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Archived News
2008
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GAA Club Notes & Local Newspaper Reports |
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Glory for Carrigaline - IHC - Noel Morgan - Southern Star 18-10-08
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Carrigaline 1-13
Bandon 0-10
For Carrigaline last Sunday at Pairc Ui Chaoimh where they turned in a convincing second half display to fashion a richly merited victory over Bandon in an absorbing, if unspectacular, county intermediate hurling final.
The result gave Carrigaline a first title, and it provided sweet compensation for all their past disappointments, not least those endured in the final against Ballymartle two years ago, and in last season's quarter-final clash with eventual champions Fr. O'Neill's.
It was Bandon's second successive defeat in the decider, but, unlike last year when, as with Carrigaline, they succumbed narrowly to Fr. O'Neill's, they could have no complaints whatsoever about their demise this time. The fact is that they seldom functioned with any real conviction on a day when their forwards, with the exception of Darren Crowley, failed dismally to measure up, particularly in the second half. Even Crowley's impact was minimal after the break, and he was held scoreless by Carrigaline substitute Conor Hurley during the last quarter when Bandon's total return from play amounted to a point from Eoin O'Donovan. That came in the 47th minute, and preceded by a good score from Crowley nearing the three-quarter stage, it left Bandon trailing by just two points, 0-11 to 0-9.
Four minutes later Donagh Lucey — entrusted with the free-taking duty after Crowley had been untypically erratic from placed balls hitherto — cut the gap to the minimum, and Bandon, primarily due to the efforts of midfielder Lucey and wing back Kieran Hurley, appeared to be building up a bit of momentum. But Lucey was off-target target from a difficult free on the right wing shortly afterwards, and Bandon failed to raise a flag in the closing stages which included four minutes of stoppage time.
That's a tribute to the to the excellence of the Carrigaline defence in which Paul Foster turned in a man-of-the match display at full back, and Colin Lynch and Geoff Dillon were equally unyielding in the corners.
It would be fair to say that the Carrigaline full back line was the main rock upon which Bandon's ambitions foundered, although Johnny Cowhig, Joe Moran and Conor Hurley weren't found wanting either in the half back line when the need was greatest. But Carrigaline were the better team overall, with Simon O'Brien, substitute David Drake and especially Stephen Corcoran making a telling impact up front at different stages in the second half.
AN EDGE. It meant that the Carrigaline enjoyed an edge in terms of fire-power which proved crucial to the outcome, especially since neither side achieved a sustained degree of dominance at midfield.
Nicholas Murphy opened brightly in this sector for Carrigaline, but Donagh Lucey made his mark for Bandon before Carrigaline brought Wesley O'Brien out from wing forward to good effect before half-time.
O'Brien was partnered by substitute Ray Keohane and they both did their bit to propel Carrigaline forward until Lucey showed up well again for Bandon in the last quarter. As with the midfield battle, the general trend of the play fluctuated for
most of the hour, and Carrigaline made the early running, forging two points clear through Simon O'Brien and Joe Moran, from a free.
O'Brien squandered a chance of a goal in the llth minute, hitting weakly at Bandon 'keeper John Crowley from close range, and Carrigaline had their lead erased over the next two minutes.
It was Darren O'Donoghue, fed by Donagh Lucey, who landed the score that brought Bandon back on terms, but hardworking centre forward Peter Murphy won possession from the puck-out to earn a free which allowed Stephen Corcoran to inch Carrigaline ahead again.
They twice stretched the gap to two points during the second quarter, but it was 0-6 apiece at the interval after Darren O'Donoghue and Donagh Lucey shared a brace of scores for Bandon in stoppage time.
Indeed, Bandon might have bagged a goal in between had Darren Crowley opted to complete a strong run with a pass to Darren O'Donoghue, who was standing in splendid isolation at the edge of the square.
A LET-OFF. That was certainly a let-off for Carrigaline, but, on balance, it was fitting that a stalemate situation prevailed at the end of a tense first half containing little enough in the way of frills.
After taking a pass from Nicholas Murphy, who was now installed at full forward, Peter Murphy drew first blood for Carrigaline on the turnover, but Darren Crowley quickly equalised for Bandon. By the time Bandon scored again, through Crowley in the 44th minute, Carrigaline had reeled off four points on the trot, two of which came from the stick of impressive substitute David Drake.
As things transpired, Carrigaline were to remain in front until the finish, and they were firmly on course for victory after Stephen Corcoran sent Simon O'Brien through for the game's only goal in the 56th minute.
Prior to that, Corcoran had completed an attack launched by Paul Foster with a point that, in interrupting a sequence of three white flags by Bandon, was an invaluable score for Carrigaline. During the third quarter, Corcoran had created the openings for points from David Drake and Wesley O'Brien, and he was unquestionably the main man in attack for Carrigaline, But Drake and Simon O'Brien were others to play leading roles up front for the winners after the break when team skipper Peter Murphy also had his moments on the '40.
LIMITED. By contrast, the threat from the Bandon attack was extremely limited in the second half when Darren O'Donoghue was well shackled by Carriga-line corner back Colin Lynch. Still, it was somewhat surprising to see O'Donoghue called ashore approaching the last ten minutes, especially since he had grabbed two inspirational points in the first half, and most of the other forwards looked incapable of troubling the scoreboard operator.
Eoin O'Donovan, roaming deep from wing forward, played a share of ball in the first half, but he didn't benefit from a move to corner forward on Geoff Dillon after the break when only Darren Crowley emerged with a modicum of credit in the Bandon attack. Elsewhere, Bandon were best served by Donagh Lucey, Kieran Hurley
and dependable full back Joe Burke.
With substitutes Drake, Keohane and Hurley all paying their way, practically every Carrigaline player put a shoulder to the wheel in the second half, but, arguably, ace forward Stephen Corcoran and defenders Paul Foster, Joe Moran and Geoff Dillon deserve special mention for their outstanding contributions to a famous and historic triumph.
Scorers - Carrigaline: S. O'Brien 1-2, S. Corcoran 0-5, 0-3 frees, D. Drake 0-2, J. Moran, free, T. Murphy, P. Murphy and W. O'Brien 0-1 each.
Bandon: D. Crowley 0-5, 0-2 frees, D. O'Donoghue 0-2, D. Lucey 0-2, 0-1 free, E. O'Donovan 0-1.
Carrigaline: M. Webb, C. Lynch, P. Foster, G. Dillon, J. Cowhig, J. Moran, P. Ronayne, N. Murphy, H. Harrington, M. O'Sullivan, P. Murphy, W. O'Brien, S. Corcoran, T. Murphy, S. O'Brien. Subs: D. Drake for O'Sullivan, R. Keohane for Harrington, C. Hurley for Ronayne.
Bandon: J. Crowley, B. Hurley, J. Burke, J. O'Donovan, K. Hurley, T. Bambury, D. Ryan, D. Lucey, N. O'Rourke, E. O'Donovan, A. Johnson, J. Hickey, D. Burke, D. Crowley, D. O'Donoghue. Subs: G. O'Ri-ordan for Bambury, C. Dullea for D. Burke, R. Crowley for O'Donoghue, R. Payne for O'Rourke.
Referee: C. Lyons, Nemo Rangers.
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Southern Star 18th October
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Bandon were unfortunately outplayed by Carrigaline in the Intermediate hurling final at Pairc ui Chaoimh on Sunday and can certainly have no complaints with the outcome. The final score was 0.10 to 1.13.
All through the game we struggled with Carrigaline's pace, their hunger and their ability to chase in packs from first whistle to last.
To put it bluntly you wont win many County hurling finals scoring just ten points.
Losing our second final in a row is heartbreaking and if mentors could bottle that awful sense of loss felt by players, management and supporters in the immediate aftermath of Sundays final, teams would be driven to never again losing a championship match again.
Bandon were fortunate to be level at half time 0.06 each. Carrigaline were however very lucky not to concede a goal right on the stroke of half-time, and what a tonic that might have proven to be with scores so hard to come by.
The Carrigaline goal with five minutes to go proved to be the killer score as Bandon had bravely fought back from 0.07 to 0.11 down and should have equalised. During the hard fought encounter they had clawed back several other leads but crucially never led, and at times were only hanging on.
An old failing of eleven wides over the hour was now help to our despairing efforts to close the gap.
Best on the day were Joe Burke,the excellent Kieran Hurley, Donough Lucey and Darren Crowley.
Team: J.Crowley, B.Hurley(capt), J.Burke, J.O'Donovan, K.Hurley, T.Bambury, D.Ryan, D.Lucey (0.01), N.O'Rourke, E.O'Donovan(0.01),
A.Johnson, J.Hickey, D.Crowley(0.06), D.Burke, D.O'Donoghue(0.02),.
Subs: G.O'Riordan, C.Dullea, R.Crowley, R.Payne, J.O'Regan
Well done to Red Crowley over the last two years, and his backroom team, Don McCarthy, Joe Crowley, Robert Wilmot and James Deasy and especially to the players themselves, who gave it their all and you cannot ask for any more. They put in some splendid performances this year against Barryroe, Kilbrittain, Milford, and Valley Rovers.
Spare a thought for the players and mentors involved as nobody sets out to lose a County final and you have to prepare as hard when you lose as when you win.
Kerryman Paud O'Shea in a newspaper recently made the comment that in his time as Kerry Manager the best Selectors he ever encountered were the ones he met on the Monday morning after a match.
Carrigaline are worthy County champions and we wish them well, they should prove to be a formidable team in the Premier Intermediate grade over the next couple of years. They lined out last Sunday with ten of the players involved under twenty two years of age, almost identical to Sarsfields in their Senior final win two weeks ago.
If Bandon were to go that route in 2009, and they are better equipped than many clubs to do so, then last Sunday in Pairc Ui Chaoimh could represent a real water-shed,were there to be some "changing of the guard". There is a real probability that there are a few faces we will unfortunately not be seeing again as regulars on a Bandon first team.
It may not feel like it this week but given the talent coming through, the club has plenty reason to be very optimistic about the future.
Many thanks to those who gave us generous sponsorship especially John Collins in Chaplins Bar, and other businesses in the town who made generous financial contributions to help defray the costs of the final.
Our thanks as well to the many businesses and individuals who put up signs.
Well done to Valley Rovers who made it a great week-end for the South-East with their win in the Intermediate football final. Their big ball victory will come as no surprise to anyone who saw their second-half come-back fall just short in the 2005 County U21 football final against Nemo Rangers.
Anyone wishing to join the forthcoming Cork County Board GAA Draw should contact a club officer.
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Winners atone for their previous losses - IHC - Denis Hurley - Evening Echo 13-10-08
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Carrigaline 1-13
Bandon 0-10
LIKE THE 2006 All-Ireland football final, yesterday’s Evening Echo IHC final pitted the most recent losing finalists against each other.
For one club, it would be atonement for that loss; for the other the heartbreak of a second defeat at the final hurdle in a short period of time.
Going in, the conventional wisdow was that Bandon had come through the tougher side of the draw, beating Barryroe, Kilbrittain, Milford and Valley Rovers, while the feeling was that Carrigaline had had it easier in accounting for St Finbarr’s second team, Barryroe and Kanturk.
Conventional wisdom was turned on its head, however, as Carrig made it a Carrigdhoun intermediate double after Valley Rovers’ football win on Saturday night while Bandon are today coming to terms with being runners-up for the second consecutive occasion.
It was not a great game, only 24 scores altogether, but that will matter little to Carrigaline as they managed to get 14 of those, including Simon O’Brien’s vital goal with three minutes of normal time left which knocked the wind out of Bandon and ensured that the cup would be heading to the south-east rather than the south-west.
Central to this was their ability to win the breaks from the puckouts, 25-18 they won this department, though they were ahead 21-12 at one stage. It was this hunger that saw them tear into everything as Bandon struggled to get out of the blocks at the start.
On a day for backs rather than forwards, the six and five points of Stephen Corcoran and Darren Crowley notwithstanding, Carrig’s two central defenders, Paul Foster (full-back) and Joe Moran (centre-back) were excellent, the number three deservedly winning the man of the match award, though Kieran Hurley never gave up the fight for Bandon and challenged midfielder Donough Lucey for the title of Bandon’s best performer.
With what was most likely the fear of losing a second final in a row crippling them, Bandon just never really got going, as they did not lead the game at any stage, and one felt that, if they could just get their noses ahead, then perhaps that confidence would allow them to push on and get the win.
Unfortunately for them, though, too many players didn’t show up, especially in the forwards, as only Eoin O’Donovan (one point) and Darren O’Donoghue (two) of that division contributed on the scoreboard apart from Crowley.
Crowley, while getting five points, three from play, was not up to his usual high standards from dead balls, sending six wide of the uprights, and Bandon rarely looked like getting a goal, apart from in the closing stages when they had no other option but to go for broke.
That is not to say, however, that Bandon lost this game rather than Carrigaline winning it, far from it, in fact.
They hurled with purpose and hunger, and will surely have been disappointed to go in at the break level at 0-6 each, having been the better side for long periods of the opening half.
Three times they led by two points in the opening 30 minutes, 0-2 to nil, 0-4 to 0-2 and 0-6 to 0-4 but, each time, Bandon clawed their way back, despite often being the victims of some questionable calls.
Eoin O’Donovan, named at right half-forward, was playing in a deep role in the first half, similar to late on in the semi-final against Valley Rovers, but it was not working as well this time as his absence from the forwards meant that it was more difficult to get the ball into scoring positions.
Even when they did, they found themselves stymied, through a mixture of poor decision making and strong defending, such as Moran’s great block on Crowley after 20 minutes, or Crowley going for his own score when Darren O’Donoghue was free just before the break.
At the other end, Carrig’s great intensity saw them come by their scores easier, though they too suffered, through some poor shooting.
As it was, their two-point lead after 27 minutes looked to be fair, before good work by Lucey and Alan Johnson led to a great O’Donoghue score, followed up by a comparable effort by Lucey.
With the sides going in level, the initiative looked to be with the Lilywhites, level without having played well.
Again, though, Carrig confounded the expectations, winning the third quarter 0-5 to 0-1 before Bandon dug deep to reel off three in a row, Crowley, Eoin O’Donovan and Lucey, now on the frees, got them back to within a point.
With seven left, Lucey had a free on the 20-metre line, though close to the touchline and by no means an easy shot. Had he put that over to level, then it was all to play for with the momentum on Bandon’s side, but the shot tailed to the left of the posts and Corcoran immediately opened up the two-point lead again, before O’Brien’s goal all but ensured victory.
Carrig will consider this win payback for the disappointments of recent years, the 2006 IHC, 2007 IFC and U21 HC finals, but for Bandon, the nagging questions will remain for a second consecutive winter.
