IT felt fitting that, on the eve of Fineen Wycherley’s 150th appearance for Munster, his home club Bantry Bay RFC was celebrating its centenary year in style.

For Wycherley, and so many more local players around the Bantry region, their home club is where their journey started. It’s here coaches gave young boys and girls the skills and tools to fulfil their dreams, so for Bantry Bay RFC to reach 100 years is a milestone worth celebrating. That’s exactly what the club did.

On Friday night, in the Maritime Hotel, Bantry Rugby Club held a captain’s couch event where Southern Star sports editor Kieran McCarthy had a chat with a host of local sportspeople.

Cork camogie star Libby Coppinger and Irish rugby great Niamh Briggs enjoying Bantry Bay RFC's celebrations. (Photo: Andy Gibson)

It was a night that highlighted the great work of Bantry Bay RFC and the wider sporting community, underlining how Bantry continues to punch above its weight across a range of sports.

Among the sports stars who shone on the night were two-time world kickboxing champion Tony Stephenson and 4 Honor Academy jiu-jitsu duo Shane O’Brien and Guilherme Alencar.

Guilherme Alencar, jiu-jitsu black belt and coach. and Tony Stephenson, West Cork Kickboxing Club, were two of the stars of the night. (Photo: Andy Gibson)

Joining them on stage in the first half of the captain’s couch were Fiona Riney and Sandra O’Donoghue of West Cork Jesters fame, with Sandra’s story of how she was denied a certain try at the International Mixed Ability Rugby Tournament World Cup in Pamplona last summer one of the highlights – there was video evidence to back up Sandra!

Enjoying the event were Eoin O'Reilly, Enniskeane; Jack O'Shea, Bantry; Jackie Peterson, Dunworley, and Aisling and Evelyn O'Reilly, Enniskeane. (Photo: Andy Gibson)

In the second half of the captain’s couch, former Ireland women’s rugby captain Niamh Briggs, three-time Camogie All-Star Libby Coppinger and Bantry Basketball Club’s Nuala Carey entertained and enlightened the audience with stories from their own careers.

Having fun at the event were Katie Keohane and Libby and Zoe Hicks, all Bantry. (Photo: Andy Gibson)

One common denominator all the sports stars share is their work ethic and commitment that gives their talent a chance to shine.

There were also rumours by the end of the night that Tony Stephenson, having conquered the world of martial arts, was set to swap sports and join the West Cork Jesters!

Seren Lehane, Kealkill, and Lily and Alice O'Donovan, Bantry, enjoying the Captain's Couch. (Photo: Andy Gibson)

In the night there were prizes too, as Niall Collins won a signed Munster jersey, and Danny McSweeney won the retro Bantry Bay RFC jersey.

This was a memorable event that showcased the best of Bantry Bay Rugby and the local sports community, as the club put on a show fitting of the occasion.