BANTRY Blues battled back from a slow start to win the Rebel Óg County U14 Division 1 Football Championship final, defeating Clyda Rovers 5-10 to 3-13.

The young Blues were slow out of the traps and trailed by 1-5 to no score after 15 minutes, but they clawed their way back into the game with goals from Eoin McCarthy and Calvin O’Brien to trail by three at half time.

Some positional changes by the management, and the aid of a strong wind allowed Bantry to get a foothold around the middle with Blake Hegarty and Conor O’Mahony showing all their class going forward, while the half back line of Tadhg Harrington, Killian O’Sullivan and Callum Connolly got on top. Bantry pushed on to lead by six points with ten minutes left, with goals by Eoin McCarthy and Calvin O’Brien.

Not to be outdone, Clyda Rovers stormed back to take the lead with five minutes left. Then came a huge equaliser from Jack Whooley, followed by a Conor O’Mahony 45 and two Calvin O’Brien points to give Bantry a three-point lead that they held to the finish.

There were great scenes of celebration when team captain Calvin O’Brien accepted the cup on behalf of the players and their management team of Cathal McCarthy, Tim Whooley, Brian Crowley, Paul O’Sullivan and Eoin Deasy.