They have enough experienced heads and bright prospects to come back next year, they will just hope that they can be like Kilkenny in 2000 and avoid a third final defeat in a row rather than Cloyne in 2006.
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Carrigaline scale the heights at last - IHC - Brendan Larkin - Irish Examiner 13-10-08
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Carrigaline 1-13
Bandon 0-10
AFTER years of defeat in both hurling and football, Carrigaline finally came good at Pairc Ui Chaoimh yesterday by winning the Cork IHC title for the first time and their first adult county title victory.
In a game that never rose above the mediocrity, there was no disputing Carrig's right to the spoils. They were fitter, sharper and had a couple of outstanding forwards in Simon O'Brien, Stephen Corcoran and substitute David Drake who all contributed to the scoreboard.
For Bandon it was defeat in the final for the second year in a row. But they can have few complaints.
They were almost totally dependent on Darren Crowley for scores. He contributed six of his side's points, while Darren O'Donoghue, who was surprisingly taken off, scored two. The loss of outstanding wing back Kieran Hurley with a head injury late in the game didn't help their cause either. Others to do well for the West Cork side were Donagh Lucey and Joe Burke.
Carrigaline struck early with a Simon O'Brien point after just 25 seconds and when Joe Moran added a second from a free on his own 65, the Carrigdhoun side couldn't have asked for a better start. Scoring was low as both defences were on top and it took Bandon 10 minutes to open their account when Darren Crowley pointed a long range free.
And when his namesake O'Donoghue drove over the equalising score two minutes later, it was evident that this final would go all the way down to the wire. Cork footballer Nicholas Murphy gave Carrigaline a grip at midfield and with Joe Moran a dominant centre back, they forged two points clear by the end of the opening quarter due to the accuracy of Stephen Corcoran from frees.
At the other end Darren Crowley was equally proficient from frees and he tied the game for the second time with a brace of points, one from play, to leave the asides locked together at 0-4 each after 25 minutes.
In that time each side could only manage one point from play, but there was a big improvement from there to the break and the last four scores, two points to each team, came from excellent outfield play.
Bandon did have the half only goal chance just before the break when Darren Crowley opted to go it along and he lost possession. As it was the sides remained tied at 0-6 each at the short whistle.
Carrig rung the changes for the second-half. In the space of five minutes they brought on three subs and moved Nicholas Murphy to full-forward and the pieces finally began to fall into place.
With his first touch Murphy set up his brother Peter for a point which Darren Crowley cancelled out, but Carrig had the bit firmly between their teeth and in a splendid five minutes spellhit over four points in a row - all from play — to put some daylight between the teams for the first time.
However, Bandon refused to roll over and with Kieran Hurley playing superbly at wing back, points by Crowley and Eoin O'Donovan had the deficit down to the minimum with nine minutes left.
In a game that was tight throughout, a goal was always going to be crucial and it was Carrig who got it. A long ball into the Bandon goal wasn't cleared and county minor Simon O'Brien finished it to the net which helped his side to a 1-13 to 0-10 lead. And they were never going to be caught from that position.
There was still some hurling to be done after four added minutes were called for and it took some great defending by the Carrig full back line of Colin Lynch, Paul Foster and Geoff Dillon to keep their goal intact.
Darren Crowley had a 20 metre free blocked and Colin Lynch took the sliothar off his goal line before the final whistle brought huge jubilation to the Carrig players and supports and left Bandon shattered by the cruelty of it all for the second year in a row.
Scorers for Carrigaline: S. O'Brien 1-2; S. Corcoran 0-5 (0-3 frees); D. Drake 0-2; J. Moran (free), T. Murphy, P. Murphy, W. O'Brien 0-1 each.
Bandon: D. Crowley 0-6 (0-1 65, 0-1 free); D. O'Donoghue 0-2; E. O'Donovan, D. Lucey (free) 0-1 each.
CARRIGALINE: N. Webb; C. Lynch, P. Foster, G. Dillon; J. Cowhig, J. Moran, P. Ronayne; P. Murphy, G. Harrington; M. O'Sullivan, T. Murphy, S. O'Brien; S. Corcoran, N. Murphy, W. O'Brien.
Subs: D. Drake for O'Sullivan (half time); R. Keo-hane for Harrington (half time); C. Hurley for Ronayne (35th).
BANDON: J. Crowley; B., Hurley, J. Burke, D. Ryan; K. Hurley, T. Bambury, J. O'Donovan; D. Lucey, N. O'Rourke; E. O'Donovan, A. Johnson, J. Hickey; D. Crowley, D., Burke, D. O'Donoghue.
Subs: G. O'Riordan for Bambury (38th); C. Dullea for D. Burke (42nd); R. Crowley for D. O'Donoghue ((48th); R. Payne for O'Rourke (55th); J., O'Regan for Hurley (57th).
Referee: C. Lyons (Nemo Rangers).
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Clon hold on despite fade out - U16F - Cois Farraige - Southern star 11-10-08
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Clonakilty 1-10
St Brogans 2-05
CLONAKILTY were wondering after this cracking South West under 16 A football final in glorious conditions in Dunmanway on Sunday last how they were left hanging on to a dangerous two-point lead in the closing minutes.
For fifty minutes they had dominated the proceedings, playing some great football, against a very lacklustre Ban-don outfit and even though they led by six points with fifteen minutes remaining, they failed to pull the trigger and allowed Brogan's to get back into the game as they seemed to tire badly in the closing stages. As this was their fourth game in two weeks, two of which went to extra-time, it was understandable that they faded in
those vital closing stages.
From the throw-in, on a really beautiful autumn day, Clon served notice of ending their long famine in this grade by grabbing control of the midfield area through the efforts of the hard-working Fiachra O'Con-nell and the strong Graham Murray, and with Tomas Clan-cy giving a marvellous man of the match performance at centre back, they swept forward in search of early scores.
Dangerous corner forward Jonathan Leahy opened the scoring from a free, Murray added a second from a huge free way out on the wing and the strong Stephen Sheehy was causing fierce problems at full forward, added a third, from play, before Brogans had time to draw breath.
While Brogan's were experiencing problems in winning possession, with Clancy's high fielding for Clon being particularly note-worthy, they did possess two top-class forwards in Jamie Crowley at centre forward and Mark Sugrue, deadly accurate from frees, at centre forward and when these players swapped positions they began to trouble the Clon rearguard, and in fact were responsible for all of Brogans' scores. Sugrue opened Brogan's account from
a free, with the accurate Eaton Draper replying in kind for Clon, and Crowley cut through on a fine solo run to point from play.
A ROCKET. Out of the blue, in the 16th minute Brogan's struck for the first goal of the game when Crowley fielded Sugrue's free into the goalmouth area and hit a rocket to the Clon net. Despite playing second fiddle all over the pitch Brogan's were in front and Clon were clearly rattled for a while. When Sugrue added another free it seemed Brogan's, two points to the good, had weathered the Clon storm with Peter Murphy at centre back and Colin Swanton at full back doing great covering.
However, back came the Clon lads and some lovely football from centre forward Gearoid Barry, corner forward Eamonn Downey and wing backs Alan O'Sullivan and Eoin Hartnett, saw them levelling with points from Draper, free, and Jonathan Leahy. Maintaining the momentum, Clon repeated that double act and at the break were in front by 0-8 to 1-3. It should have been more, in light of their domination in that opening half.
Despite playing into the strong sun, it was Clon who again took control as the second half began with lan Falvey showing up well at wing forward and Leahy added a point to open up a three-point gap but Sugrue responded with a free. Clon had introduced their injured star, Barry O'Mahony, in the second quarter and, despite being clearly hampered by an ankle injury, he was on hand in the 38th minute to strike a vital blow for the Brewery Town side when he latched on to a pin-point Murray pass, after great work from O'Con-nell, to smash an unstoppable shot to the Brogan's net.
When Leahy kicked a lovely point from play Clon were six points to the good, 1-10 to 1-4, as the game entered the last quarter and it seemed all over for the Bandon lads.
To their credit, the Lily-whites reserved their best to the end. With sub Sean 6g Murphy making a big impression at midfield, well assisted by Brian Crowley, Philip Crow-ley and Peter Murphy, Bandon closed the gap with a Sugrue free but were too dependent on Crowley and Sugrue for scores up front. There was no further score for ten minutes as Clon missed some good chances and Brogan's continued to grow stronger. Taking control around the centre they laid siege to the Clon goal in the closing minutes and when a free from Sugrue landed in the Clon goalmouth in the 55th minute Jamie Crow-ley seemed to reach highest to deflect it to the Clon net.
Five minutes to go and the lead down to two points, the game was really in the melting pot and it took some great defending by outstanding full back Kevin Cormican corners Barry Peppard and Jack Bar-rett and, especially wing back Alan O'Sullivan to keep Brogan's at bay. Goalie Aidan Collins was called into action too and he wasn't found wanting as Clon closed ranks and hung on to win by two points, 1-10 to 2-5, amid great excitement.
Referee: Donal McCarthy, Sam Maguires.
There were great scenes of delight as runai of the SW Bord na nOg, Eddie Moloney, presented the cup to Clon captain Barry O'Mahony and the large crowd showed their appreciation of some great entertainment on a splendid day.
Scorers — Clonakilty: Jonathan Leahy 0-5, 0-1 free, Barry O'Mahony 1-0, Eaton Draper 0-3 frees, Stephen Sheehy 0-1, Graham Murray 0-1. St. Brogan's: Jamie Crowley 2-1, Mark Sugrue 0-4 frees.
Clonakilty: Aidan Collins, Jack Barrett, Kevin Cormican, Barry Peppard, Alan O'Sullivan, Tomas Clancy, Eoin Hartnett, Graham Murray, Fiachra O'Connell, lan Falvey, Gearoid Barry, Eaton Draper, Jonathan Leahy, Stephen Sheehy, Eamonn Downey. Sub: Barry O'Mahony.
St. Brogan's: Tadhg O'Donp-van, Barry O'Donovan, Colin Swanton, Aidan Dullea, Eoin O'Mahony, Peter Murphy, Robert Long, Brian Crowley, Philip Crowley, Joshua Desmond, Jamie Crowley, Matthew McNamara, Eoin Ryan, Mark Sugrue, Conor Gos-sage. Subs: Barry Collins, Eoin Hetherton, Sean Og Murphy.
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Crowley focused on ending Bandon's title hunger - IHC - Brendan Larkin - Irish Examiner 11-10-08
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BANDON native Red Crowley played with Carbery against Glen Rovers in the 1971 county SHC and scored 1-6 from centre forward.
Word quickly spread he had moved into the city and, never a club to let an opportunity slip, the Glen, in the person of the legendary Christy Ring, met up with Crowley and asked him to join the Blackpool club.
Crowley gave his word and despite efforts by Blackrock to get him to change his mind — Crowley had come to live in Blackrock — he stuck to his guns and went on to play in eight county finals, winning two counties, two Munster Club and two All-Ireland Club medals with Glen Rovers, in 1972 and 1976.
However, he never forgot his roots, and two years ago he answered the call from his native town, took charge of the intermediate hurlers and guided them to the county final, where they lost to Fr O'Neills by a point.
"That was a heartbreaking defeat, but we picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves down and resolved to get back to the final again," said Crowley.
"Thankfully we are here again, but it will be no use unless we complete the job. A town the size of Bandon needs to be at the top. Hurling is very important to the people in the area and it would be brilliant if we could give them something to shout about.
"We are very fortunate to have two schools as nurseries, St Brogan's in particular. The majority of the players are past pupils there and the school has helped to mould them into excellent hurlers.
"The present squad of players is a pleasure to be involved with. Their commitment to training has been superb and they deserve to get something out of the game. This year's run to the final has been very good. We've been chalking up the scores, points in particular and, having done so well at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in the semi-final against Valley Rovers, it's great to be going back there again for the final.
"It would be a shame if we don't win it because we have put in the work. But, in a two-horse race, anything can happen. I'm sure Carrigaline will be saying the same thing. We have a nice team of youth and experience. Barren O'Donoghue has been around a while now, along with Joe Burke and Kieran Hurley, while Darren Crowley, Ronan Crowley and Roy Payne are very talented youngsters. Hopefully the day will be fine and we play to our potential. If we do we'll be hard to beat."
Jerry O'Sullivan has other interests, apart from managing the Carrigaline hurling team. He is a well known in greyhound circles and has had many winners in the sport.A native of Bally-garvan, Jerry moved to Carrigaline over 30 years ago, but only became involved with the team this year as most of his time had been taken up with his four-legged friends.
"We go into tomorrow's game with a slight handicap, in that Bandon have played a game more than us as we got a e into the quarter-finals. But 1 won't be offering that as an excuse if we are beaten," said O'Sullivan.
"Like Bandon, we are a bustling town with a big population and need to be playing at the top level. A county title would lift the profile of the club to new heights and give our underage players something to aim at. Thankfully we will be at full strength. Our team also has a nice mix of youth and experience with county senior footballer Nicholas Murphy, his brother Peter, who is the captain, and Jeff Dillon providing the leadership.
"Carrig has given a number of players to the county minor team in recent years. Players like Joe Moran, Stephen Corcoran, Simon O'Brien and David Drake have all donned the red jersey.
"Two years ago Carrigaline lost the final to Ballymartle and we want to make up for that. It's an old cliche, but it will all come down to who performs best on the day. They are favourites and that suits us fine. It should be a cracking match and, hopefully, we'll come out on the right side."
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James O'Donovan recalls first training session of 2008.. - IHC - Denis Hurley - Evening Echo 10-10-08
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IT’S A rainy late afternoon in Chaplin’s Bar, Kilbrogan Hill, Bandon on Monday, October 22, 2007.
Having been beaten in the Evening Echo IHC final to Fr O’Neill’s the day before, the Bandon hurling panel are licking their wounds, with the beer unable to overcome the feelings of despair.
In a bid to change the mood, coach Red Crowley calls for silence and addresses his troops, saying: “This is our first training session of 2008, and we’ll be back in the final next year, but that we’ll win it.”
While the only training that may have gone on that night was the lifting of pint glasses, a promise was made by one and all and now, a year on, Bandon find themselves back in the decider, facing Carrigaline tomorrow.
That day is something that Lilywhites defender James O’Donovan can recall.
“Yeah, that day in the pub Red said to us that it was our first training session,” he says.
“I suppose it started the day of the final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh really, we looked around after and said that we had come so far, it was the first time that we had got past the quarter-finals, and we knew that we had to get back to the final again.
“Last year’s county final, it was an absolutely distraught feeling afterwards. I felt, after we went a point up late on, that we’d win, but it was very hard to call at the same time.
