Bantry’s lethal attack too much for Castlehaven

Despite a few late scares, including the concession of a goal two minutes from time, the better team lifted the Liam Farr Cup after yesterday’s South-West cork U-21 AFC final at Aughaville.

In a contest held up for almost 40 minutes due to a neck injury to the Haven’s Niall O’Leary, who was removed to hospital by ambulance, Bantry’s dominance in midfield and a much more potent attack, where Joe Murphy was most productive, were key factors in their victory where midfielder Rory Deane was the winner’s star turn.

The Cork U-21 player, with his midfield partner Mark Delaney not far behind, was a colossus in a triumph where their dominance prevented the ball from going in to Haven dangerman Brian Hurley.

Starved of possession, and well marked on the rare occasion he showed, Hurley was moved to centre-forward nearing half-time in a contest where the winners had registered three points, without reply before the ninth minute incident resulted in a long hold up.

On the restart Hurley converted a free but wing back Cathal Power replied for the Blues, who were 0-8 to 0-4 to the good at the interval.

Despite playing against the stiff breeze Bantry had eased six points ahead entering the last quarter during which the losers strove manfully to claw their way back into contention. Driven on by the deeds of Bobby Nolan, Eóin Dennehy, Adam Davis and Michael Dineen they had a subdued Damien Cahalane serving up a fine individual goal to set up an exciting finish.

The losers might have snatched it at the death but for an excellent Donal Casey save from Darren Collins just after substitute Shane Delaney had the winner’s last score.

Scorers for Bantry: J Murphy 0-5 (0-1f), R Deane, G Hurley 0-2 each, G O’Shea, C Power, M Delaney, S Delaney 0-1 each.

Castlehaven scorers: B Hurley 0-5 (0-4f), D Cahalane 1-0, E Dennehy, M Dineen, D O’Mahony 0-1 each.

BANTRY: D Casey; C O’Leary, D O’Sullivan, S Edgeworth; C Power, T Downey, T O’Brien; M Delaney, A Keane; G O’Shea, R Deane, C O’Sullivan; J Murphy, G Hurley, D Power.

Subs: C Darby for A Keane, S Delaney for T O’Brien, D Daly for C O’Sullivan.

CASTLEHAVEN: B O’Donoghue; J O’Regan, S Collins, A Davis; D Leonard, B Nolan, P O’Brien; D Cahalane, M Dineen; J Nolan, D O’Mahony, E Dennehy; D Cahalane, N O’Leary, B Hurley.

Subs: D Collins for N O’Leary (inj.), J Burns for D Leonard.

Referee: D Whyte (St Marys).