Bantry Blues 0-4 Na Piarsaigh 3-5

Bantry Blues no match for Piarsaigh

By Brendan Larkin of The Examiner


THE victory won’t come as a major surprise to many, but the size of the winning margin will.

Following a win and a defeat in their last two outings against the Blues, Na Piarsaigh went into Saturday night’s TSB Cork SFC clash with Bantry at Annahala confident they could turn the tables on their great rivals.

Piarsaigh were worth every one of their 10 point winning margin, and if they can maintain this form, will go along way in this year’s champion-ship.

Piarsaigh had many heroes, not least goalkeeper Michael O’Sullivan who saved a penalty at a crucial stage of the game. Team captain Mark Prendergast led by example at wing back, while John Gardiner at mid-field belied his years with a superb display on no less a player than Damien O’Neill. Up front his brother David led the attack in style with Sean McLoughlin and Kevin Butter-worth putting their vast experience to great use in the full forward line.

This was a nightmare result for Bantry. They had Frank Delaney back from the States for his first outing in a Bantry jersey in seven years, but he failed to make any impression and was eventually taken off.

Michael Moran was also making his first appearance in two years following a back injury, but on the night the Blues had simply no answer to the incredible workrate of their opponents.

In a bruising match with six yellow cards and a sending off, Piarsaigh served notice of their intention with a goal in the ninth minute by Kevin Butterworth. Bantry, who had their first point in the third minute, had to wait until the 24th for their second, an indication of how well the Piarsaigh defence coped. The city side led 1-1 to 0-2 at the break.

Bantry moved Graham Canty out to midfield for the second half which helped their cause somewhat, but Michael Moran’s sending off for a second yellow card offence in the 35th minute certainly didn’t, and when Kevin Butterworth stroked home a penalty 10 minutes later to put his side six points in front, the die was well and truly cast for the Blues.

Bantry were given a glimmer of hope in the 50th minute when Frank Delaney was fouled going through, but Piarsaigh netminder Michael O’Sullivan saved Jeremy Canty’s penalty and there was no way back for the West Cork side.

It was all Piarsaigh in the closing minutes and they confirmed their superiority with a third goal scored by the impressive John Gardiner, and a point from his brother David which put the seal on a marvellous night’s work by the northside city lads.

Bantry will be grateful for the backdoor system which sees them play Imokilly in Round Two, but team coach Terry O’Neill won’t need reminding that he has a huge task on hands to get his side back on track if they are to have any say in this year’s championship.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: K. Butterworth 2-0 (1-0 penalty); J. Gardiner 1-1; S. McLoughlin 0-2; S. Glasgow (free), D. Gardiner 0-1 each.

Bantry: D. Barron 0-2 (frees); D. O’Neill, G. Canty 0-1 each.

NA PIARSAIGH: M. O’Sullivan; D. Mannix, M. O’Sullivan, R. Healy; G. Fitzgerald, R. O’Byrne, M. Prendergast; A. Daly, J. Gardiner; S. O’Sullivan, D. Gardiner, A. O’Connor; S. McLoughlin, S. Glasgow, K. Butterworth. Sub. Con Fitzgerald for Daly.
BANTRY BLUES: D. McAuley; T. O’Mahony, M. O’Connor, E. McCarthy; N. Twomey, G. Canty, E. Sheehan; D. O’Neill, S. O’Neill; S. McCarthy, F. Delaney, P. O’Rourke; D. Barron, M. Moran, J. Canty. Subs. A. O’Shea for S. O’Neill; S. Dineen for F. Delaney.