“Losing by a single point is awful, especially when it’s from a placed ball. We were unlucky not to get at least a draw but, in fairness, we did get a few chances to level but just couldn’t take them.”
Three of Bandon’s four games to date have been local derbies, against Barryroe, Kilbrittain and Valley Rovers, and that is something that James says has sharpened their competitiveness.
“Big time,” he says. “You’ll always play your best hurling in local derbies. As a result, against Milford, a team that, I wouldn’t say we undermined, but maybe didn’t know much about, we kind of flopped on the day.
“Against Barryroe, Kilbrittain and Valleys, we played a lot better, I think.”
A big feature of Bandon’s side is the way that youth and experience fuse so well, with no less than eight of the current panel having started in the 1999 JAHC final, when the Lilywhites overcame Courcey Rovers
“Yeah, we have a good blend of older and younger fellas,” James says.
“Then, as well, we have fit legs to come off the bench in every match.
“The likes of Ronan (Crowley) and Roy (Payne), and Darren Ryan against Barryroe, younger players coming on, useful players who can steady the ship and take over from the older lads.
“The older heads are vital, Chesty (Brian Hurley), (Tomás) Bambury, Kieran (Hurley), Joe (Burke), they’ve a load of experience.”
In last Sunday week’s semi-final against Valleys, James marked Cork panellist, and good friend, Kevin Canty on the edge of the square, despite being named at left-half back, though it’s not something that he was surprised to be asked to do, nor was he overwhelmed at the prospect.
“Well, in the last three games that we’ve played them, I marked him, and I knew myself that I’d be marking him, but I wasn’t told until just before the game,” he says.
“The fact that himself and myself are best friends, I looked at it as me marking Kev rather than marking a Cork player. It’d be different now if it was Joe Deane or someone that I was marking, someone I didn’t know.
“As I say, we’re best friends, we’d often have marked each other, and played together at St Brogan’s too, so we’d know each other’s games inside out.”
O’Donovan powered forward to score a vital long-range score late in that game (“It was kind of hit-and-hope more than anything!) but, modestly, has not been overly happy with his performances this year.
“Overall, not really,” he says. “In the Milford game I was shocking; Barryroe, I didn’t do much; Kilbrittain, I did alright, and the last day I did well enough.
“It’s just what happens on the day really.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow, and the challenge of Carrigaline, James is wary, and makes his opponents favourites.
“They’ve been knocking on the door for a while now,” he says.
“They were in a football final last year and a hurling final the year before that, they got to an U21 hurling final last year.
“You have to stand back and admire them and say that they’re an elite outfit and it will happen that they’ll make a breakthrough in the next year or two.
“I suppose we’ve come through the harder side of the championship, but from my own personal view, I’d have them as favourites. We’re looking forward to it, though, and I can’t wait to play them.”
An extra motivation for Bandon will be the junior football loss to Éire Óg last weekend, something James readily agrees with.
“That has put a clinch on things now alright,” he says.
“It is extra motivation in that we’re in the exact same position as we were last year, we had the first round of the football county before the hurling final.
“We lost both, we can’t do that again this year.”
Away from GAA, James likes nothing more than a road bowling score.
It’s just been handed down from generation to generation in the family, the ould fella was a senior bowl player and the grandfather before him was too,” he explains.
“It’s a good release from GAA. You play hurling and football to a certain extent and you say, ‘shag this’ and you go away then and play the bowling and you get a break from it.
“I find that breaks things down anyway.”
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Bandon to beat their near neighbours - IHC - Mark Woods - Evening Echo 10-10-08
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TWO big towns going head to head to determine who will be playing premier intermediate championship hurling next year.
With all the counter attractions in towns like this these days, it is welcoming to see these two on the final day of the championship year.
Bandon, of course, as we know have been down this road before, losing by a point to Fr O'Neill's in last year's final, a game many felt they deserved to draw.
But the fact is that they didn't and now comes this day of redemption against a club who have also suffered defeat on county final days.
Red Crowley has done a remarkable job with Bandon in getting them back into the final and that wasn't easy considering that they had to defeat near neighbours and arch rivals Valley Rovers along the way in the semi-final.
In that game that great veteran Darren O'Donoghue was the star of the show, notching some fabulous points from play.
He is still a major presence in their attacking formation, but others like Darren Crowley, Alan Johnson and Donnocha Burke bring strong credentials as well.
Crowley does not miss too often from frees, while in midfield, Donagh Lucey is very experienced
There's a strong presence in the half-back line of Kieran Hurley, Tom Bambury and James O'Donovan while Joe Burke is fairly commanding at full-back.
Last year's experience, albeit a heartbreaking one, will stand to them here against a Carrigaline team bidding to bring a much needed county to the club.
They looked impressive enough in seeing off a resilient Kanturk side in the semi-final and, whilst it's basically a very young side, it's battle hardened too.
Paul Foster, Geoff Dillon, Peter and Nicholas Murphy are the experienced heads on the side while their youthful ex-huberence is represented by the very talented Joe Moran at centre-back, Simon and Wes O'Brie and Stephen Corcoran in attack.
The old adage of having to lose one before winning one might very well apply here especially if O'Donoghue is as impressive as he was against Valley Rovers.
This has the potential to be one of the best club games of the year and this jury is going to give a tentative vote to Bandon to make up for last year.
Verdict: Bandon by a couple of points.
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Bandon aiming to banish the memory of last year's defeat - IHC - Mark Woods - Evening Echo 10-10-08
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IT'S a memory which stayed with Bandon for most of the winter.
It would be stretching it to describe the moment as haunting, but it wouldn't be too far from it either.
When Barren Crowley struck Bandon's 15th point in last year's Evening Echo Cork Co Intermediate Hurling Championship final it looked like ending a barren 33-year wait since their previous triumph.
With the game in injury-time Bandon stood on the brink, but Fr O'NeiU's tore up the script. Not only did they draw level, but a Ger O'Leary free in the third minute of additional lime proved to he the winner.
The east Cork club's Joy knew no limits. Bandon experienced the raw, hollow feeling deep in their gut only a losing team can feel.
In those circumstances it would be easy to feel sorry for yourself, wallow in self-pity and curse your bad luck.
But, it speaks volumes for the players' character that they lifted themselves off the ground, dusted themselves clown and decided this wasn't going to happen again
It was the sort of response wlileh could only encourage couch Red Crowley to drive on to complete unfinished business.
No point in the man at the helm having ambitions if the players weren't going to buy into them.
"They went hack training themselves at the end of January and that typified their determination and attitude to bounce back.
"I was quietly pleased," said Crowley during the week.
That show of defiance and commitment to set the record straight has obviously been in the minds of all concerned, because Bandon swept through all before them to reach the final again on Sunday, Carrigaline providing the opposition. "We're all looking forward to it. That injury-time point tore the heart out of us last year, but we're back and that shows what the lads are all about.
"I know they say you've got to lose a final before winning one, but it doesn't always work out like that. Nobody wants a repeat of last year and that's why there's been such a huge effort. We've a full squad. Everyone is okay and that's a very good position to be in."
The team is likely to show 14 of the side which went so close this time 12 months ago. Midfielder Niall O'Rourke is Donough Lucey's partner in the critical centre-field area with Charles Dullea on the bench primed to be introduced as he was in the semi-final win over Valley Rovers.
At the start of the year Crowley identified one key area where Bandon needed a big improvement. "We hit a lot of wides last year and it was obvious we needed to sharpen up our shooting.
"It's something we've worked a lot on in training and the main as-
Mpect of it all is that we're enjoying it and that's important."
Putting Crowley's theory into practice in the heat of championship was always going to be the only yardstick on which to judge progress. And it's so far, so good. Four games played for a total of 67 points surely represents a step in the right direction. Throw in a-goal-a-game on top of that and you've an average of almost 1-17.
Factor into the equation that Bandon's opponents only scored less than 1-12 per game and you can see the difference straight away. "I think one of the main differences this year from last is that we're playing better hurling for starters. All the games have been very tense with fierce commitment from both sides."
The two Barrens, O'Donoghue and Crowley, are the obvious match winners in the Bandon attack. Free-taker Crowley tops the charts with 31 points to his name, but it was O'Donoghue's seven from play in the semi-final win which caught the eye.
Bandon's opponents are a bit like themselves, having lost the 2006 final, despite scoring an impressive 1-19 in the process.
And an early-season game against Carrigaline opened their eyes to what might lay in wait at the business end of the season.
"They beat us by 4-8 to 0-15 and I was impressed with them. Carrigaline were strong on the ball and while both teams were missing players it was still a wake-up call for us."
This is Crowley's second year at the helm. The Bandon native is better known for his hurling days with Glen Rovers, winning two county titles and a couple of Munster and All-Ireland Club championships, too, in the mid 1970s. And that's not ignoring his national league medal with Cork in '74.
"I was approached a number of years to get involved and I put it off until last year. And to be honest I'm delighted I took up the offer, because the whole thing has been very enjoyable."
Now a county title would be the icing on the cake!
This is Bandon's fifth final in the grade. They lost to Ballyhea in 1931, defeated Glen Rovers in 1952 and Midleton in 1974 before last year's defeat by Fr O'Neill's.
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Southern Star 11th October
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Bandon GAA club would appeal to Bandon supporters to turn out in numbers next Sunday in Pairc ui Chaoimh for our Intermediate hurling final against Carrigaline.
This is our second final in a row and hopefully Sunday will be redemption for a team who have beaten Barryroe, Kilbrittain, Milford and Valley rovers on their way to the final.
The game is the curtain raiser to the Cork County Premier Intermediate semi-final between Blarney and Douglas.
The very best of luck to Red Crowley and his backroom team, Don McCarthy, Joe Crowley, Robert Wilmot and James Deasy and especially to the players who continue to put in a tremendous effort as the evenings get noticably shorter.
The quarter final of the County championship was again the graveyard for the Bandon Junior A footballers who were overwhelmed by Eire Og in Newcestown on Saturday evening.
The final score was 0.06 to 2.11 in our poorest display at this level for quite a while.
The game was to be forty minutes old before Alan Johnson registered our first score. We then bombarded our opponents for the next fifteen minutes and significantly aside from the six points we registered eight wides to Eire Og's one.
Only Alan Johnson James O'Donovan and Pat Prendergast emerged with reputations intact.
The half-time score was 0.00 to 1.07 and in truth the game was over as a contest at the short whistle, though bandon had the elements in the second half, they had left themselves a mountain to climb.
In hindsight Eire Og have had three or four games at championship intensity over the last three weeks and it really stood to them as too many Bandon players struggled to get to the pace of the game after a six week lay-off since the West Cork final.
Team: P.Prendergast, M.Quirke, J.O'Donovan, N.Connor, K.Walsh, J.Walsh, D.Crowley, J.Milner, K.Lucey, Darren Crowley(0.01), A.Johnson(0.01), D.Lucey(0.01), J.O'Connell, R.Milner, R.Moloney(0.02) Subs.: D.Ahern(0.01), T.O'Donoghue
Anyone wishing to join the forthcoming Cork County Board GAA Draw should contact a club officer.
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Eire Og power past a poor Bandon side - JFC - Sarah O'Donovan - Evening Echo 06-10-08
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Eire Og 2-11
Bandon 0-06
Eire Og proved too strong an opposition for Bandon in Evening Echo County Junior A Football Champiship quarter-final played in Newcestown.
The Muskerry side, aided by a strong cross field wind were relentless in the first half and held a ten point lead going in at the break.
Bandon found kicking into the wind near impossible and failed to register a score during this period.
Both side's efforts were hampered by the wet and slippery conditions but Eire Og coped the better and their impressive victories in the Mid-Cork championship appear to have given the side sufficient confidence to progress in this championship.
Daniel Goulding opened his sides account in the second minute and a powerful burst from Cork minor Ciaran Sheehan yielded the Muskerry side's second point through Aidan O'Connor in the fourth minute.
O'Connor should have had a goal with nine minutes played but Bandon goalkeeper Pat Prendergast pulled off the first of two superb saves in the hour to deny the Muskerry side.
Goulding and Sheehan were proving a handful and both pointed before the fifteenth minute to put the score at 0-5 to 0-0 despite the best efforts of impressive full-back James O'Donovan. Eire 6g corner-back Cian Lowney was equally impressive during this spell, coping sufficiently with the threat posed by Bandon star Darren Crowley.
The Carbery side shot a number of poor wides before the 20th minute and the resulting turn-over in possession yielded the goal to cement Eire Og's dominance in the encounter.
Barry O'Neill was best placed or the edge of the six-yard box to tar home a pass from Aidan O'Connor to put his side eight points clear.
The second half failed to ignite despite Eire Og allowing Bandon the lion's share of the possession.
Dermot O'Herlihy pointed for Eire Og with 35 minutes played and Goulding added a point but it was the Carbery side who dominated the next quarter.
Alan Johnson, Donagh Lucey, David Ahern, Darren Crowley and two Robert Moloney frees gave the side some credibility on the score-board but a vital goal never looked on the cards.
Bandon goalkeeper Prendergast saved brilliantly from Liam Murphy with 52 minutes played but a superb point from Eire Og's Dermot O'Herlihy immediately after, roused his side into action.
Despite hitting the post twice Eire 6g added a further 1-1 before the final whistle with an impressive passing movement culminating in a goal for substitute Vincent Fahy with his first touch.
The Muskerry side now face strong opposition in Cloyne in the JAFC semi-final to be played next week.
Scorers for Eire 6g: D Goulding 0-6 (0-3f), B O'Neill 1-0, V Fahy 1-0, D O'Herlihy 0-2, C Sheehan 0-2, A O'Connor 0-1.
Bandon: R Moloney 0-2f, A Johnson, D Lucey, D Crowley, D Ahern 0-1 each.
EIRE OG: C Hallisey; A Keane, S McCarthy, C Lowney; R Kinnerick, B Corkery, C O'Mahony; T O'Leary, A O'Mahony; C Sheehan, D Goulding, D O'Herlihy; B O'Neill, L Murphy, A O'Connor. Subs: D Keane for B Corkery (inj) (25), T Coveney for T O'Leary (54), V Fahy for B O'Neill (59).
BANDON: P Prendergast; J Walsh, J O'Donovan, N O'Connor; K Walsh, M Quirke, D Crowley; J Milner, K Lucey; D Crowley, A Johnson, R Moloney; J O'Connell, R Milner, D Lucey. Sub: D Ahern for N O'Connor (45).
Referee: B Coniry, (Crosshaven).
