1, Damien O’Neill 0-1, Seán McCarthy 0-1. St. Nick’s: Diarmuid Dorris 0-3, David Busteed 0-2, Robert Brosnan 0-1, John Kearney 0-1, Gavin Moylan 0-1, Eoghan Geaney 0-1 free.

Bantry Blues: Des McAuley, James Griffin, Mark O’Connor, Rory Hennessy, Niall Canty, Graham Canty, Jeremy Canty, Damian O’Neill, Mick Moran, Dónal O’Shea, Declan Barron, Richard Lynch, Seán McCarthy, Philip Clifford, Paul O’Rourke. Subs, Kevin Harrington, Finbarr Harrington.

St. Nick’s: Michael Brosnan, Niall Horgan, Dónal Óg O’Donovan, Shane O’Donoghue, Paul O’Brien, Emmet Considine, Shane Kennefick, Graham Callinan, Robert Brosnan, David Busteed, Niall Harte, Eoghan Geaney, John Kearney, Eoin McCarthy, Diarmuid Dorris. Subs, Kevin Herlihy, Gavin Moylan, David Brosnan.

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Bantry v Clonakilty should be a real treat in senior championship By Gleanings from The Gael

Thursday September 2nd 2004

FOR half an hour in Enniskeane we were transported back in time, to the days of Bantry’s glory in the nineties when they swept two county titles with some brilliant football and brilliant footballers.

Bantry’s football then was refreshing because it was not based on the short, hand-passing game that has destroyed the game but which a team must play today in order to survive. Bantry had some really talented footballers and one would travel a long way to watch Damien O’Neill and Mick Moran in action. The Blues played football as football was always meant to be played and it was always a joy to watch them in action.

As the years drifted on and those players got older, we thought we had seen the end of that great Bantry team. Losing to St. Nick’s last year was definitely the swan-song of many of those fabulous footballers, or so we thought. We were not surprised when they lost to Ballincollig this season and then struggled over St. Michael’s in the losers’ group. We honestly didn’t know what to expect in Enniskeane on Sunday last. The Blues’ domination of minor and under 21 in the early nineties had dried up and under age replacements for the stars seemed to be thin on the ground.

But Bantry hit a master-stroke when they procured the services of Gene O’Driscoll to coach the team this season. Here is a man with a proven pedigree as a player and a coach with Caheragh, Rossas and Newcestown and we knew he was bound to make a difference. How much he could achieve with a fading, ageing team remained to be seen.

Well, for half an hour on Sunday last we gloried in the return of Bantry to the winners’ enclosure with a display that was a joy to watch, and poor inexperienced St. Nick’s were blown away. Mick Moran, back after a long back injury, was a colossus at midfield as he worked his socks off, as usual. He would be an automatic choice for me on any football team.

Then there was Damian O’Neill, maybe not as fit as of yore, but we did get glimpses of that fabulous fielding and natural ball-skill that has set him aside as a pure talent that, unfortunately, never reached the national headlines as it should have.

Bantry were right back to their very best in that first half and it was one of the younger brigade who stole the show. The name is good and how we thrilled to it way back in the sixties and seventies. Now it looks as if we may again. Dec Barron was a revelation on the forty, involved in every attack, orchestrating every move, cutting the St. Nick’s backline asunder with some great runs.

A great minor, he seemed to disappear from the scene for a couple of years but now it seems he has his appetite back and opposing defences will have their hands full.

It was unusual to see a full half back line of three brothers, and all fine footballers. The Canty brothers were rock-solid in the first half and, in the second, it was the youngest member, Niall, on the wing, who really shone. Graham was strong and forceful and surely the Cork selectors will let him settle in as centre back from here on in. I would prefer to see Jeremy in his more natural position in the forwards as he adds extra cut up front.

Another newcomer who had a fine game was corner back, James Griffin, who kept Cork minor Kevin Harrington off the side. He is a good prospect, while returned Yank, Richard Lynch, is also a bonus. At the back the experience of Mark O’Connor and Des McAuley was vital in the second half. And it was that second half that worried the Bantry mentors on the line.

Granted, there was a strong breeze and there was no way Bantry could keep up the pace of the first half, but St. Nick’s dominated much of the second period and had several goal chances. Bantry seemed to lose their shape when their midfield faded and one must wonder if a super-fit, lively Clonakilty team will have an advantage in the next round. Time will tell, probably on the 19th, in Dunmanway. But it was good to see that first half hour’s football which brought back memories of great days and, who knows, maybe there is one last kick, and one last county in this Blues’ side.

Most disappointing was the crowd in St. Mary’s fine new venue which is a credit to this small club. Maybe it was the game on television or the fact that many people did not know this game was on, that led to such a small crowd. I wonder is support for Gaelic games dying in our city clubs as St. Nick’s were always guaranteed a big support. It didn’t look that way on Sunday. It will be interesting to see what crowd Clon v Bantry will bring to Dunmanway. It should be a great clash. Let’s hope there is more publicity for it than there was for last Sunday’s game.

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