THE 1999 BANTRY BLUES SENIOR FOOTBALL TEAM

COACH : TERRY O NEILL

SELECTORS : TERRY O NEILL, FLORRIE O MAHONY, DENIS COTTER.

CAPTAIN : PAUL O ROURKE VICE CAPTAIN : DECLAN O SHEA.

After the successes of 1998 the Bantry Blues Senior Team took a break from the usual pre-seaon training ordeals by deciding not to train as hard as usual until after their holiday to Boston which lasted 10 days beginning on the 1^st of April. They did not totally escape training on holiday and were put through a tough session on a local beach which was tough going under the supervision of Terry O Neill. A few of the players regretted having breakfast that morning as people were throwing up left, right and centre.!! They also played a match in Dellboy Stadium, Boston against a Cork-Boston selection including ex-Blues Frank Delaney and Mike Lynch. Bantry were missing many regulars including some who went AWOL and were beaten by a couple of points.

In the Kelleher Shield the team beat Dohenys, St. Nicholas’,Glanmire twice and drew with Beara while losing to Aghada. The team found it hard to get consistent teams together due to work commitments, injuries 4 players on the Cork Seniors and 3 on the Cork U-21s.

In the championship, Bantry were pitted against University College, Cork played in Castlehaven at the end of May. The team on duty that night was: BANTRY: D. McAuley; N. Twomey, M. O'Connor, T. O Mahony; G. Canty, P. O'Regan, E. Sheehan; D. O'Neill, M. Moran; S. McCarthy, A. O'Shea P. O'Rourke; P. Clifford, J. Canty, D. O'Shea.

U.C.C. had a number of intercounty Seniors and U-21s including Michael Cronin of Cork, Eamon Fitzmaurice of Kerry and Damien Reidy of Limerick. U.C.C. played fantastic football all throughout but were lucky to gain a draw in the end as they had to score 3 late points to equalise.For once Bantry were dominated at midfield for long periods and scores were hard to come bye.

This was how Brendan Larkin in THE EXAMINER saw proceedings

The game was late in starting because referee Ger Harrington instructed UCC to change jerseys as they had six players on the field wearing the same number which would have made it extremely difficult for him in the event of he having to issue yellow cards.
The local club came to the students' rescue and taking inspiration from the blue and white, they rocked the champions with the pace and precision to streak into a three points to nil lead after just four minutes.

Bantry looked decidedly unsteady in those opening minutes as the students, inspired by the brilliance of Keith Moynihan, Kerry senior Eamon Fitzmaurice and Limerick senior Damien Reidy in defence, threatened to cause a shock.
The excellence of Gary Stack and Eamon Hanrahan gave the students the upperhand at midfield over the Bantry pair, Damien O'Neill and Michael Moran, while the tricky Ian Twiss, Seamus Downey and Billy Sheehan up front stretched the Blues' defence to the limit.

In their first real attack, Philip Clifford finally got Bantry on the scoresheet with a point from a free after six minutes and a gradual all-round improvement saw the defending champions on level terms at the end of the opening quarter at 0-4 apiece.
With play swinging from end to end and both sides intent on playing fast, open football, Referee Harrington contributed in some small way to a splendid contest with sensible application of the new rules and at half time two evenly matched sides trooped off the field still tied at 0-6 a piece.
It might have been different had Philip Clifford not wasted a great goal chance just before the short whistle when he dispossessed Eamon Fitzmaurice on the 13-metre line, but kicked into the side netting when it looked easier to score.

Bantry improved greatly in the second half, helped by UCC's decision to break up their midfield partnership.
This allowed Moran and O'Neill to take control and it looked as if they had finally broken the students challenge when they eased three points in front by the three quarter-stage, the best of which was the third one by Eric Sheehan, who came forward from wing back to score.

However there was still a kick left in College and after Micheal Cronin pointed a free, every Bantry heart in the fair-sized crowd must have skipped a beat when Michael D. Cahill slipped inside the Blues' defence, but his effort for a goal went inches wide of Des McAuley's net.
The champions were clinging tenaciously to their crown as the students came forward again, and in those hectic last few minutes Ian Twiss cut the deficit to the minimum before Gary Stack's point ensured his side another day out.

It was too close for comfort for Bantry, but they will have benefited enormously from this marvellous contest, while UCC, who fielded nine Kerrymen, four from Cork, and one each from Limerick and Tipperary, will feel they have nothing to fear in the replay.

Scorers - Bantry: P. Clifford 0-4 (free); M. Moran, J. Canty 0-2 each; P. O'Rourke, S. McCarthy, E. Sheehan 0-1 each.
UCC: I. Twiss 0-3; S. Dowmey, M. Cronin 0-2 each; C. Galvin, E. Hanrahan, M. D. Cahill, G. Stack 0-1 each.