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Eire Og dazzle Bandon with first half sparkle - JFC - Barry O'Donovan - Irish Examiner 06-10-08
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Eire Og 2-11
Bandon 0-06
A SPARKLING first, half performance was enough to see Eire Og through this JAFC quarter-final clash in Newcestown on Saturday. Playing some lovely football and led by the two classiest players on the field — Daniel Goulding and Ciaran Sheehan — they blitzed Bandon for 1-7 to no score at half-time. Though the West Cork men made a fight of it for a spell in the second half, there was rarely any real danger of a comeback and the mid-Cork side always looked the winners here.
In truth the game was won with that storming first half. Playing with^a slight breeze in very wet conditions, Eire Og snapped up all the breaks, were first to every ball and played some fast, lively football for spells of the opening thirty minutes. It helped that Goulding and Sheehan were standouts in that half-forward line — Goulding showed his lethal finishing to kick some huge scores and ended with four points in the first half, Sheehan powered onto ball strongly constantly and kicked two fine scores himself. Though Bandon had their chances, only Alan Johnson really showed any threat in their forward line that missed a few decent opportunities leading up the break.
Eire Og started like they meant business. Goulding snapped a free over within a minute, Aldan O'Connor kicked a point after being set up by Sheehan, before another run from Sheehan made a goal chance for O'Connor that Pat Prendergast saved well. Still the winners kept tacking on the scores. Goulding kicked two lovely right-footed efforts either side of assisting an excellent Sheehan score and then twenty minutes in, Aidan O'Connor rolled a ball across for Barry O'Neill to tap into an empty net, 1-5 to no score. Ciaran Sheehan soloed for a point and though Bandon had their strongest spell of the half, pressuring the winners' goal for five minutes, they emerged without a score and Goulding kicked a monster score down the other end just before half-time.
Dermot O'Herlihy had a fine point to open the second half for Eire Og but Bandon then took over for twenty minutes as the winners struggled to win any ball around the middle. The defence held pretty firm under pressure, though the excellent Alan Johnson had Bandon's first point on forty minutes and the losers rattled over five points on the trot to reduce the deficit to six points with 10 minutes left. The winners managed to work past mid-field for the first time in an age and closed the game with points from O'Herlihy and Goulding and a goal from sub Vincent Fahy.
Scorers for Eire Og: D Goulding 0-6 (0-3 frees), B O'Neill and V Fahy 1-0 each, C Sheehan and D O'Herlihy 0-2 each, A O'Connor 0-1.
Bandon: R Moloney 0-2 (frees), A Johnson, D Crowley, D Lucey and D Ahern 0-1 each.
EIRE OG: C Hallisey; A Keane, S McCarthy, C Lowney; R Kinnerick, B Corkery, C O'Mahony; T O'Leary, A O'Mahony; C Sheehan, D Goulding, D O'Herlihy; A O'Connor, L Murphy, B O'Neill. Subs: D Keane for Corkery (25), T Coveney for O'Leary (45), V Fahy for O'Neill (58).
BANDON: P Prendergast; M Quirke, J O'Donovan, N Connor; K Walsh, J Walsh, D Crowley; J Milner, K Lucey; D Crowley, A Johnson, D Lucey; J O'Connell, R Milner, R Moloney. Sub: D Ahern for Connor (46).
Referee: B Coniry (Crosshaven).
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Bandon hold the upper hand - IHC - Noel Horgan - Southern Star 04-10-08
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Bandon 1-18
Valley Rovers 2-11
IT was a bit too close for comfort in the end, but there could be no disputing the merit of Bandon's victory over Valley Rovers in a splendid county intermediate hurling championship semi-final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh last Sunday.
Simply put, the four-point gap between the sides at the finish does scant justice to Bandon's superiority as they held the upper hand for most of the hour, and had a trump card in the evergreen Darren O'Donoghue, who was absolutely superb at corner forward. O'Donoghue, who won a county senior medal with Car-bery in 1993, was in unstoppable form, shooting seven points from play before limping off with an injury in the dying minutes.
He had given the runaround to several different markers prior to his departure, and his display was unquestionably the highlight of a Bandon performance that featured other major contributions from Darren Crowley, Kieran Hurley and especially full back James O'Donovan.
O'Donovan was entrusted with the task of keeping Valley Rovers' key attacker Kevin Canty in check, and he came through the test with flying colours, severely undermining the Innishannon side's prospects in the process. In fairness, Canty underlined his potential when firing in an excellent goal which threw Valley Rovers a lifeline nine minutes into the second half, and he was denied another by a magnificent save from Bandon custodian John Crowley in the closing stages. But he was well-shackled otherwise by O'Donovan, who adorned a gritty man-marking display when landing a superb point from distance after the interval.
STRUGGLED. With Canty prevented from providing his customary inspiration, the Valley Rovers' attack struggled alarmingly before the break, as can be gauged from the fact that none of their six starting forwards registered a score in the opening period.
Eamonn Collins was their main marksman in the first half when wing back Jeremy Hurley slotted over two points and midfielder Shane O'Sulli-van and substitute Eoin Manning chipped in with one apiece. Hurley and David Lynch both showed up well at either side of commanding
pivot Chris O'Donovan to form Valley Rovers' strongest line during the opening 30 minutes when Eamonn Collins was regularly seen to good effect as well at midfield.
It was primarily due to their efforts that Valley Rovers weren't completely overwhelmed before half-time. They remained well in touch during the opening quarter
when right corner forward Barren Crowley was quickest to make an impact up front for Bandon.
With Crowley picking off four points, three from play, Bandon led by 0-4 to 0-3 after 15 minutes, but the threat from their attack grew enormously once Barren O'Bonoghue began to blossom in the opposite corner,
They made a telling breakthrough in the 25th minute when wing forward Eoin O'Donovan received due reward for his perseverance after Bonagh Lucey took a pass from Barren Ryan to pump a long delivery into the danger-zone. O'Bonovan got the crucial touch in the ensuing play to flick the ball to the net and propel Bandon into a 1-7 to 0-5 lead.
Donagh Lucey's influence steadily increased at midfield during the second quarter when Bandon ruled with a firm hand in defence where Kieran Hurley was particularly prominent on the right wing. Tom Bambury and Barren Ryan kept their end up too in the half back line, while James O'Bonovan received solid support from Brian Hurley and Joe Burke in an equally unyielding last line of defence.
A flurry of late points from Barren O'Bonoghue, Barren Crowley, from a free, and centre forward Alan Johnson, enabled Bandon to turn over 1-10 to 0-6 to the good, and all the indications were that Valley Rovers would have their work cut out to get back into serious contention on the resumption.
ON COURSE. As in the first half, Eamonn Collins drew first blood for Valley Rovers from a sideline cut, but Bandon looked bang on course to advance to a final meeting with Carrigaline until Kevin Canty finally made his mark, grabbing a long clearance from Chris O'Bonovan to goal with aplomb. That cut the gap to five points, but it failed to alter the trend of the game as Bandon remained unruffled, outscoring their opponents by four points to one to lead by 1-16 to 1-9 at the three-quarter stage.
Full credit to Valley Rovers for refusing to throw in the towel, and their never-say-die attitude - epitomised in the main by Chris O'Bonovan, Eamonn Collins, Jeremy Hurley, Kevin Canty and full back Ciaran O'Riordan - almost paid off handsomely on the run-in.
Following good work by the highly impressive Chris O'Bonovan and Jeremy Hurley, now operating at midfield, substitute Joe Crowley was sent clear, and he earned a penalty that was rifled to the net by Eamonn Collins in the 50th minute.
Although James O'Bonovan pointed in quick reply for Bandon, Valley Rovers stuck to their task, and only John Crowley's crucial save from Canty prevented them from completing a remarkable recovery. As it was, Valley Rovers, aided by points from Keith White and John Burke, got back within striking range in stoppage time before substitute Ronan Crowley, fed by Barren Crowley, found the target to ease Bandon's anxiety at the death.
On the overall run of the play, however, it would have been rough justice on Bandon, narrowly defeated by Fr. O'Neill's 12 months ago, had they been denied a victory which has earned them a place in the final for the second consecutive season.
Scorers for Bandon: D. Crowley (0-4 frees) and D. O'Donoghue 0-7 each, E. O'Donovan 1-0, A. Johnson, D. Lucey, J. O'Donovan, R. Crowley 0-1 each.
Valley Rovers: E. Collins 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2 sidelines, 0-1 '65, 0-1 free), K. Canty 1-0, J. Hurley 0-2, S. O'Sullivan, E. Manning, K. White, J. Burke 0-1 each.
BANDON: J. Crowley; B. Hurley, J. Burke, J. O'Donovan; K. Hurley, T. Bambury, D. Ryan; D. Lucey, N. O'Rourke; E. O'Donovan, A. Johnson, J. Hickey; D. Crowley, D. Burke, D. O'Donoghue. Subs: C. Dullea for O'Rourke (56m), R. Crowley for O'Donoghue (60m).
VALLEY ROVERS: J. Ryan; R. O'Donovan, C. O'Riordan, S. Manning; J. Hurley, C. O'Donovan, D. Lynch; E. Collins, S. O'Sullivan; J. Burke, T. Burke, F. Coughlan; J. Walsh, K. Canty, K. White. Subs: E. Manning for Coughlan (24m), R. Lehane for S. Manning (ht), N. O'Donovan for Walsh (46m), J. Crowley for O'Riordan (48m).
Referee: C. McAllister (Aqhada).
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Southern Star 4th October
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Bandon 1-18
Valley Rovers 2-11
Bandon have qualified for the County Intermediate hurling final for the second year in a row.
On Sunday last in Pairc Ui Chaoimh they scored a merited 1.18 to 2.11 victory over arch rivals Valley Rovers. It was the teams fifth championship meeting in four years and like all the other games was played in a great spirit.
Bandon now play Carrigaline in the final which has been fixed for 2.15 p.m on Sunday October 12th
in Pairc ui Chaoimh.
The half-time score was 1.08 to 0.05 and it was Bandon's fine work in the last ten minutes of the opening half that ultimately set them on the road to victory. A fine opportunist goal from the hard working Eoin O'Donovan being the highlight. That score gave Bandon a very commanding lead which they never relinquished.
Another of the U21 contingent Darren Crowley was scoring points for fun as Bandon were superior
to their opponents virtually all over the pitch.
So dominant were Bandon in that first half that even our veteran centre-back almost scored. In fact he had a perfectly legitimate point waved wide.
The consensus on Sunday night was that the error could be attributed to the umpires expecting his effort to sail either side of the uprights as has been consistently happening to him for the last fifteen years.
In the second half, a fine save from John Crowley an unbelievable hundred yards plus point from
James O'Donovan, to restore Bandon's four point advantage, together with the sublime point scoring of the ageless Darren O'Donoghue were the highlights.
What a shining example the older Darren is to the young players playing around him and as well
the younger Darren who is having an incredible season in both codes.
Central to Bandon's win was the resolute defending of John Crowley and the entire back-line when
Valleys really came at them particularly in that last quarter.
Overall the game was remarkably similar to last years quarter-final in Newcestown with Bandon on top in the first half and goaling just before half-time and then having to hang on in the end as Valley's came storming back into the game.
Best on the day were goal-keeper John Crowley, James O'Donovan, Tomas Bambury, Donough Lucey, Eoin o'Donovan, the irrepressible Alan Johnson and our own "twin towers" Darren Crowley and Darren O'Donoghue.
Well done to all the players and to Red Crowley, Joe Crowley, James Deasy ,Don McCarthy and Robert Wilmot as their hard work is paying off.
Credit to Valley Rovers for their part in another fine sporting game. Valley's are still in the Intermediate Football Championship and we wish them well in their bid for County honours.
Valley Rovers: E. Collins 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2 sidelines, 0-1 '65, 0-1 free), K. Canty 1-0, J. Hurley 0-2, S. O'Sullivan, E. Manning, K. White, J. Burke 0-1 each.
BANDON: J. Crowley; B. Hurley, J. Burke, J. O'Donovan; K. Hurley, T. Bambury, D. Ryan; D. Lucey, N. O'Rourke; E. O'Donovan, A. Johnson, J. Hickey; D. Crowley, D. Burke, D. O'Donoghue. Subs: C. Dullea for O'Rourke (56m), R. Crowley for O'Donoghue (60m).
VALLEY ROVERS: J. Ryan; R. O'Donovan, C. O'Riordan, S. Manning; J. Hurley, C. O'Donovan, D. Lynch; E. Collins, S. O'Sullivan; J. Burke, T. Burke, F. Coughlan; J. Walsh, K. Canty, K. White. Subs: E. Manning for Coughlan (24m), R. Lehane for S. Manning (ht), N. O'Donovan for Walsh (46m), J. Crowley for O'Riordan (48m).
Referee: C. McAllister (Aqhada).
Important club games are coming hard and fast now, but we won't complain, and next up is the County Junior Football Quarter-Final against newly crowned Muskerry divisional champions Eire Og.
This game has been fixed for this Saturday evening October 4th at 5.30 p.m. in Newcestown.
We wish Seamus McCarthy, Jimmy Gabriel, John Collis and all the lads well as they strive for a place in the County semi-final.
Hopefully the rising tide will carry us through as we face our fourth adult County quarter-final of the year.
Tickets for the forthcoming County Board Draw are available from club members.
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O'Donoghue wants to 'make things right' in final - IHC - Denis Hurley - Evening Echo 29-09-08
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One of the elder statesmen on the Bandon team, Darren O'Donoghue, a great performance for the Lilywhites at Pairc Ui Chaoimh yesterday.
The corner-forward, a veteran of Carbery's 1993 county title-winning said that he was impressed he way the side withstood Vally Rovers' pressure in the closing stages.
"Yeah, it's excellent, a great day for us" he said.
"These are the days you want to be playing hurling, in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on a big day like this.
"We were under pressure a bit alright coming towards the end, but thankfully we held on."
Valleys came back strongly at Bandon in the final quarter, but O'Donoghue said that that was not something he had been surprised with, given the way that previous encounters between the sides had gone.
"This has happened before," he said.
"This is the fourth year in a row that we've played Valleys in the championship and there's never been anything between us.
"Today was always going to be a battle and we came out the right side of it, which was great."
While happy with his own haul of seven points, Darren modestly affirmed that the result was more important than feats of individual brilliance.
"It is a team game, but everyone likes to play well themselves, and I'm no different," he said.
"I was pleased with my contribution, but I'm just delighted that we got the win."
Bandon are now back in the final, looking to atone for last year's defeat to Fr O'Neill's when they come up against Carrigaline.
"Yeah, it's fantastic," Darren said.
"It was a tough day for us last year, things didn't go right for us in the second half, we've a chance to put that right now, and hopefully we can do the business."
