Bantry Blues snatch victory in gripping tie

From the Southern Star

Going high for the ball in the senior football championship clash between Bantry Blues and Clyda Rovers at Pairc Ui Rinn were Philip Clifford, Bantry, gaining possession and backed up by Damien O’Neill to his left. (Pic- Ml. English).

Bantry Blues were a very relieved side at the end of this gripping TSB county senior football championship clash with Clyda Rovers at Páirc Uí Rinn last Sunday.

Forced to relinquish control after opening up a 1-13 to 0-11 lead by the 47th. minute, the South West men were fortunate to hold out for a single point win as gallant Clyda squandered a number of chances in a thrilling conclusion.

Add in the fact that Clyda had a goal disallowed for a small square infringement, and it's easy to appreciate why Bantry were counting their blessings at the finish of a contest that proved hugely entertaining for the fair-sized attendance.

The pity was that the game, fought out in exemplary sporting fashion by two determined and accomplished sides, was marred by an incident towards the end of the first-half when Bantry's Andy O'Shea made an awkward tackle and sustained a broken leg.

Bantry's form in their opening two outings against Aghada and Avondhu had left a bit to be desired, but they still entered the fray as fairly warm favourites to account for a Clyda side that had enjoyed a good run last year before having their limitations exposed by Nemo Rangers in the semi-final.

There was little to indicate during the opening exchanges, however, that Bantry were ready to produce their best form, and Clyda, despite playing into a fresh breeze, were full value for an 0-4 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes.

In fairness, Clyda played some very good football early on, and their overall display provided ample evidence that they are now very much a force to be reckoned with at senior level.

Their bright start owed much to the strong play from Niall Mullane, veteran Mick O'Shea and Derry Cronin in the half back line, and to the impact made by Fergal Dorgan and especially John Walsh on the left flank of attack.

Once Gerdie Barry settled down to limit Dorgan's progress, however, the Bantry half back line, in which pivot Andy O'Shea and Padraig O'Regan were both on top of their game from the outset, managed to significantly reduce to service to Clyda's two-man full forward line of John Walsh, who proved quiet a handful for Niall Twomey, and Derek O'Brien, who made life a bit uncomfortable too for full back Tim O'Mahony.

And, with Eamonn McCarthy enjoying the better of his duel with Clyda's roaming corner forward, Paudie Mullane, Bantry steadily turned the tide as the first-half progressed.

After centre forward Sean McCarthy reduced the deficit with a good point in the 12th. minute, Bantry, with Jeremy Canty providing much of the inspiration at left corner forward, hit a purple patch which yielded three quick points and a cracking goal from Philip Clifford.

Clifford's chance came about after troubled Clyda corner-back, Tom Walsh, misjudged a probing delivery from Damien O'Neill, and the Bantry full forward underlined his potential when racing in from the left to unleash an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net.

That pushed Bantry 1-5 to 0-4 ahead after 17 minutes, but, remarkably, they added just a point to their tally for the rest of the first-half.

With Clifford kept on a tight rein by Clyda full back, Brendan Walsh, and Paul O'Rourke, Sean McCarthy, Eric Sheehan and Declan Barron also struggling to make headway up front, Bantry had good cause for concern in the second-quarter, especially since Damien O'Neill and Graham Canty, while they both had their moments, were unable to stamp their anticipated authority on the midfield proceedings.

The efforts of Barry, O'Shea, O'Regan and Eamonn McCarthy, however, ensured that Bantry held the whip-hand until O'Shea's tragic injury unsettled them nearing the interval.

Three points to the good at the time, Bantry had their lead erased before the short whistle, and Clyda went in at the break with their tails up.

It was Bantry who raised the tempo on the resumption, however, and two good points from Paul O'Rourke, which sandwiched another from Declan Barron, suggested that they might be ready to suppress the spirited Clyda challenge.

Although Clyda hit back with two scores from frees per wing-forward, Paul Holland, Bantry, boosted by improved play from Graham Canty at midfield, steadily grew in stature during the third-quarter.

Eamonn McCarthy, at full-back, Tim O'Mahony, at centre-back, and Padraig O'Regan were particularly effective as the restructured rearguard gained a firm grip, and Bantry, with Clifford and Jeremy Canty carrying the main threat in attack, eased smoothly into a five point lead with 13 minutes of normal time remaining.

But Clyda soon showed that they were in no mood to bow out tamely, and, with Padraig Mullane, who had been effectively policed by Bantry substitute Padraig Cremin after half-time, finally coming good as a third midfielder, they made a determined bid to salvage the game.

Mullane popped up here, there and everywhere as Clyda applied the bulk of the pressure in the last ten minutes, but they found it difficult to unhinge the Bantry defence, and they were still three points in arrears as stoppage time approached.

Clyda's admirable perseverance eventually brought results, however, as midfielder Cormac O'Sullivan, who held his own against Damien O'Neill over the hour, landed a good point before a silly late tackle allowed Paul Holland to cut the gap to the bare minimum from a free.

From the kick-out, Cormac O'Sullivan made a great catch to feed Fergal Dorgan, who floated in a high ball which was fisted past helpless Bantry custodian, Alan Farrelly, by recalled substitute, Tom McGlinchey.

Much to Bantry's delight, McGlinchey was penalised for a small square infringement, and Clyda's frustration was compounded when Paul Holland shot wide with an effort to level matters with time almost up.

Scorers – J. Canty 0-6, 0-4 frees, P. Clifford 1-1, P. O'Rourke 0-2, S. McCarthy, D. O'Neill, free, D. Barron and P. O'Regan 0-1 each. Clyda Rovers: P. Holland 0-9, 0-8 frees, J. Walsh 0-2, N. Mullane, F. Dorgan, D. O'Brien and C. O'Sullivan 0-1 each.

Bantry Blues: A. Farrelly, E. McCarthy, T. O'Mahony, N. Twomey, G. Barry, A. O'Shea, P. O'Regan, D. O'Neill, G. Canty, E. Sheehan, S. McCarthy, P. O'Rourke, D. Barron, P. Clifford, J. Canty. Sub. P. Cremin for O'Shea (injured).

Clyda Rovers: D. Fitzgerald, T. Walsh, B. Walsh, A. Carey, N. Mullane, M. O'Shea, D. Cronin, C. O'Sullivan, P. Kissane, P. Holland, T. McGlinchey, F. Dorgan, P. Mullane, D. O'Brien, J. Walsh. Subs. D. O'Shea for McGlinchey, K. Cronin for O'Brien, McGlinchey for J. Walsh.

Referee, D. Linehan, Nemo Rangers.