Bantry have no answer as Ross show their class

Carbery Rangers 4-11

Bantry Blues 0-7

 KEVIN O’BRIEN REPORTS

A DOMINANT second-half display from Carbery Rangers saw them claim victory over Bantry Blues in the Paddy Minihane Cup final in Kealkil last Thursday evening.

Leading by four points, 1-5 to 0-4, thanks to David O’Donovan’s goal in the first period, the Rosscarbery side moved eight clear at the start of the second half and were never likely to be caught.

The first half was largely characterised by good defending from both sides. Points were traded at a slow rate, Jack McCarthy putting Bantry 0-3 to 0-2 ahead on 15 minutes before Seamus Hayes equalised. Hayes’ brother John almost followed that with a goal but Donal Casey made a great save to deny him.

With five minutes remaining in the first half, the goal did arrive though as O’Donovan made it 1-3 to 0-3. The Hayes brothers added points to extend the advantage but Alan Keane pulled one back for Bantry before the interval to leave four in it. 

At the outset of the second half, Ross hit the ground running with Kevin MacMahon winning the throw-in and he played a crossfield ball into John Hayes, who sent the ball sailing over the bar. 

Bantry struggled to cope with the early bombardment from Rangers, who extended their lead to eight points as substitute Sean O’Neill who fired his effort past Donal Casey into the back of the Bantry net. 

Rangers had a brilliant chance to put the game out of reach within the first ten minutes of the restart as they were awarded a penalty but was superbly saved by Donal Casey to keep Bantry fighting. 

John Hayes added to his tally with a point on 45 minutes before Bantry got their first score of the second half which came through Shane McSweeney who got his second point of the game. 

The Bantry forwards were met by a stubborn Ross defence of Rob Hegarty, Jerry O’Riordan, Steven Vickery, Stephen Murray, Mark and Padraig Hodnett who ensured Bantry’s youthful forward line of Shane Keevers, Daniel Murray and Jack O’Neill were marked tightly. 

The Blues had a chance at goal but Jack O’Neill’s effort was just a bit too high and had to settle for a point instead of three. Bantry’s final score of the came through Daniel Murray on 51 minutes. 

The final ten minutes saw Ross with the possession and kept the scoreboard ticking over with a point coming from Sean O’Neill and two from Cathal O’Rourke. 

Carbery Rangers finished the game off with two quick-fire goals, sub Brian Calanan tucking his effort in from a tight angle before O’Neill got his second at the death. 

Scorers

Carbery Rangers: Sean O’Neill 2-1, Brian Calnan, David O’Donovan 1-0 each, Cathal O’Rourke (1f), Seamus Hayes, John Hayes 0-3 each, Chris O’Donovan 0-1. 

Bantry Blues: Shane McSweeney, Alan Keane 0-2 each, Jack McCarthy, Daniel Murray, Sean O’Neill 0-1 each. 

Carbery Rangers: Anthony Roche; Rob Hegarty, Jerry O’Riordan, Steven Vickery; Stephen Murray, Mark Hodnett, Padraig Hodnett; Kevin MacMahon, James Fitzpatrick; Seamus Hayes, Cathal O’Rourke, Brian Hodnett; David O’Donovan, John Hayes, Chris O’Donovan. 

Subs: Ronan Milner for Anthony Roche, Michael Mennis for James Fitzpatrick, Sean O’Neill for David O’Donovan, Kieran Fitzpatrick for Chris O’Donovan, Brian Calnan for Seamus Hayes, Cian Daly for Stephen Murray. 

Bantry Blues: Donal Casey; Noel O’Flynn, Niel Canty, Shane McSweeney; Shane O’Neill, Tim Cronin, Kevin Coakley; Davy Daly, Ronan O’Mahony; Stephen Coughlan, Alan Kean, Jack McCarthy; Shane Keevers, Daniel Murray, Jack O’Neill.

Sub: Cathal McCarthy for Jack McCarthy.

Referee: John Forbes (Dohenys).