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Bandon book a final date after win - IHC - Denis Hurley - Evening Echo 29-09-08
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Bandon 1-18
Valley Rovers 2-11
LAST YEAR'S beaten finalists Bandon made it back to the Evening Echo IHC decider with a four-point win over neighbours Valley Rovers at Pairc Ui Chaoimh yesterday.
While the Lilywhites were deserving of the win as they were the better side for most of the game, Valleys stayed in contention, aided by a 51st-minute Eamon Collins penalty which brought them to within four points.
However, Bandon defended with great discipline in the closing stages and had reason to be thankful to goalkeeper John Crowley for a great save from Kevin Canty with seven minutes left.
Crowley had earlier proved his worth with a fine double save from John Burke and Canty, just prior to the penalty.
Bandon had heroes all over the pitch, though — up front, Darren O'Donoghue rolled back the years with seven points from play and .Barren Crowley was almost unerasing for placed balls.
Alan Johnson at centre-forward did well to curb the influence of rhris O'Donovan, while James Donovan policed Kevin Canty brilliantly, with the Cork panellist's only score a goal in the 39th minute, though it was of the highest quality.
Valleys started the better, leading three times in the opening 12 minutes no doubt aided by Bandon's lay-off of over two months since their quarter-final win over Milford, but once the Carbery side got a handle on proceedings they never relinquished their lead.
Three quick points between the 16th and 18th minutes, two from Crowley and one from O'Donoghue, had them 0-6 to 0-3 ahead, and though Valleys had it back to 0-7 to 0-5 by 26, Eoin O'Donovan then struck for a goal, swinging one-handed after a Darren Ryan ball in had broken, to open up a five-point lead.
Though sub Eoin Manning replied immediately for Valleys — the only forward to score in the first half for the Innishannon side — further scores from O'Donoghue, Crowley and Johnson had it 1-10 to 0-6 at the break.
Valleys, with Eamonn Collins their brightest light in the first half, needed a good start to the second, but it wasn't until Canty's goal in the 41st minute that they made any real inroads into the lead.
The goal itself was excellent, Canty getting the better of James O'Donovan after a great high, dropping ball in by Chris O'Donovan and giving Crowley no chance with his shot.
This put the pressure on Bandon now, but their defence really stepped up the plate, Kieran Hurley and Joe Burke in particular giving very little away, while at the other end, O'Donoghue was sending over the points with ease.
With 10 minutes left, though, Valleys were handed a lifeline when sub Joe Crowley was brought down in the large rectangle, and Collins made no mistake, absolutely roofing the penalty to make it 1-16 to 2-9.
James O'Donovan responded well from Bandon, hitting over a point from somewhere in downtown Blackrock and then, following his double save just before the penalty, Crowley earned his spurs, saving brilliantly from a well-struck Canty shot, though Keith White did point for Valleys soon after.
Bandon withdrew goalscorer O'Donovan deep in the closing stages, and he was to have an impact there, picking up a lot of loose ball and easing some of the pressure on the defence.
However, when Valleys' John Burke pointed in the third minute of injury time, there was only a goal between the sides, but Bandon defended well, and Darren Crowley $e-up brother Ronan, only just on as c sub, for the insurance point to send Bandon back to the final.
There they will meet Carrigaline, and few would bet against the West Cork men atoning for last year's heartache and making the leap to the premier intermediate grade.
Scorers for Bandon: D. Crowley (0-4 frees) and D. O'Donoghue 0-7 each, E. O'Donovan 1-0, A. Johnson, D. Lucey, J. O'Donovan, R. Crowley 0-1 each.
Valley Rovers: E. Collins 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2 sidelines, 0-1 '65, 0-1 free), K. Canty 1-0, J. Hurley 0-2, S. O'Sullivan, E. Manning, K. White, J. Burke 0-1 each.
BANDON: J. Crowley; B. Hurley, J. Burke, J. O'Donovan; K. Hurley, T. Bambury, D. Ryan; D. Lucey, N. O'Rourke; E. O'Donovan, A. Johnson, J. Hickey; D. Crowley, D. Burke, D. O'Donoghue. Subs: C. Dullea for O'Rourke (56m), R. Crowley for O'Donoghue (60m).
VALLEY ROVERS: J. Ryan; R. O'Donovan, C. O'Riordan, S. Manning; J. Hurley, C. O'Donovan, D. Lynch; E. Collins, S. O'Sullivan; J. Burke, T. Burke, F. Coughlan; J. Walsh, K. Canty, K. White. Subs: E. Manning for Coughlan (24m), R. Lehane for S. Manning (ht), N. O'Donovan for Walsh (46m), J. Crowley for O'Riordan (48m).
Referee: C. McAllister (Aqhada).
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Crowley and O'Donoghue Bandon aces - IHC - Bob Tester - Irish Examiner 29-09-08
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Bandon 1-18
Valley Rovers 2-11
THEY'RE back and meaning business.
After the heartbreak of last year's final defeat by Fr. O'Neill's, Bandon are back in the Evening Echo Cork Co IHC final and a tilt with Carrigaline after a rousing semi-final victory over great rivals Valley Rover at Pairc Ui Chaoimh yesterday.
This is the second year Bandon have put one over on their neighbours and this time coach and former Glen stalwart Red Crowley in hell bent on going all the way. "I'm delighted, I thought we played great hurling in the second-half. We really defended well when they came at us and I thought Eoin O'Donovan was superb, cleaning up a load of ball. Carrigaline are a bit of an unknown quantity for us, it will be a novel pairing, but we'll be ready for it."
Some of Bandons hurling yesterday was top class - as was Cathal McAllister's refereeing — with their lethal strike force of Darren Crowley and Darren O'Donoghue splitting 14 point between them, a huge contribution to their cause. And when they had to defend, when Rovers came at them strongly in the final quarter, they were strong and
composed and ultimately deserved their victory.
Rovers needed midfielder Eamonn Collins to be on his game quickly and he didn't disappoint, firing over two subline points — one a peach of a sideline cut. But Bandon also had an ace in Crowley, who scored all four points as they led 0-4 to 0-3 after the opening quarter.
Bandon, wind assisted, were well clued in. Crowley and O'Donoghue continued to punish Rovers up front though Rovers wing back Jeremy Hurley did score his second superb point from the right wing to keep his side in touch.
Kevin Canty was getting nothing from James O'Donovan and although Collin continued to impress for Rovers they were hit hard in the 25th minute when Darren Ryan's speculative delivery was hammered to the net by Eoin O'Donovan.
And Bandon weren't finished yet as points from O'Donoghue, Crowley — his sixth — and Alan Johnson gave them a commanding 1-10 to 0-6 interval lead.
A brace of points from Collins — one another sweet sideline cut — after the break kept Rover in touch and they were right back in the hunt in the 39th minute when Canty got on the end of a huge delivery by Chris O'Donovan and he fired home a fine goal to leave just four points between the sides.
In fairness to Bandon they kept their composure well and points from Donagh Lucey and two cracking O'Donoghue scores had them 1-15 to 1-9 clear entering the final quarter.
Rovers pumped everything at Bandon in the last 15 minutes. Twice they were denied goals by some super defending but, in the 49th minute, substitute Noel O'Donovan was upended and Collins fired home a super penalty to give them life again. They battled bravely as points from Kevin White and John Burke again brought the deficit down to just three points and time running out.
But substitute Ronan Crowley had the last say for Bandon, a sweet insurance point and a place in the final was assured.
Scorers for Bandon: D. Crowley (0-4 frees) and D. O'Donoghue 0-7 each, E. O'Donovan 1-0, A. Johnson, D. Lucey, J. O'Donovan, R. Crowley 0-1 each.
Valley Rovers: E. Collins 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2 sidelines, 0-1 '65, 0-1 free), K. Canty 1-0, J. Hurley 0-2, S. O'Sullivan, E. Manning, K. White, J. Burke 0-1 each.
BANDON: J. Crowley; B. Hurley, J. Burke, J. O'Donovan; K. Hurley, T. Bambury, D. Ryan; D. Lucey, N. O'Rourke; E. O'Donovan, A. Johnson, J. Hickey; D. Crowley, D. Burke, D. O'Donoghue. Subs: C. Dullea for O'Rourke (56m), R. Crowley for O'Donoghue (60m).
VALLEY ROVERS: J. Ryan; R. O'Donovan, C. O'Riordan, S. Manning; J. Hurley, C. O'Donovan, D. Lynch; E. Collins, S. O'Sullivan; J. Burke, T. Burke, F. Coughlan; J. Walsh, K. Canty, K. White. Subs: E. Manning for Coughlan (24m), R. Lehane for S. Manning (ht), N. O'Donovan for Walsh (46m), J. Crowley for O'Riordan (48m).
Referee: C. McAllister (Aqhada).
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Bandon to get bragging rights in semi - IHC Semi Final Preview - John Horgan - Evening Echo 26-09-08
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A CHANCE at redemption here for the Innishannon men, writes JOHN HORGAN.
When these two collided last year in the quarter-final Bandon did the business by two points, 1-12 to 0-13 after leading by 1 -8 to 0-2 at the break, a half hour that Valley's have consigned to the scrapheap.
Now they meet again, local rivals desperate to secure the bragging rights on offer and with the prize of a tilt against Carrigaline in the final the huge prize on offer.
Bandon of course have an added incentive after los¬ing to Fr O'Neill's in last year's final, a game many be¬lieved that they deserved a draw out of at the very least.
But they are back on the trail again against a Valley's side that have been involved more recently, defeating Eire 6g the weekend before last in a fairly searching ex¬amination.
Eire 6g were tough opponents that day in Pairc Ui Chaoimh and eventually they surrendered by just two points.
A game like that, however, is worth its weight in gold to any team, especially one that was ideal for a team idle for so long.
Valley's will be mindful too of what happened last year, an atrocious first-half performance saw them trail¬ing to their neighbours on a scoreline of 1-8 to 0-2, something that even surprised their opponents.
Once more they will be looking to their twin strike force of Eamon Collins and Kevin Canty to produce the goods on the board, Collins with seven points the last day against Eire 6g and Canty with 1-1.
Out the field there will be a heavy reliance on talented youngster Chris Donovan and Jeremy Hurley as they set out on this revenge mission.
Bandon will be relying heavily on the bulk of the team that went so close last year and in Darren Crowley they have a very good forward.
Donncha Burke, Donagh Lucey, Tom Bambury, Joe Burke and Darren O'Donoghue will be well versed on the requirements here.
The fact that it is a local derby and with so much at stake might prevent it from being a flamboyant, open game, however.
Bandon haven't played for some time since taking care of Barryroe, Kilbrittain and Milford in previous rounds.
Verdict: Bandon.
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Bandon blitzed by powerful Sliabh Rua showing - MAHC - Denis Hurley - Evening Echo 24-09-08
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Sliabh Rua 4-15
Bandon 0-07
SLIABH RUA were always in control of this MAHC quarter-final clash at Cloughduv last night as they recorded a 20-point victory over Bandon.
It was almost a complete team performance from the Ballymartle-Belgooly combination, as all six starting forwards, plus both midfielders, got on the scoresheet while their watertight defence failed to cough up a score from play.
It must be pointed out, however, that Bandon, who relied on intermediate star Ronan Crowley for all of their points from placed balls, were missing six regulars, four due to suspension after an ill-tempered South West final against Newcestown.
Nonetheless, it would have been difficult for most teams to keep pace with this clinical performance from Sliabh Rua, for whom Jamie Dwyer scored 1 -4 in a blistering first-half display.
The goal came in the 10th minute, when he kicked to the net after being initially hooked, to make it 1 -3 to 0-2. Up until then, Bandon had been competitive, but the goal ushered in Sliabh Rua's period of dominance and they powered on to lead 1-9 to 0-5 at the break, and it could well have been more as they shot eight wides in the first half and Darren McCarthy had a 20m free saved when he went for goal. After a long-range score from Daniel O'Leary in the fourth minute of the second half, Gary Murphy effectively put the game to bed when he shot home after a Bandon defensive mix-up for 2-10 to 0-5.
From there, it was pretty much target practice for Sliabh Rua.
Credit Bandon, they never gave up, with Crowley and Jason McCarthy their brightest performers.
Scorers for Sliabh Rua: G Murphy 2-1, J Dwyer 1-4, K Fitzpatrick 1-0, D O'Mahony 0-3, D McCarthy (0-1 651, J Coleman (0-1f), D O'Leary 0-2 each, S O'Mahony 0-1.
Bandon: R Crowley 0-7 (0-5f, 0-2 65).
SLIABH RUA: P Alien; C Coleman, G Webb (capt), TJ Murphy; J Vaughan, S Corry, D Dwyer; S O'Mahony, D McCarthy; D O'Mahony, J Dwyer, D O'Leary; K Fitzpatrick, J Coleman, G Murphy. Subs: D Kelly for C Coleman, J Daly for Fitzpatrick, A Daly for J Dwyer, D O'Leary for Murphy, C Keogh for Murphy.
BANDON: C Collins; E Sugrue, P Murphy, M Muir; C Swanton, J Har-rington, E Jackson; C O'Mahony, R Crowley (capt); F O'Leary, J McCarthy, M Sugrue; C O'Donovan, S Murphy, A Linehan. Subs: J Crow-ley for Linehan, A Dullea for Murphy, E O'Mahony for O'Donovan.
Referee: J Dorgan (Nemo Rangers).
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Southern Star 27th September
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On Sunday next all roads lead to Pairc ui Chaoimh for Bandon's Intermediate hurling semi-final against Valley Rovers.
The game is the curtain raiser to the Cork County Senior hurling final between Sarsfields and Bride Rovers.
Best of luck to Red Crowley and his backroom team, Don McCarthy, Joe Crowley, Robert Wilmot and James Deasy and especially to the players who have put in a tremendous effort.
A place in the final against Carrigaline beckons for the winners.
Bandons Junior A hurlers lost agonisingly to Ballinascarthy 1.13 to 0.17 last Friday evening in Barryroe in their relegation play-off.
Their Junior A status was ultimately decided by the awarding and conversion of some hotly disputed late frees.
Team: E.Duggan,I.McCarthy,C.Moloney,J.McCarthy,J.Harrington,D.Lehane,J.walsh,K.Lucey,J.O'Regan,Jason McCarthy,
D.Cronin,R.Moloney,A.Nyhan,N.Geary,D.Kelly, subs.:J.Milner,P.Taylor
Anyone wishing to join the forthcoming Cork County Board GAA Draw should contact a club officer.
