PATH TO THE 1995 COUNTY FINAL

1^st ROUND MATCH VERSUS ST. FINBARRS PLAYED AT CLONAKILTY.

SCORE : BANTRY 2-6 ST.FINBARRS 0-7

Bantry scored 2 goals just after half time after leading at half time by 4 points to 1.The Barrs kicked a lot of bad wides but with Stephen Dineen ,Sean McCarthy Damien O Neill ,PaulO Rourke and Padraig Healy all prominent the Blues pulled away .Paddy Goggin and Stephen Dineen were sent off in the last 10 minutes along with a Barrs player but by then the game was over by that stage.

TEAM: Des McAuley, Niall Twomey,Mark O Connor, Brian Kearns, Sean McCarthy(0-1), Stephen Moloney, Padraig O Regan, Damien O Neill, Timmy O Mahony, Gerdie Barry, Michael Moran (0-1), Paddy Goggin, Paul O Rourke(0-1), Stephen Dineen(1-3), Padraig Healy(1-0).

 THE COUNTY SENIOR QUARTER FINAL WAS AGAINST WEST CORK DIVISIONAL SIDE , CARBERY, PLAYED AT SKIBBEREEN.

SCORE BANTRY BLUES 0-11 CARBERY1-8.

There was a lot at stake in this game for Bantry Blues as it was a local derby plus the fact that several of our players had played with Carbery down through the years when we were an intermediate club. There was an added spice as the father(Terry O Neill) of the Bantry Blues captain , Damien was training Carbery.

Bantry started well with a string of fine points and Carbery weren’t helped by Des McAuley’s penalty save . The Blues led by 3 points at half time(6points to 3) with Damien O Neill giving an exhibition of fielding. However Carbery took control of the 2^nd half scoring 1-5 and were leading going in to extra time when Mick Moran salvaged a draw with a point from a tight angle.

TEAM: Des McAuley, Niall Twomey,Mark O Connor, Brian Kearns, Sean McCarthy , Stephen Moloney, Padraig O Regan, Damien O Neill, Timmy O Mahony, Gerdie Barry(0-1), Michael Moran (0-2), Paddy Goggin, Paul O Rourke(0-2),

, Stephen Dineen(0-6), Padraig Healy. SUBS :Jeremy Cotter and Kevin Harrington.

QUARTER FINAL REPLAY VERSUS CARBERY AT SKIBBEREEN .

SCORE: Bantry Blues 1-8 Carbery 0-6

Bantry made a couple of changes for the replay and it paid off as The Blues controlled most of the game. The game, however was still in the balance with 10 minutes to go when Sean McCarthy fisted a goal when the Carbery keeper made an unfortunate slip. Bantry’s best players were Andy O Shea, Michael Moran and Mark O Connor who improved immensely from the drawn game. A marvellous length of the field run by Padraig O Regan set up Stephen Dineen for the final insurance point.

TEAM: Des McAuley, Eamon McCarthy ,Mark O Connor, Brian Kearns, , Padraig O Regan, Timmy O Mahony , Andy O Shea, Damien O Neill(0-1), Stephen Moloney , Gerdie Barry(0-1), Michael Moran (0-2), Sean McCarthy(1-0), Paul O Rourke , Stephen Dineen(0-3), Padraig Healy. SUBS :Paddy Goggin and Kevin Harrington (0-1).

 SENIOR COUNTY SEMI FINAL V. DUHALLOW PLAYED AT MACROOM.

SCORE: BANTRY 1-8 DUHALLOW 0-9

On a sunny day in Macroom, Bantry were by far the superior team in this contest. Mark O Connor was outstanding at full back destroying Cork Player Mark O Sullivan while Damien O Neill and Mick Moran easily won midfield , where Duhallow were minus injured Cork Star Danny Culloty. A Sean McCarthy goal in the 1^st half set Bantry on their way. However Bantry kicked 19 wides over the hour missing from simple positions . However a late surge of scoring eased The Blues through to their second ever Senior Final.

1995 player profiles

DES MC AULEY – Goalkeeper supreme and former Cork Minor . Has a lean and lanky frame that takes up most of the goal and if you don’t believe me ask the numerous attackers and penalty takers who have failed to get the ball past him.

EAMONN MC CARTHY - A sticky corner back who came on in the replay against Carbery. Has won several underage West Cork medals but the best is yet to come from this 23 year old who is cast in the mould of a quality defender who sticks to his man like a shadow.

MARK O CONNOR – Its all been said about the Blues star full back. 26 Years of age and a winner through and through, he led Bantry to the 1993 Intermediate crown. A win on Sunday would be the icing on the cake for a defender who has matched the best and come out on top.

TIMMY O MAHONY – A Bantry man through and through. He has played tremendous football at underage level for the Blues and continues to turn in performance after performance of real merit no matter where he is positioned. His best place is at full back but put on the blue jersey and he will die for the cause.

