The Bantry Blues GAA Club

Bantry Notes in the Southern Star after the County Final 2001

 At the risk of turning this article into a series of platitudes, it is very easy to be “a hurler on the ditch,” or in the case of last Sunday’s TSB county final, a footballer.

There was a massive exodus from Bantry from eleven o’clock onwards, cars, buses and supporters, blatantly recognisable in blue and white regalia, and brimming with enthusiasm, though it must be admitted in many cases, cautious optimism. Bantry Blues had a special Mass privately in The Westlodge Hotel, their main sponsors, followed by breakfast before heading Leeside for the county final.

And herein lies the moral—the county final, a fine achievement to get so far, to be up against the reigning champions; let us not forget the season of footballing joy and the wonderful scoreboards and memorable goals which earned them last Sunday’s outing, on the path to the final. In the first round they wrote off Aghada by 2-10 to 12 points; Avondhu were then vanquished on a tally of 4-14 to 12 points. Round four saw Clyda Rovers putting up a battle to lose by a point to the Bantry men—score 1-13 to Clyda’s 15 points.

The Na Piarsaigh game produced some of Bantry’s best football and finished 3-11 to 2-9, earning the Blues the right to play Carbery in the semis. Their 1-12 score to 7 points left a confidence which was sure to stand them in good stead for the big one. Alas, as the great writer John Steinbeck said, “The best laid plans of mice and men . . . .” What went wrong, the ifs, buts and maybes, the whys and why nots continue. It is part and paracel of the human psyche to love a winner, it is now up to supporters to rally behind the team, for whom things just didn’t “gel” into place on the day.

Yes, our spirits were dampened, together with our clothes, as grey skies gave way to spitting mists which in turn became bucketing rain. Still the sea of blue and white flags billowed in the stiff wind, as Colin Corkery and his men deprived Bantry of the big one, a trifle reminiscent of the 1981 game. Referee Ger Harrington (Carrigaline) made quite a few decisions which were not approved by many Bantry supporters, in particular the controversial point which most would claim to have been wide, awarded to the Capwell men.

So many facets, so many opinions, so much to ponder on. As George Tracey, a man so much associated with the winning Blues team of 1995 and ’98, remarked to us as we left Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday last, “it wasn’t just their day,” and as we ourselves have learned, “Beidh la eile againn, le cunamh De.”