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Ballinascarthy stay up and send Bandon down - JAHC - Derry Farr - County Section 23-09-08
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Ballinascarthy 0-17
Bandon 1-13
BANDON needed to win this Friday evening, South West JAHC relegation game, at Barryroe, for their second team to preserve their status in the top grade in the Carbery division. When two points to the good, with as many minutes left to play in normal time, it appeared the Lily Whites would survive, but Ballinascarthy, needing a draw"to survive, had a lot to play for in this demotion battle.
So, they went all out in the hectic closing stages, when three late points guaranteed they would avoid the drop, a fate that has now befallen Bandon and Kilbree. It had been a mighty relegation tussle, made even more difficult by the fact that just one of the trio involved would retain A status.
That distinction fell to Ballinascarthy, after last evenings game, with every ball contested and every chance, particularly from frees, taken. Ballinascarthy had free-taker Ricky O'Flynn in unerring form, while Diarmuid Cronin missed nothing for Bandon, who retired at the break with a one-point advantage, thanks to a magnificent injury-time score from Diarmuid Cronin. Just before the interval, Bandon goalkeeper Eoin Duggan was at his magnificent best, saving a blistering Denis O'Sullivan shot, taken after a great solo run.
Within a minute of the resumption, Diarmuid Cronin extended his side's lead, and, with Kevin Lucey doing well at midfield, the loser's, helped by a scrappy goal compliments of Niall Geary (ably assisted by David Kelly), managed to increase their advantage to two goals, entering the final quarter. Slowly, but surely, Ballinascarthy ate into the lead, and, when substitute Tim Cof-fey, within a minute of his introduction, levelled matters it appeared they would at least produce the draw that would earn their salvation. They did even better, when Ricky O'Flynn fittingly served up the last score of a frenetic encounter to bring the curtain down on what had been a series of games in which winning was everything.
Ballinascarthy: P O'Sullivan; J O'Sullivan, K Ryan, M Deasy; R O'Flynn, E Deasy, M Murphy; B Murphy, D Hennessy; C Deasy, D O'Sullivan, R O'Flynn; P Deasy, K Dineen, W Deasy. Subs; J Ryan, JC O'Flynn, T Coffey.
Bandon: E Duggan; I McCarthy, C Moloney Joe McCarthy; J Harrington, D Lehane, J Walsh; K Lucey, J O'Regan; Jason McCarthy, D Cronin, R Moloney; A Nyhan, N Geary, D Kelly. Subs: M Milner, P Taylor.
Referee: Pat Lawton (Barryroe).
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Southern Star 20th September - Junior Hurling Draw
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Bandon 1-10
Kilbree 1-10
Bandons Junior A hurlers drew with Kilbree in their relegation play-off at the week-end in one of the few games to go ahead in the rain soaked division.
The final score was 1.10 each with Bandon leading by 1.06 to 0.05 at half-time and unfortunate to concede a goal and a point very late on when the game looked to be won.
Best on the day were the returning Eoin Duggan, Cathal Moloney, young Joe Harrington further illustrating his great potential, Tadgh Canniffe, Kevin Lucey, the evergreen John O'Regan, and Diarmuid Cronin.
Team: E.Duggan,J.McCarthy,C.Moloney,I.McCarthy,J.Harrington,D.Lehane,T.Canniffe,K.Lucey (0.03),J.O'Regan,Jason McCarthy,
D.Cronin (0.06),R.Moloney(0.01),A.Nyhan,N.Geary(1.00),D.Kelly
This team now goes on to play Ballinascarthy in a game that will decide the second team to be relegated to Junior C.
Valley Rovers win over Eire og sets up yet another meeting between the clubs, this time in the Intermediate hurling semi-final which is down for decision on the 27th September.
The Junior A footballers meanwhile await the conclusion of the Mid-Cork Junior A football championship and will probably be playing on the week-end of the 05th October.
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Bandon Minors triumph despite late melee - MAHC - Derry Farr - County Section 16-09-08
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Bandon 1-13
Newcestown 0-10
THE ending wasn't pretty, but it shouldn't take from an exciting MAHC decider at Ballineen. Until the final minute referee Martin Collins encountered very few problems with just a few yellow cards handed out in a game where Bandon midfielder Chris O'Donoghue did receive two yellows, and with them his marching orders in the 57th minute. At that stage Bandon were four points to the good, but when Eoin Kelly converted a free it left just a puck of the ball between them facing into what was to turn out to be a tempestuous ending. On the stroke of normal time corner forward Fionn O'Leary finished a Ronan Crowley delivery to the net to guarantee Bandon victory, but then came a somewhat unsavoury scene that was deplored by South West Board chairman Seamus Coakley in his presentation speech.
Matters erupted immediately after O'Leary's decisive goal when a melee developed in the middle of the field and unpleasant scenes, not helped by mentor involvement, unfolded. When order was restored, Eoin Kelly, Newcestown, along with Bandon's Stephen Lynch and Philip Crowley were dismissed while a Newcestown player was stretchered off with a leg injury.
When the dust settled the remaining minute of added time passed, free of incident, or any addition to the scoreline. The game itself was a close encounter with the losers doing particularly well when opening up a three-point lead, helped by a point from a splendid Daniel Twomey sideline cut, nearing the end of the opening quarter.
By half-time Bandon had nosed two-points clear. They managed to stay ahead in the closing half, but with only a goal between the teams it was all to play for until O'Leary's goal ended the game.
Bandon: C Collins; E Sugrue, P Murphy, M Muir; P Crowley, J Harrington, E Jackson; C O'Donoghue, R Crowley; M Sugrue, J McCarthy, C O'Mahony; F O'Leary, S Lynch, S Murphy. Scorers: R Crowley 0-6 (0-1 '65, 03f), F O'Leary 1-0, J McCarthy 0-3, S Lynch 0-2, S Murphy, M Sugrue 0-1 each.
Newcestown: G Courtney; M Courtney, C Ryan, B Foley; C O'Leary, J Desmond, P O'Donovan; D Twomey, A Phelan; C O'Sullivan, C Twomey, D O'Driscoll; C Duggan, E Kelly, S Ryan. Subs; K Kelleher for C Duggan. Scorers: E Kelly 0-6 (0-5f), D Twomey 0-2 (0-1 s), C Twomey, J Desmond (f) 0-1 each.
Referee: Martin Collins, Clonakilty.
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St. Brogan's capture minor title - MAHC - West Cork Gael - Southern Star 13-09-08
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Bandon 1-13
Newcestown 0-10
Lethal O'Leary clinches it for St. Brogan's with late goal, as minor final has torrid ending!
The clock was just ticking over into injury-time at Ballineen, on Tuesday evening last, in this keenly contested South West minor A hurling championship final and St. Brogan's were hanging on grimly to a three points' advantage against old adversaries Newces-town who were pulling out all the stops in their quest to gain parity.
Then, following a tremendous delivery out of defence by the outstanding Barren Crowley, Fionn O'Leary got possession, rounded his marker and fired an unstoppable drive past reliable Newcestown goalie Graham Courtney to seal victory.
Suddenly, out of the blue, in the middle of the park an unsavoury and quite nasty melee developed and continued for several minutes. When referee Martin Collins from Clonakilty restored order after much difficulty, fourteen man Bandon, already shorn of the services of midfielder Chris O'Donoghue (sent to the line following a second yellow card offence in the 57th minute), had seen their forces depleted by a further two players by the match official, as Stephen Lynch and Philip Crowley had fit their marching orders as well, while oin Kelly from Newcestown suffered a like fate.
It all made for a frantic, frenetic and tense further short sequence of play, that saw Newcestown come with a last burst, but St. Brogan's custodian Cian Collins was equal to the task and when Mark Muir diverted the goalbound shot to safety, the curtain fell on an entertaining game that made the headlines at the finish, but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.
It was a pity really, because for practically all of this match it was fought out in a fine manly spirit, but the tension that started to become evident in the last quarter spilled over into that final, late, late unwanted burst-up.
Newcestown must have been the slight favourites coming into the game, but even against the wind, the Lily-whites with Peter Murphy, Joe Har-rington, Jason McCarthy, Mark Sugrue, Stephen Lynch and the talented Ronan Crowley were really putting it up to the opposition.
However, the fine play of midfielder Daniel Twomey, augmented by good support from Cormac Ryan, James Desmond and Cian Twomey saw the St. John's lads hit the front, three neat scores by Eoin Kelly and the Twomey duo Cian and Daniel giving them a narrow advantage 0-3 to 0-1 by the 10th minute.
What followed was really an all-out action scoring sequence as St. Brogan's set about narrowing the margin, two fine points by Stephen Murphy and the lively Mark Sugrue leaving it 0-5 to 0-3 by the close of the opening quarter. Features of that close first half included a delightful point from Ronan Crowley and an equally fine score by Jason McCarthy who was really on top of his game. With both defences apt to concede frees under pressure, the respective free-takers had ample opportunities to display their wares.
Unfortunately, the usually clinical Eoin Kelly was off target on a few occasions, while in general Newcestown was left to rue a succession of misses, not that St. Brogan's were entirely blameless as well.
As the second half progressed St. Brogan's began to impose their will on affairs and with Cian O'Mahony, Jason McCarthy, Chris O'Donoghue, Mark Sugrue together with Joe Harrington and Crowley really hurling well the tally mounted considerably, 0-12 to 0-7 by the 50th minute.
However, Newcestown was far from a spent force and with the pace of speedy corner forward Sean Ryan opening up the St. Brogan's defence and Daniel Twomey, Eoin Kelly, Denis O'Driscoll, Aidan Phelan and Cian Twomey all making supreme efforts, the margin quickly narrowed to just 0-13 to 0-10 with two minutes left.
In fact, the brilliance of Cian Collins thwarted both Adrian Phelan and Daniel Twomey in the interim period as Newcestown came really close to that elusive goal. Unfortunately, from their point of view it came at the other end from O'Leary to see St. Brogan's safely home.
VERDICT
Our verdict: While their were handshakes all around at the final whistle after all the drama and no doubt a lot of these lads are classmates and will be regretting their actions when they ponder on what happened, it in no way excuses the tempestuous behaviour in the proceeding minutes which is not tolerable on any pitch. Particularly with minors it sets a bad example and must not be repeated in the future by any team.
It was a pity that it occurred, because this clash of neighbours' children was an exciting tussle, with St. Brogan's all-round hurling ability and scoring finesse just that bit more co-ordinated than the efforts of a more individualistic Newcestown fifteen that must have rued the loss of some glorious gilt-edged chances.
Seamus Coakley, chairman, South West Board, presented the cup to St. Brogan's captain, Ronan Crowley, after the match. Also in attendance was Ms. Teresa Cadogan from sponsors Clona Milk. Congratulations to St. Mary's on . the wonderful condition of the pitch after all the monsoons.
Man of the match: Ronan Crowley, St. Brogan's.
Scorers — St. Brogan's: Ronan Crow-ley 0-6, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65, Fionn O'Leary 1-0, Jason McCarthy 0-3, Mark Sugrue 0-1, Stephen Lynch 0-2, Stephen Murphy 0-1. Newcestown: Eoin Kelly 0-6, 0-5 frees, Daniel Twomey 0-2, 0-1 free, Cian Twomey 0-1, James Desmond 0-1 free.
St. Brogan's: Cian Collins, Eoin Sugrue, Peter Murphy, Mark Muir, Philip Crowley, Joe Harrington, Eoin Jackson, Chris O'Donoghue, Ronan Crowley, Mark Sugrue, Jason McCarthy, Cian O'Mahony, Fionn O'Leary, Stephen Lynch, Stephen Murphy.
Newcestown: Graham Courtney, Mark Courtney, Cormac Ryan, Brendan Foley, Chris O'Leary, James Desmond, Paraic O'Donovan, Daniel Twomey, Adrian Phelan, Colm O'Sullivan, Cian Twomey, Denis O'Driscoll, Cathal Dug-gan, Eoin Kelly, Sean Ryan. Sub: Kier-an Kelleher.
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Southern Star 13th September - St Brogans
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THE under-16 hurlers progressed in the first round of the county B hurling. They beat Ballincollig by 2-17 to 2-5 and will now meet Courcey Rovers in the next round. This game has been provisionally set for Tuesday, September 16.
Good luck also to the under-16 footballers who meet Clan-na Gael in the West Cork semi-final. Time and date of this game have not yet been fixed.
The under-8 and under-10 hurlers entertained teams from Newcestown at the Bandon pitch on Wednesday, September 3. The younger age group had a convincing victory while the under-10 match ended in a draw. Excellent attendances watched both games. Outdoor training will continue for these age groups until the end of September. There will then be a short break before the indoor season commences.
The under-12 hurlers completed their programme with a loss in the first round of the county A grade at Inniscarra on Saturday, September 6. If success is measured in victories then this was not a great year for this group but there were many encouraging aspects to the season and they should not be too downhearted.
A great number of parents attended home and away matches to the end. The support from the sideline, despite often heavy defeats, was greatly appreciated by players and mentors. It is so much easier to continue to follow a winning team and undoubtedly the perseverance of these parents will be rewarded next year. Many of the team are under age again in 2009 and all will certainly benefit from the number of matches played in this campaign. Hurling training for this group will now take a break for a few weeks until the all-weather season commences.
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Southern Star 13th September - Minor Hurling West Cork Champions
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Bandon 1-13
Newcestown 0-10
Bandons Minor hurlers scored a somewhat unexpected victory over near neighbours Newcestown in what was until the death a very sporting West Cork final played in Ballineen on Tuesday night. In the process Bandon gained sweet revenge for Newcestown's win in the U21 hurling championship. Well done to the local club St. Mary's as there was hardly a pitch in the division playable.
The final score was 1.13 to 0.10 with Bandon leading at half-time by 0.08 to 0.06.
A very well taken goal from Fionn O'Leary with five minutes to go sealed the contest. Best on the night for Bandon were Peter Murphy at full-back who was outstanding, Joe Harrington, Ronan Crowley, Jason McCarthy, Cian O'Mahony and Steven Lynch.
At the end of the final, with the game effectively over as a contest, there was a rather un-edifying spectacle that should not have occured, or for that matter, been allowed to develop.
Bandon and Newcestown are steeped in tradition and have been great sporting rivals on the pitch, and best of friends off it for many years. This was an unfortunate isolated incident, when common sense on all sides "went out the window".
It should not under any circumstances be allowed to damage the great ongoing relationship between both sets of players and both clubs.
Well done to Referee Martin Collins who handled the situation as best he could.
A big well done to team mentors Padraig Crowley,Frank long and Joe Harrington for their tremendous efforts with these young men.
