Brilliant Canty lifts Blues

A MARVELLOUS eight minutes burst, during which they went from three points down to four in front, gave Bantry Blues a victory they just about deserved over St Michaels in round two of the Evening Echo county SFC at Macroom last night.

It might have been all so different had Michaels not fluffed a golden chance of a goal just before half time which would have given them a six point half-time lead.

While it was essentially a team effort, Bantry were grateful for the brilliance of their inter-county man, Graham Canty. He played the proverbial blinder and it was his point in the 58th minute which proved the decisive score.

Michaels played with wind advantage from the start and served notice that they would be no pushover. John Browne found himself pitted against county senior Canty in midfield and levelled matters for the city side in the 5th minute after Jim Griffin had given the Blues an early lead with a point.

Bantry settled well with Damien O’Neill and Canty giving them a grip at midfield and with Declan Barron leading their attack in style, they led 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter. Michaels were grateful for a timely interception by corner-back Shay O’Donoghue to prevent Shane Drummey from scoring a goal and from that let off they began to take control.

Chris Murphy was dominant at centre-back. John Browne broke Bantry’s stranglehold on midfield and with Chris O’Shea and Ken O’Connell giving the Blues defence a torrid time, the scores began to flow.

A great run by O’Shea took him past a couple of defenders before he squared the ball across the face of the Bantry goal to the unmarked Ken O’Connell and he rattled the net with a first time kick. O’Shea tacked on a point before O’Connell saw his piledriver deflected over for a point which left his side 1-4 to 0-3 in front after 25 minutes.

Michaels were rampant and should have goaled a second time when Bantry keeper Danny Murray dropped the greasy ball into the path of the unmarked Gearoid Cleary, but the corner-forward, attempting to be certain of the goal, didn’t kick the ball hard enough and the magnificent Graham Canty got back to take it off the goal line. It was a huge let off for the West Cork side and they were grateful for the half-time whistle which saw the city side go in 1-4 to 0-4 in front and full value for it. To compound Bantry’s problems, Damien O’Neill didn’t come out for the second half due to illness, but perhaps it was the motivation they needed.

In the space of eight minutes they rattled in 1-4 without reply, the impressive Declan Barron scoring 1-2, the goal from a penalty, and Michaels were completely rattled. However, as is their failing, Bantry failed to sustain the effort and Michaels with Browne getting his second wind at midfield, began to pour forward.

County U21 player Chris Murphy led their recovery with some tremendous surges forward and as the Bantry scoring completely dried up — they failed to score for the next 20 minutes — Michaels had the deficit down to two points with six minutes remaining. However faulty shooting was to cost them dearly and, when Bantry’s needed was greatest, up stepped Graham Canty to lift the siege with a tremendous insurance point. While Michaels peppered the Blues goal in search of an equaliser, the West Cork side held for a merited victory.

Scorers for Bantry: D. Barron 1-5 !-3 frees); G. Canty 0-2; J. Griffin, D. McGrath 0-1 each.

St. Michaels: K. O’Connell 1-1; J. Browne 0-2; R. Downey 0-1 (45); A. Ryan (free), c. O’Shea 0-1 each.

BANTRY: D. Murray; T. Hurley, K. Harrington, K. Deane, J.. Griffin, K. O’Sullivan, R. Hennessy; D. O’Neill, G. Canty; A. Hamilton, D. Barron, D. McGrath; D. O’Shea, R. Lynch, S. Drummey.

Subs: B. Keohane for O’Neill; A. Mullins for Hamilton; D. McAuley for Murray.

ST. MICHAELS: A. Deasy; I. Lyons, F. Barry, S. O’Donoghue; C. O’Keeffe, C. Murphy, B. O’Keeffe; J. Browne, R. Downey; A. Coughlan, M. Mulconroy, D. Gosnell; G. Cleary, K. O’Connell, C. O’Shea.

Subs. A. Ryan for Cleary; A. O’Keeffe for Barry.

Referee: P. O’Leary (Kilmurry).