The Bantry Blues GAA Club

Bantry's experience proves vital

Bantry 2-10, Ilen Rovers 0-11

This was a game that Ilen Rovers could and, possibly, should have won but in the end it was the greater experience of the Bantry lads which proved vital. Outplayed for much of the first half Bantry still managed to retire in front at the break, completely against the run of play, and in the second half they held on comfortably to their lead before sealing their victory with a late, late goal. It would not be fair to describe this Bantry win in the u.21A football championship as a two man show but it was not far from it.

At midfield, county senior Graham Canty was a class apart and for a while in the second half was nearly unbeatable. Without him Bantry would never have survived. At corner forward ex-Cork minor Declan Barron was the scorer supreme and every ball he touched seemed to end in a score. Again his presence was vital for Bantry's success. While none of the others came near matching these two, nevertheless, Bantry did have fine performers in goalie, John Tobin, corner back Niall Canty, the third of that clan, John Harrington at centre back, Martin Coppinger, Donal McGrath and Donal O'Shea in the forwards.

This was a typical Ilen performance, full of running and short, fast passing. At times it looked spectacular but, unfortunately, many of their fine movements broke down near the Bantry goal against a fast-tackling Bantry defence. Had they played more direct ball to outstanding corner forward Kevin O'Sullivan, their chief scorer, then they would undoubtedly have won this one.

While O'Sullivan, a brother of Brian and a great prospect, was their top player, u.21 county man Diarmuid Duggan also hit some great patches and was at his best in the closing stages when Ilen almost pulled the game out of the fire. Finbarr O'Donovan had a fine game at full back while county u.21 player, Diarmuid Duggan was slow to get going but was an inspirational figure later on at centre back and venturing up field as well.

Both Seán O'Neill and John Wycherley tried hard at midfield but on the day there was no holding Graham Canty. The forwards all moved well at times but found the path to goal well blocked by the fast-tackling Bantry backs. Kevin O'Sullivan was their top forward getting most of their scores while Ed Sheehy was a stylish centre forward with Conor O'Driscoll also doing well. It was all Ilen for the opening twenty minutes as their half back line dominated play and set up movements for their forwards.

However, they were relying overmuch on corner forward Kevin O'Sullivan for scores and some of their forwards seemed to think that the main aim of the game was to see how often they could pass the ball without kicking it. Scores were slow to come because they invariably scorned the direct route to goal and after fifteen minutes of complete dominance they only had three points on the board from O'Sullivan (2) and Dominic Casey. With much less possession but a much more direct approach, Bantry poached two points per Declan Barron, one from a free.

Just as Ilen were over-reliant on O'Sullivan so were Bantry almost completely dependent on Barron for their scores. Entering the second quarter Ilen finally started translating their possession into scores and four in a row from Kevin O'Sullivan (2), Conor O'Driscoll from a free and Edward Sheehy put them into a deserved lead before Bantry began to emerge from their cocoon. Declan Barron began the comeback when he blazed over in the 23rd minute after a pass from Donal McGrath and then was hauled down going through in the 26th minute and saw his poorly struck penalty somehow squeeze under the body of goalie Davin Whooley for a vital goal.

When Canty pointed a minute later the sides were level and better was to come as Barron pointed a free to shove Bantry in front for the first time, 1-5 to 0-7, at the break, a lead they scarcely deserved as they had been outplayed for long periods. Even though Kevin O'Sullivan quickly levelled after the break it was Bantry who now had their tails up and with the majestic Canty rampant at midfield they had Ilen on the run in the third quarter. Barron pointed and then blazed over the bar after a long ball from Canty. Kevin O'Sullivan did close the gap to a point but Ilen were glad when goalie Whooley saved from Martin Coppinger after another Canty pass.

It was Canty himself with a great point in the 46th minute when he robbed Diarmuid Duggan and raced through. When Barron pointed a minute later Bantry were three points clear and looking good. There was no holding Bantry's intercounty men at this stage but Ilen had their own Cork player and it was Diarmuid Duggan who inspired their comeback as he surged forward from his centre back position in search of scores. He kicked over a point with six minutes left and when Conor O'Driscoll pointed a free the gap was down to the bare minimum and a draw looked a certain result.

It was not to be as an Ilen attack was intercepted in the very last minute and Bantry broke forward very quickly to catch the Ilen backs out of position. Donal O'Shea had a simple task of finishing to the net and that was that as Martin Coppinger put the icing on the cake with a late, late point. This was no classic but there was enough excitement in the second half to hold our interest. It was worth the journey to see the elegant Graham Canty in action and Bantry have unearthed another jewel in this player, similar in mould to the loose striding Damian O'Neill.

Referee Ciaran O'Neill had no trouble with two sporting teams and kept up with the play at all times.

Bantry: John Tobin, Kieran lynch, Ted Hurley, Niall Canty, Padraig Cremin, John Harrington, Colm Healy, Graham Canty 0-2, Ruairí Hennessy, Martin Coppinger 0-1, Donal O'Shea 1-0, Ger Hegarty, Declan Barron 1-7 (1-0 penalty), Donal McGrath, Kieran O'Sullivan. Sub, Brian Harrington.

Ilen Rovers: Davin Whooley, Brendan Duggan, Finbarr O'Donovan, Gavin Kiely, Flor O'Donoghue, Diarmuid Duggan 0-1, David Coughlan, John Wycherley, Seán O'Neill, Dominic Casey 0-1, Edward Sheehy 0-1, Conchur Ó Drisceoil, Conor O'Driscoll 0-2 frees, Ronan Sheehy, Kevin O'Sullivan 0-6.