Team: C.Collins, M.Muir, P.Murphy, E.Sugrue, P.Crowley, J.Harrington, E.Jackson, C.O'Donoghue, R.Crowley (0.06), C.O'Mahony, J.McCarthy (0.03), M.Sugrue (0.01), S.Murphy (0.01), S.Lynch(0.02), F.O'Leary(1.0).
Tim Buckley of Buckley Financial Services made a welcome return to the club to present the Junior A football West Cork championship winners with the team of the month award.The reception was held in the Pavilion and fingers crossed that we will see Tim at least once more before 2008 draws to a close.
On Sunday next Valley Rovers and Eire Og finally meet in the Intermediate hurling quarter-final with the winners meeting Bandon.
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Southern Star 6th August 2008
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Bandon are South West Champions
Bandon 1-13
Tadhg MacCarthaigh 0-11
Bandon are the West Cork Junior A football champions for 2008 and for the second year in a row.
Excellent team captain Kevin Walsh mentioned about buses arriving in his acceptance speech, in another context, but here we now are after waiting eighteen years for one,and two come along together.
Is it too soon to ask has the sleeping giant of West Cork football finally awoken from it's slumber?
Two West Cork Junior A football championships in a row, two West Cork U21 football titles in four years from three finals, a West Cork and County Minor football championship in 2005.
No-one will know better than excellent Coach seamus mcCarthy that surely now is the time to push on for that
County Junior A football title that has eluded the club since 1975.
Bandon won on a scoreline of 1.13 to 0.11 with the half-time score deadlocked at 0.06 points each.
Bandon were the better team but were slightly flattered by the final score as the wides tally was three
to Bandon and eleven to a very capable and sporting Caheragh outfit.
The Westerners wont begrudge Bandon their victory as they have been our nemesis in the West Cork championship
for many years.
It was evident all through this championship that Bandon have learned from their experience of last year and
are becoming a very difficult team to beat, with an excellent defence.
Credit the forwards in this final though as they have seldom played better as unit than over the last two games.
Darren Crowley gave an exceptional performance scoring four points from play and he has been truly
inspirational all season. He improves with every outing, scoring freely with both feet and is becoming a real leader on the pitch.
Best on the night were team Captain Kevin Walsh who led by example, Alan Johnson who was outstanding
when the need was greatest together with James o'Donovan, James Walsh, Robert Moloney had his best game since his U21 exploits, and Eoin O'Donovan and John O'Connell. David Crowley had a very good second half.
A big well done to the back room team, Seamus McCarthy, John Collis, Jimmy Gabriel and Colm Ahern, and to Ray Payne
and Danny Lynch for their work behind the scenes.
Scorers for Bandon: R Moloney 0-5 (0-3f), D Crowley 0-4, R Milner 1-0, A Johnson, J O'Connell 0-2 each.
Scorers for Tadhg Mac Carthaigh: C O'Driscoll 0-7 (0-4f), K O'Driscoll 0-2, T Deasy, C O'Sullivan (f) 0-1 each.
BANDON: P Prendergast; J Walsh, J O'Donovan, N Connor; K Walsh, M Quirke, David Crowley; J Milner, K Lucey; Darren Crowley, A Johnson, R Moloney; J O'Connell, R Milner, E O'Donovan. Subs: Aherne for K Walsh, T O'Donoghue for J Milner.
TADHG MAC CARTHAIGH: A Collins; D Harring-ton, S O'Sullivan, J Ryan; T Herlihy, D Daly, D McCarthy; T Deasy, M Barrett; S O'Driscoll, K O'Driscoll, K Barrett; C O'Sullivan, S Murray, C O'Driscoll. Subs: J Herlihy for S O'Driscoll, W O'Sullivan for D Harrington, D O'Brien for K Barrett.
Referee: Pat Lawton, Barryroe.
St. Brogans
Congratulations to James McSweeney and Padraig o'Leary who were on the Cork U14 hurling team that won the Tony
Forristal Hurling Tournament played in Waterford over the week-end.This keenly contested competition is effectively
the All-Ireland for this age group.
Well done also to team Selector Michael Beecher from the Deise for helping Cork to win the tournament for the first
time in eight years and only the third time overall.
We wish Mick and another Bandon GAA man ex-Garda Jim O'Riordan the very best of luck on Sunday next.No-one deserves to see Waterford win an All-Ireland more,and certainly they have followed the Deise through thick and thin and are true supporters.
Hopefully on Sunday they will see them finally reach the promised land.
We extend similar good wishes to anyone at all from Tyrone living in Bandon for the other final.
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St. Brogan's GAA Club Notes - Southern Star 6th August 2008
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THE under 14 footballers lost to Valley Rovers in the county semi-final in Ballinspit-tle on Saturday, 23rd August.
The match was played in dreadful weather and the Innishannon boys were able to adapt to the conditions better. This has been a long season for these players and they have turned in so many excellent performances during the campaign. There are still a few unplayed league matches to complete and then the GAA season will commence in the schools.
The under-12 hurlers surrendered their West Cork title to Newcestown in Ballineen on Monday, 1st September. This was played on a mini-league basis with Kilbrittain also in their group. Some local bragging rights were earned the previous Thursday when Brogan's beat Kilbrittain but the last word was definitely had by Newcestown who were very impressive in the final match of the series.
Congratulations to James McSweeney and Padraig O'Leary who played in the victorious Cork under-14 hurling team over the last weekend of August. Competition for places at this age group is fierce and great credit is due to this very talented pair. We look forward to seeing them involved with the county teams for years to come.
A note of support also to Ban-don adopted Mick Beecher who was a selector for the Cork side. Mick, of course, was an ex-Waterford inter-county player but wore his Cork shirt with pride over the week-end. The least we can do is wish his other team well against Kilkenny on Sunday.
The under 16 footballers played Bantry in the West Cork quarter-final on Tuesday, 2nd September, and won a tremendously exciting game by just one point. Good luck to them in their next match and also their upcoming West Cork final hurling match against Kilbrittain. The under-8 football team returned to winning ways against Ballinhassig on Thursday, 28th August, and the under-10 hurlers put up a brilliant performance before eventually losing to Dunmanway the previous night. This was played in front of a fine attendance and all were impressed by the skills on display.
Training for 6-10 year olds continues on Wednesdays and we are very pleased with the attendance on these nights. New players are always welcome and should come along.
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Bandon Boys Hurrah! - JFC - Cois Farraige - Southern Star 06-09-08
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Bandon 1-13
Tadhg MacCarthaigh 0-11
WITH the teams level on
seven occasions during
the first fifty minutes
one might get the
impression that this
South West junior A football final in the Sam
Maguire Park on Saturday evening last, was a
rip-roaring contest
between the top two
teams in the grade.
However, while the entertainment value was reasonable, this clash was far from the thriller we expected. Whether it was the unusual starting time and the decision to play this important final on a Saturday, or whether it was the small crowd, probably the smallest we have ever seen at a junior A final, or whether it was the complete lack of atmosphere for most of the way, but this was a most disappointing contest.
No fault to Bandon who emerged from a first quarter slumber to gradually take control, eventually leaving no doubt as to the masters in the last quarter.
Once they got the feel for the game after the opening quarter Bandon began to show a huge appetite for victory. Chasing, harassing, blocking and annoying, they totally knocked MacCarthaighs out of their rhythm and the Caher-agh side, after their very bright opening and plenty honest endeavour, had little to offer as the game drew to a conclusion. The clinching goal didn't arrive until the 55th minute but Bandon were shaping as clear winners by then and were bidding fair to retain the Mick McCarthy Cup for the second year in a row.
The football on show was nothing to write home about and the first quarter saw Bandon plagued with unexpected nerves, while Caheragh, who went two points clear, dominated early but showed far to much haste in their play. The second quarter showed a gradual improvement in play, especially from Bandon who upped their workrate considerably, and it was no surprise when the teams retired on level terms.
RELYING
Bandon had the advantage of a freshening breeze in the second half but there was nothing between the sides on the score-board as they were again level at the three-quarter mark. It was noticeable that Caheragh were relying to a great extent on Colm O'Driscoll for scores, and he kicked some sweet points, but in the last quarter he was forced to move out from the goal area to seek possession and this fell into Bandon's lap as he was too far out from goal to threaten the scoreboard.
Slowly but surely the Bandon defence began to choke the life out of the Caheragh attack as the game drew to a conclusion and, at the other end of the pitch, the Bandon forwards were threatening much more as a unit. A few substitutions and positional changes helped Bandon's cause greatly in the closing sequences and they were two points to the good, looking all over winners, when Richard Milner added to his goal-scoring reputation by raising the only green flag of the game five minutes from time.
There was no way back for Caheragh after that and the Bandon keeper was never really under threat throughout the game.
Barren Crowley deservedly took the Man of the Match award at the finish with his all-round contribution at wing forward and his four points from play, but a number of other Bandon players could equally have lifted that award. John O'Connell, one of the most experienced players on the team but not setting the world on fire this season, picked this game to give his best display of the season at corner forward and he finished a fine hour with two points to his credit, as well as setting up the goal.
Not far behind was the hardworking Alan Johnson, whose all-action contribution on the forty was again vital to this win. Robert Moloney had one of his finest hours in the corner and fought for every ball that came near him while contributing three vital points from frees and two from play.
The light Eoghan O'Donovan started at wing forward where he was very lively and finished at wing back where he cleared some great balls in the last
quarter. The strong Richard Milner at full forward used his size well and his goal was the clinching score.
While the Bandon attack was firing on all cylinders they got fine contributions from midfielders James Milner and the hard-grafting Kevin Lucey, while sub, Tom O'Donoghue, did his bit in the last quarter.
PLAUDITS
The Bandon attack may have taken the plaudits again in this game but on reflection, it was upon their sound defence that this victory was built. Slow to settle and losing some of the man-to-man battles early on, they improved considerably as the hour went on, being complete masters at the finish. Pat Prendergast saw little action in goal but his kickouts were long and well-aimed. James O'Donovan was again in total control at the edge of the square while corner backs, James Walsh, saddled with the onerous job of shackling Colm O'Driscoll, and, especially Niall Connor, were solid and sensible.
Centre back Michael Quirke had a shaky first half but thundered into the game after the break while Kevin Walsh and David Crowley closed off the two wings. Sub, David Ahern, did well when he came on and the move of Eoghan O'Donovan to wing back was very effective.
Tadhg MacCarthaigh started well and were looking good until Bandon began to employ pressure all over the pitch, disrupting their running game. Colm O'Driscoll almost won this game on his own and was again their main man with some lovely scores but the usually effective Colm O'Sullivan in the other corner saw little of the ball throughout the game. Kevin O'Driscoll had a great first half on the forty, winning a lot of ball, but faded after the break while Sean Murray tried hard at full forward and on the wing but achieved little on the scoreboard.
Tadhg Deasy played his heart out at midfield, getting good support from Mark Bar-rett but they were met by some very solid tackling from the Lilywhites.
Donal O'Regan was the most effective of the backs in the first half but had his hands full with O'Connell after the break. Denis McCarthy at wing back certainly didn't let his side down and gave as good as he got all through, especially in the third quarter. Sean O'Sullivan and Damien Daly also tried hard in a defence that came under a lot of pressure in the second half.
The Sam Maguire Park was in splendid condition for this final and the stewarding was top class but the attendance of little over 500 was disappointing.
Referee, Pat Lawton, Barry-roe,
THE PLAY
The game got off to a very slow start, in a surreal lack of atmosphere, and it was Caher-agh who took early command against a very nervous Bandon side. Colm O'Driscoll pointed a free in the second minute for the first of his seven points and in the fourth minute Kevin O'Driscoll shot narrowly wide from an acute angle. Alan Johnson opened Bandon's account in the fifth minute following an O'Connell pass but it was Caheragh who were doing the pressing, resulting in points from Kevin O'Driscoll and Colm O'Driscoll, following good work from Mark Barrett.
Caheragh were dominating midfield at this stage but then a bad mistake allowed Robert Moloney in for a snap Bandon point and this seemed to shake the Lilywhites out of their early jitters. Moloney then pointed a free and it was all square at the end of the first quarter, 0-3 each.
The rampaging Darren Crowley put Bandon in front for the first time in the 17th minute, with the Bandon forwards doing great work now in harassing the Caheragh backs and preventing them from building attacks, but back came Caheragh to level with a Colm O'Driscoll free. The same player took a pass from namesake Kevin, to kick his side in front again with a sweet point and then he increased the lead to two from a free. But just as they seemed to be slipping, back came Bandon to register the last two scores of the half from Rob Moloney, free, and Darren Crowley after a lovely move.
It was 0-6 each at the break and one felt Bandon could be in the driver's seat with the breeze beginning to freshen. When Darren Crowley and the rejuvenated John O'Connell pointed after the interval it was looking ominous for Caheragh but they showed great resilience as they fought back with a great point from Tadhg Deasy and another from Colm O'Driscoll to level the scores for the fifth time.
John O'Connell shoved Bandon back in front again and when a high centre from Darren Crowley hopped in the goal area, Robert Moloney blazed just wide. Denis McCarthy was starring at wing back for the Caheragh men as they drew level at the end of the third quarter with a Colm O'Driscoll free, 0-9 each.
The last quarter began as Kevin O'Driscoll raced through for a Caheragh point to put them in front and for a brief couple of minutes they looked to be gaining control but full credit to Bandon who went up through the gears in the closing stages in a fighting effort to defend their title. Robert Moloney levelled from a free, 0-10 each, the last time they were on equal terms and then he fastened onto a great centre from Eoghan O'Donovan to blast his side into the lead. They weren't to look back again as they put the boot to the floor and drove hard for the finish line.
CLINCHER
Darren Crowley made it a two-point game with a marvellous point and then, in the 55th
minute, came the clincher when Richard Milner rose high on the edge of the square to fist home a John O'Connell centre. Caher-agh, with a few substitutions, tried hard in the closing minutes but the Bandon defence was in control and all they could manage was a Colm O'Driscoll free. It wasn't the last score as that fell to the hard-working Alan Johnson who kicked a fine point in the 62nd minute to put the seal on a well-deserved win, 1-13 to 0-11.
The Man of the Match award, sponsored by O'Neill Sports, Clonakilty, was won by Barren Crowley, Bandon.
After the game the Mick McCarthy Cup was presented to Bandon captain, Kevin Walsh, by Sean de Barra, riinai of the SW Junior Board.
Scorers for Bandon: R Moloney 0-5 (0-3f), D Crowley 0-4, R Milner 1-0, A Johnson, J O'Connell 0-2 each.
Scorers for Tadhg Mac Carthaigh: C O'Driscoll 0-7 (0-4f), K O'Driscoll 0-2, T Deasy, C O'Sullivan (f) 0-1 each.
