The Bantry Blues GAA
Club
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The Bantry Blues GAA
Club
|
|
Clifford the ace
as Bantry take title
Bantry Blues 0-15 Bishopstown 2-5
By Bob Lester
BACK in 1913, Bantry Blues won the inaugural Kelliher Shield. Hard to believe
it, but not a sniff since.
But on Saturday, in Ballineen, they doubled that total with a terrific victory
over beaten Cork county finalists Bishopstown with a brand of sweet running
football that the city club just couldn’t match.
And coach Terry O’Neill, beaming at the end, was a happy man. “This one was
for Florrie O’Mahony, a man who has been involved in all our great triumphs
down through the years. We set ourselves a target after being knocked out of
the championship to get down to business and win the league. We got a great
response from the players and we proved today that Bantry is alive and well.”
How right he was. In truth, the West Corkmen were streets ahead of Bishopstown
in skill and know-how in this replay, goals in each half enabling the city men
to stay in contention. They even had the audacity to take a second-half lead,
mainly due to Bantry’s inept shooting. But when the alarm bells rang Bantry
were well able to respond.
For full-forward Philip Clifford this was a personal triumph. He kicked eight
super points, giving outstanding young defender Noel O’Donovan a torrid time
all afternoon. Again a terrific start by Bantry as points from Moran, Declan
Barron and Steve Dineen shot them three points clear inside five minutes. Liam
Honohan, who worked hard all afternoon, replied with a beauty for Bishopstown,
but all Bantry’s adventurous play was negatived by a fortuitous Mark Cogan goal
in the 10th minute, just holding a slender two point lead after the opening
quarter, 0-6 to 1-1. Again a terrific start by Bantry as points from Moran,
Declan Barron and Steve Dineen shot them three points clear inside five minutes.
Liam Honohan, who worked hard all afternoon, replied with a beauty for Bishopstown,
but all Bantry’s adventurous play was negatived by a fortuitous Mark Cogan goal
in the 10th minute, just holding a slender two point lead after the opening
quarter, 0-6 to 1-1.
Bantry’s determination was epitomised by O’Connor, who won a great ball on 50
minutes to set up Clifford for another point and there was only going to be
one winner now. Clifford, with another gem, and Barron tacked on further points
and to cap a frustrating day for Bishopstown Mark Kilgallon was sent off late
in the contest.
Scorers for Bantry: P. Clifford 0-8 (0-1 free), S. Dineen 0-4 (0-1 free), D.
Barron 0-2, M. Moran 0-1.
Bishopstown: J. Crowley 1-1, M. Cogan 1-0, L. Honohan (0-1’45) , J. O’Shea 0-2
each.
BANTRY BLUES: A. Hamilton; J. Harrington, M. O’Connor, E. McCarthy; N. Canty,
P. Cremin, N. Twomey; D. O’Neill, G. Canty; D. Barron, M. Moran, D. McGrath;
G. Barry, P. Clifford, S. Dineen. Subs: A. Farrelly for Hamilton, D. O’Shea
for McGrath, P. O’Rourke for Twomey.
BISHOPSTOWN: M. Galvin; D. Murphy, N .O’Donovan, D. Galvin; M. Kilgallon, S.
Murphy, B. Hussey; L. Honohan, D Cullinane; J. Murphy, J. Honohan, M. Cogan;
R. Honohan, J. Crowley, J. O’Shea. Subs: B. McCarthy for D. Murphy, B. Healy
for J. Murphy, B. Cuthbert for Cullinane, R. McDonnell for Cogan.
Referee: G. Harrington (Carrigaline).