NIALL TWOMEY – A great man to have on your side. Because of work commitments he hasn’t been always available for the team but when he is around Gantry buzz. Mostly deployed as defender, he should be on Sunday’s team where he will carry a 100% guarantee, as he has always been ultra dependable.

STEPHEN MOLONEY – Another player who can deliver the goods in any position particularly in defence. Not one of the team’s biggest names, but when there is a job to be done "Moloney is your man" as he always delivers sportingly and without frills.

PADRAIG O REGAN – A class act at wingback who has made it through to the big time with the Cork Seniors. His forays out of the defence have on numerous occasions lifted the Blues and having watched him come through underage ranks, I rate him as Bantry's most consistent performer and a real motivator.

DAMIEN O NEILL – Has done it all though still only 22 years of age. When in full flight the Bantry midfielder is a joy to behold and his high fielding ability is reminiscent of the one and only Declan Barron. A lot rests on his young shoulders next Sunday.

MICHAEL MORAN – A gifted player either at midfield or in attack. A glutton for hard work, the fair-haired 21-year-old is perpetual motion and has contributed enormously to the Blues uprise. His late point against Carbery illustrated his worth to the team when the ships were down.

SEAN MC CARTHY – Converted from a forward to a defender he still brings with him into every game his old attacking flair – so much so that he reverted to attack in the Duhallow match. An actor of some repute he will again take centre stage on Sunday.

PADDY GOGGIN – One of the teams most gifted performers has been affected by injury of late but is still poetry in motion when the long locks flow. Paddy has given great service to the club and what better way to be rewarded than with a county medal next Sunday.

GERDIE BARRY – Has played a lot of football abroad and has also won a Senior London Hurling Championship. A county senior football bit of silver would look nice along side and a man who has scored some invaluable goals, will do everything in his power to complete this unique double.

KEVIN HARRINGTON – Although still only 21 years of age, he has enough silverware to make him almost uninsurable. A gifted forward, Kevin has been dogged by injury of late but is still nevertheless feared by defences. A prodigious scoregetter, if he is in top form on Sunday – Muskerry beware.

STEPHEN DINNEN – Son of a famous father. He has slotted in nicely since his return from foreign shores where he won 3 North American Championships. The globetrotter will be doing his utmost to see that the Blues make a breakthrough on a county stage where his father Dan, collected the winners medal with Carbery in 1968.

PAUL O ROURKE – A former Colleges Star with St. Fachtnas ,Skibbereen and ex Clann na nGael player. Paul through in his lot with Bantry this year and his high work rate has helped the Blues pick up many breaks and this will be an essential factor again the final.

JEREMY COTTER, who figured in the 1981 campaign, ANDY O SHEA who came on as sub against Duhallow, BRIAN KEARNS and PADRAIG HEALY have all played at some stage in this years campaign with the lionhearted LIAM O BRIEN another one of the panel.

Other members of the panel during the course of the season were Goalkeepers KIERAN CRONIN and FERGAL POWER, defenders KEVIN WISEMAN, MARK DELANEY, DAVID O GRADY , MARTIN MC CARTHY, DERMOT O CONNELL along with forwards STEPHEN CRONIN, DECLAN O SHEA and ERIC SHEEHAN.

Written by DERRY FARR.

SCORE : Bantry Blues 0-10 Muskerry 0-8.

This was a tight, nervous game with many wides on both sides. However the outcome was in the balance right up to the last 10 minutes when as usual, the Blues upped a gear and scored the last 4 points. Bantry held sway at midfield from start to finish and mark O Connor did an excellent marking job on Muskerry’s main dangerman , John O Driscoll. Muskerry led at half time by 5 points to 4 .It was all square in the 54^th minute at 8 points each when Paul O Rourke and Kevin Harrington kicked 2 marvellous points from their bad sides.

At the final whistle it seemed as if the whole town of Bantry had invaded the pitch with unbelievable scenes of joy and relief all around.

Scoring:

• Stephen Dineen free after 5 minutes.
• Kevin Harrington point after 8 minutes.
• Johnathan McCarthy point after 11 minutes.
• Johnathan McCarthy free after 15 minutes.
• Fine Sean McCarthy point after 18 minutes.
• John O Driscoll point after20 minutes.
• Noel Twomey point after 23 minutes.
• Jonathan McCarthy free after 26 minutes.
• Kevin Harrington free after 29 minutes.

Bantry 10 wides , Muskerry 1.

Halftime : Bantry 4 points Muskerry 5 points.

Second Half:

• Kevin Harrington free after34 minutes.
• Noel Twomey point after 42 minutes.
• Gerard O Leary point after 45 minutes.
• Michael Moran point after 50 minutes.
• Stephen Dineen fisted a point after 53 minutes.
• Paul O Rourke point in the 54^th minute.
• Kevin Harrington after 56 minutes.

FULL TIME SCORE Bantry Blues 0-10 Muskerry 0-8.