Luke Murphy's hat-trick helps Ibane Gaels beat Bantry Blues to lift West Cork U21 A title

The Barryroe and Timoleague amalgamation suffered Carbery U21A final losses in the previous two years before overcoming reigning champions Bantry in a cracking final on Friday.

STAR MAN: Chairman of Carbery, David Whyte presents the Man of the Match award to Ibane's Luke Murphy. Picture: David Creedon

Ibane Gaels 3-14 (3-3-8) Bantry Blues 1-14 (1-0-14)

Luke Murphy was Ibane Gaels’ hero by scoring a second half hat-trick to claim the Clóna Milk Carbery U21AFC title over defending champions Bantry Blues in Dunmanway Friday.

The Barryroe and Timoleague amalgamation suffered Carbery U21A final losses in the previous two years before overcoming reigning champions Bantry in a cracking final.

It was a poignant evening for the winners as Barryroe club stalwart and Gaels U21 team mentor Donal Holland passed away last July. The former Ibane Gaels coach would have been proud of his players efforts, not least Man of the Match Jack Murphy who struck a second half hat-trick.

Olan O’Donovan wasn’t far behind, kicking eight points including three nerveless two-point frees. It took a full Ibane team effort to get over a dogged Bantry however, for whom Jack Sheedy, Mark Óg O’Sullivan and Paddy Cronin impressed.

This was Ibane Gaels’ night however, as the newly crowned champions erased the memories of their two previous West Cork final defeats in front of a huge attendance.

Ibane Gaels celebrate after defeating Bantry Blues in the Clóna Milk U21 A final at Dunmanway, Co. Cork. Picture: David Creedon

In a repeat of last year’s U21A decider, the sides were level four times in the opening 12 minutes and tied 0-4 apiece. Ibane would not score for the remainder of the half as the Blues took full control.

Having wasted two goal chances, Bantry’s Owen O’Neill, Luke Saltertownshend, Jack Sheedy (two) and Paddy Cronin scores handed the defending champions a 0-9 to 0-4 interval advantage.

The second half was a cauldron of excitement which began with Paddy Cronin and Daire Kingston extending the Blues’ lead.

Down seven points, Ibane began their comeback with Luke Murphy punching to the net. Murphy and Cronin traded frees before Olan O’Donovan made his presence felt by converting a brace of two-point frees to level the score for a fifth time, 1-9 to 0-12.

Bantry retaliated within 60 seconds as Mark Óg O’Sullivan slalomed through and found the net to edge his team back in front. The Gaels reduced the deficit via Olan O’Donovan (45’) and James Crowley to leave a point in it with 13 minutes to go.

Next, a superb Charlie Dineen delivery found Luke Murphy who billowed the Bantry net to make it 2-11 to 1-12.

Jack Sheedy and James Crowley exchanged points before a close-range Dara Sheedy free brought Bantry to within a point of their opponents.

Amid a welter of excitement, Luke Murphy completed his hat-trick before a third Olan O’Donovan two-point free rounded off a remarkable second half comeback and Ibane Gaels victory.

Scorers for Ibane Gaels: L Murphy 3-3 (2f), O O’Donovan 0-9 (3 2ptf, 1f, 1 45’), J Crowley 0-2.

Scorers for Bantry Blues: J Sheedy 0-5, P Cronin 0-3 (3f), D Sheedy 0-3 (2f), M Ó O’Sullivan 1-0, O O’Neill, L Saltertownshend, D Kingston 0-1 each.

IBANE GAELS: L McCarthy; K Hennessy, J Crowley, A Walsh; D Moloney, T Ó Buachalla (captain), C Twomey; D Dineen, S Ryan; J Twomey, O O’Donovan, A Fleming; L Murphy, J Crowley, D Walsh.

Subs: D Flynn for A Fleming (ht), C Dineen for S Ryan (ht), J Collins for J Twomey (58).

BANTRY BLUES: B Clancy; Conor Cronin, Christopher Cronin, R O’Shea; C O’Brien, M Óg O’Sullivan, E Reynolds; S O’Donovan, M O’Donovan; L Saltertownshend, D Sheedy, J Sheedy; O O’Neill, D Kingston, P Cronin (captain).

Subs: O Wiseman for L Saltertownshend (41), O Murphy for D Kingston (51), B Sheehan for J Sheedy (61, inj).

Referee: Anthony O’Regan (Kilbrittain).