BANTRY: D. McAuley; T. O'Mahony, M. O'Connor, N. Twomey; P. O'Regan, G. Canty, E. Sheehan; D. O'Neill, M. Moran; S. McCarthy, A. O'Shea, P. O'Rourke; P. Clifford, J. Canty, D. O'Shea. Sub. S. O'Neill for O'Shea.
UCC: A. Quirke (Cork); S. MacSithigh (Kerry), K. Moynihan (do.), F. Kelleher (do.); P. Hanley (Cork), E. Fitzmaurice (Kerry), D. Reidy (Limerick); G. Stack (Kerry), E. Hanrahan (Tipperary); C. Galvin (Kerry), M. Cronin (Cork), S. Downey (Cork); M. D. Cahill (Kerry), B. Sheehan (do.), I. Twiss (do.). Subs. M. O'Shea (Kerry) for Galvin; P. Galvin (Kerry) for Downey.

Referee: G. Harrington (Carrigaline).

The replay was held 2 weeks later and both sides had changes in personnel. Bantry’s captain Paul O Rourke suffered a serious injury at work and had to be confined to his bed in hospital, while Eric Sheehan had a damaged ankle and could not play.UCC were missing Eamon Fitzmaurice and Goleen's Seamus Downey who had gone to Greece. Bantry’s line up was totally reshuffled with the following team taking the field :

BANTRY: D. McAuley; N. Twomey, Colman Keohane, T. O Mahony; G. Canty, M. O'Connor , P. O'Regan; S. Dineen,M. Moran; S. McCarthy, D. O'Shea. A. O'Shea; P. Clifford, D. O'Neill, J. Canty, SUBS :Padraig Healy, Shane O Neill and Declan Barron.

UCC’s team was A.Quirke (Valley Rovers), Fionnan Kelleher(Kerry), K. Moynihan (Annascaul),Damien Reidy (Limerick), P.Hanley(Glanmire), B. Galvin (Kilmurry),P.Galvin (Kerry), GaryStack (Kerry), Eamon Hanrahan(Tipp),M.O Shea(Kerry) M.Cronin, (Naomh Aban)L.Murphy (Kerry), I. Twiss(do),B.Sheehan (do), MD. Cahill(do).

Bantry were never at the races and failed to get going as players didn’t adapt to their new positions. Bantry were handed a lifeline when Stephen Dineen fisted a goal but didn’t take the initiative and allowed UCC back with a number of points and a goal by Micheal Cronin.

This team in truth never got going all year and the players didn’t seem to have same desire and will to win. However after a good break they should be refreshed and ready to reclaim the County in 2000

BANTRY JUNIOR FOOTBALL

COACH : GERDY BARRY

Bantry got beaten by Carbery Rangers in the first round.

BANTRY UNDER-21 FOOTBALL TEAM

COACH : Tommy Barry.

SELECTORS :Tommy Barry, Declan O Shea, Timmy Hodnett, John Lynam, Gerard Barry

CAPTAIN: Jeremy Canty.

Expectations for The Bantry Blues U-21 side were high. From the team, which had won the West Cork Championship in 1997, only 4 of the starting 15 were missing. Tommy Barry took over the management of the team and training began on the 30^th of January and everything seemed to be shaping up very well. Encouraging victories in challenge games, including a win over the Championship favourites, Caheragh seemed to point the way towards a successful campaign.However the emminent approach of the Senior Teams trip to Boston seemed to be the only obstacle between the U-21’s and a good championship run.

As it materialised, the holiday had a detrimental effect on the team’s preparations. A number of key players went on the holiday and it became impossible for the team management to organise games or have training sessions. From then on, preparations lost their momentum and with championship opener fast approaching, things were not looking so impressive as they were before the holiday. The game took place on May the 2^nd.

A good performance by Bantry on the day was not enough to defeat a Clonakilty side who played as a team throughout the game.

Bantry depended heavily on Colman Keohane and Graham Canty in defence, Jeremy Canty and Shane O Neill at midfield and attacker Philip Clifford. Kieran Cronin in goals made one outstanding save in the first half. However Clon Thoroughly deserved their win and won on a scoreline of Clonakilty 0-14 Bantry Blues 0-12.

BANTRY : Kieran Cronin, Rory Hennessey, Colman Keohane, Michael Lynch, Padraig Cremin, Graham Canty, Colm Healy, Jeremy Canty(0-5), Shane O Neill, Richard Lynch, John Harrington(0-1) ,Declan Barron(0-1), Philip Clifford(0-4), Richard Harrington(0-1).  

Written by Jeremy Canty.

BANTRY MINORFOOTBALL TEAM

COACH : PAT O DONOVAN

SELECTORS :. PAT O DONOVAN and PAT-JO CONNOLLY.