BANDON: P Prendergast; J Walsh, J O'Donovan, N Connor; K Walsh, M Quirke, David Crowley; J Milner, K Lucey; Darren Crowley, A Johnson, R Moloney; J O'Connell, R Milner, E O'Donovan. Subs: Aherne for K Walsh, T O'Donoghue for J Milner.
TADHG MAC CARTHAIGH: A Collins; D Harring-ton, S O'Sullivan, J Ryan; T Herlihy, D Daly, D McCarthy; T Deasy, M Barrett; S O'Driscoll, K O'Driscoll, K Barrett; C O'Sullivan, S Murray, C O'Driscoll. Subs: J Herlihy for S O'Driscoll, W O'Sullivan for D Harrington, D O'Brien for K Barrett.
Referee: Pat Lawton, Barryroe.
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Caheragh men battle 'til the end - JFC - Derry Farr - Evening Echo 01-09-08
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Bandon 1-13
Tadhg MacCarthaigh 0-11
IT DOESN'T happen often but when a forward division wastes little, like the Bandon attack did in this final of the South West Junior A Football Championship, there's little the opposition can do except try to the end.
That's what Caheragh did at Dunmanway last Saturday evening.
Despite 11 shots off target, they were still involved until Richard Milner served up a mortal blow with a 57th-minute Bandon goal.
This guaranteed the Lilywhites a second successive Mick McCarthy Cup triumph after a campaign plagued by inconsistency.
Several times their crown tottered on the way to this decider, where everything went right for them.
Their forwards served up just four wides during an hour where Darren Crowley gave a man-of-the-match display on the wing.
Alan Johnson was irrepressible in the centre and Robert Moloney missed nothing on the left flank, and that was only the half-forwards.
Inside Richard Milner served up a crucial goal, in a game of very few opportunities.
Eoin O'Donovan likewise roamed to good effect and John O'Connell returned to his brilliant best.
Altogether they were too potent for Caheragh, but credit the challengers for trying.
With Mark Barrett and Tadhg Deasy winning the midfield battle, as they would in most games in this grade, Caheragh were handed an early advantage — but how they toiled to conjure up their scores!
Not once did they look likely to goal and constantly seemed under pressure when attempting to take their points.
They didn't always make the most of Kevin O'Driscoll's ability to regularly win possession.
Inside, Colm O'Driscoll was smothered at times but he still managed three points from play in a contest where Sean Murray also showed up well after moving to the wing.
Caheragh were individually dangerous but collectively were clamped down by Bandon.
James O'Donovan and James Walsh maintained the high standard in the Bandon rearguard.
Their defensive colleagues were consistent rather than spectacular and as a unit they effectively limited the potentially explosive Caheragh.
Despite their shortcomings up front Caheragh were in this game right to the end of a contest where Bandon overcame midfield problems by bringing Eoin O'Donovan out to pickup the breaks. He did this efficiently.
The losers twice opened up a two-fcoint lead in a sluggish opening half;where Bandon served up two important scores in injury-time.
Robert Moloney and Barren Crowley both hit the target in quick succession to send the winners in on level terms at the interval.
Crowley and an emerging John O'Connell then propelled Lilywhites ahead with points soon after the resumption, and the ease with which they were served up contrasted sharply to the struggle Caheragh had in hitting the target.
Going for their sixth title in this championship, the losers weren't afraid of hard wok.
This was particularly true of John Ryan and Tony Herlihy in defence.
Though renowned man marker Dens McCarthy was on Darren Crowley, Caheragh failed to subdue the Bandon dual star, even after handing Damien Daly the task.
Caheragh were brought level by Colm O'Driscoll for the fourth time in the eighth minute of a second half where the standard rose to a more acceptable level.
With Caheragh continuing way-ward shooting, they made life very difficult for themselves.
But points from Colm O'Driscoll and Kevin O'Driscoll brought them to the front for the last occasion with 13 minutes of normal time left.
Bandon then introduced David Aherne and Tom O'Donoghue to the action and O'Donoghue's direct methods worked well for a team that had Robert Moloney on target to square matters for the sixth, and final, time after 49 minutes of honest endeavour.
A great Eoin O'Donovan delivery was caught and dispatched with
some aplomb by an in-form Moloney to ease Bandon in front once more.
And when Darren Crowley slipped over a pass from David Aherne, the winners were back with a two-point gain.
That's a dangerous lead in any game, but when Richard Milner punched James O'Connell's delivery to the net three minutes from time, the danger finally passed.
Bandon tightened their grip on a title that had been in jeopardy so many times this year.
Scorers for Bandon: R Moloney 0-5 (0-3f), D Crowley 0-4, R Milner 1-0, A Johnson, J O'Connell 0-2 each.
Scorers for Tadhg Mac Carthaigh: C O'Driscoll 0-7 (0-4f), K O'Driscoll 0-2, T Deasy, C O'Sullivan (f) 0-1 each.
BANDON: P Prendergast; J Walsh, J O'Donovan, N Connor; K Walsh, M Quirke, David Crowley; J Milner, K Lucey; Darren Crowley, A Johnson, R Moloney; J O'Connell, R Milner, E O'Donovan. Subs: Aherne for K Walsh, T O'Donoghue for J Milner.
TADHG MAC CARTHAIGH: A Collins; D Harring-ton, S O'Sullivan, J Ryan; T Herlihy, D Daly, D McCarthy; T Deasy, M Barrett; S O'Driscoll, K O'Driscoll, K Barrett; C O'Sullivan, S Murray, C O'Driscoll. Subs: J Herlihy for S O'Driscoll, W O'Sullivan for D Harrington, D O'Brien for K Barrett.
Referee: Pat Lawton, Barryroe.
Man of the match
It had to be to wing forward barren Crowley who has been their star turn in attack all year. He rose to the occasion once again as he sidestepped his markers with consummate ease to contribute four crucial scores.
Turning point
IT CAME very late in the game when a goal would have won it for any side.
It fell to Bandon and it gave them a five-point advantage that left Caheragh with little or no time in which to recover.
Ref watch
PAT LAWTON, in his efforts to let the play flow, was a bit hesitant to blow in the early stages. By keeping up with the play however he was in position to get most of his calls right and can be well pleased with his contribution.
Score of the game
IT CAME in the first minute of the second half when a neat Darren Crowley side-step left his marker floundering in his wake only able to watch, on the seat of his pants, as the Bandon attacker nonchalantly kicked his side ahead.
Three reasons why Bandon won
1. THEIR ability to take their points was admirable in a game where just four wides, one in the first half, was testament to an attack that was able to make the space and convert the chances that they were given the opportunity to take.
2. A LATE Richard Milner goal that killed off the vibrant Caheragh challenge. In a game of few goal scoring opportunities Milner's punched effort (he almost scored a second) hammered the final nail in the loser's coffin.
3. THEIR consistency over the whole hour that contrasted sharply with games in the previous rounds where they regularly took time out. Luckily they managed to recover each time but in this final they were involved from start to finish.
McCarthy praises his long-serving players - WHAT THEY SAID
BANDON coach, Seamus McCarthy in his first venture into football in Carbery was cool calm, but obviously elated, after watching his charges retain their title. "We scored two crucial points just before half-time and, after a dour opening half struggle the play opened up and suited us in the closing half.
'The ability of our wingers to cut through was another plus factor in a game where the leadership of long-serving players like John O'Connell and Alan Johnson also contributed hugely," declared a man who made a name for himself in Tipperary football and has the nous to take Bandon much further in a county championship where they fell a week after winning last year's divisional title.
Team captain Kevin Walsh attributed his side's victory to a couple of factors, not least their cutting down the involvement of dual players.
"We have only about five hurlers playing football this year and it allows for more concentration.
"We needed to be at our best as this was a very good Caheragh side and we couldn't afford to fall asleep like we did in some of our previous games. We were also mindful of the fact that we had to take our chances and cut down on shooting from impossible angles.
"This had a double edged affect as a bad wide disheartens a team and gives away possession," stated the wing back who was glad that there will be a little respite before they take on the Mid-Cork champions in the quarter-final of the county.
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Forward thinking seals title for Bandon - JFC - Derry Farr - Irish Examiner 01-09-08
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Bandon 1-13
Tadhg MacCarthaigh 0-11
BANDON retained their South West JAFC title with an impressive attacking performance at Dunmanway on Saturday.
A late Richard Milner goal sealed victory over a Caheragh side that hit 11 wides but were always in contention.
The losers held an early two-points lead but the roaming Eoin O'Donovan and centre forward Alan Johnson began to exert authority. Free taker Robert Moloney began to hit good form for the winners while man-of-the-match Darren Crowley also started to find his feet. In first half injury time Moloney and Crowley slotted over a point a piece which, pulled Bandon level and give hope to the champions.
Two more unanswered minors after the break had Bandon back in front only for Caheragh, with John Ryan and Tony Herlihy prominent in defence, to level the scores for the fifth time in a game that was now living up to its pre-match billing. However a massed defence meant the losers laboured to score while Bandon were much more economical in their finishing .
Caheragh were just two-points in arrears before Milner rose highest to punch a John O'Connell delivery to the net, with three minutes remaining. It was game set and match to Bandon who now head into the county championship where their hurlers are also very much involved.
Scorers for Bandon: R Moloney 0-5 (0-3f), D Crowley 0-4, R Milner 1-0, A Johnson, J O'Connell 0-2 each.
Scorers for Tadhg Mac Carthaigh: C O'Driscoll 0-7 (0-4f), K O'Driscoll 0-2, T Deasy, C O'Sullivan (f) 0-1 each.
BANDON: P Prendergast; J Walsh, J O'Donovan, N Connor; K Walsh, M Quirke, David Crowley; J Milner, K Lucey; Darren Crowley, A Johnson, R Moloney; J O'Connell, R Milner, E O'Donovan. Subs: Aherne for K Walsh, T O'Donoghue for J Milner.
TADHG MAC CARTHAIGH: A Collins; D Harring-ton, S O'Sullivan, J Ryan; T Herlihy, D Daly, D McCarthy; T Deasy, M Barrett; S O'Driscoll, K O'Driscoll, K Barrett; C O'Sullivan, S Murray, C O'Driscoll. Subs: J Herlihy for S O'Driscoll, W O'Sullivan for D Harrington, D O'Brien for K Barrett.
Referee: Pat Lawton, Barryroe.
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Bandon's late burst denies Kilmacabea - JFC - County Section 26-08-08
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Bandon 4-08
Kilmacabea 1-13
ANOTHER cracking South West JAFC semi-final where Bandon, despite scoring three goals in the first half, only managed to book their place in the final with a late scoring burst.
A lot of teams would have been dead and buried had they conced¬ed so much in the early stages, but Kilmac stood up and were count¬ed when giving a magnificent dis¬play after the break.
Slowly they ate into the winner's lead and a John Christopher point, four minutes from the end of nor¬mal time, brought the challengers level. A defiant Bandon, holders of this title, then proved their worth with an Eoin O'Donovan point easing them back in front before an injury time Richard Milner goal guaranteed them a place against Caheragh in next Sunday's decider at Dunmanway.
The lily whites certainly earned their victory in this Friday evening game in Rosscarbery, where they used the long ball with devastating effect in the opening half.
The Kilmac defence came under severe pressure when Bandon adopted route one after the elusive Darren Crowley had served up a fine individual goal in the llth minute.
Kilmac, who had scored the first three points of the contest, were in a spot of bother as they struggled to get their play to match their spirit. Before they did they were
stung by Bandon goals from Dar¬ren Murray and Richard Milner.
As it was, it took a brave Kilmac surge to produce three inspira¬tional late first half points in a pe¬riod when they were denied a goal by the excellence of Pat Prender-gast, the Bandon cul baire.
It was in the opening 20 minutes of the closing half that we saw Kil¬mac at their brilliant best. They pinned Bandon back in their own half and the points slowly trickled.
Then John Christopher Keo-hane added a 49th minute goal into the mix and soon after they deservedly drew level with a Ban¬don side that had to call on all its experience to produce the goods when needed most. This they did, leaving Kilmac devastated but with their heads held high after a mag¬nificent attempt to dethrone the champions.
Scorers for Bandon: R Milner 2-1, Darren Crowley 1-1, D'Murray 1-0, R Moloney 0-2 (0-1f), M Quirke, A Johnson, J O'Connell, E O'Donovan 0-1 each.
Kilmacabea: JC Keohane 1-1, Daniel O'Donovan 0-4 (0-1f), J O'Driscoll 0-3f, K Me Carthy 0-2, R Hourihane, D McCarthy, K O'Sul livan 0-1 each.
BANDON: P Prendergast; J Walsh, j O'Donovan, N Connor; K Walsh, M Quirke. David Crowley; K Lucey, T O'Donoghue; Dar ren Crowley, A Johnson, R Moloney; J O'Con nell, R Milner, D Murray. Subs: E O'Donovan, A Tobin, D Lucey, C O'Mahony, D Aherne.
KILMACABEA: T O'Donovan; M O'Donovan, N McCarthy, S O'Driscoll; C Sweetnam, C O'Donovan, T O'Mahony; T Sheehan, R Houri¬hane; K McCarthy, Diarmuid O'Donovan, D McCarthy; Donie O'Donovan, Daniel O'Donovan, J O'Driscoll. Subs: JC Keohane, N McCarthy, G O'Donovan, K O'Sullivan.
Referee: Donal Shorten (St Mary's).
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Bandon show form of champions to make the final - JFC - Derry Farr - Evening Echo 25-08-08
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Bandon 4-08
Kilmacabea 1-13
BANDON'S South West JAFC crown tottered perilously after a tremend¬ous Kilmac rally had erased a two-goal interval lead in last even¬ing's semi-final at Rosscarbery, writes DERRY FARR.
With four minutes of normal time left, the sides were level and the challengers looked set to dethrone the holders in a battle where the ex¬perience of the champions emerged with their backs to the wall.
Having scored three goals in the opening half, Bandon looked the part until Kilmac tore into it after the break but just when they appeared set to take over Bandon showed their mettle.
A point from sub Eoin O'Donovan helped them regain their lead at the end of normal time but it was never going to be enough to guarantee suc¬cess and that's where the winner's experience told.
Instead of falling back and defend¬ing their advantage, the Lilywhites kept up the pressure and it paid off when outstanding full-forward Richard Milner cut through for an injury-time goal to set his team up for a final tilt against Caheragh at Dunmanway.
How they were made earn this privilege by a Kilmac outfit that opened up an early-three point ad¬vantage but before they were to dis¬play their worth, Bandon had .hit them with three opening half goals.
The first came from Barren Crow-ley, who had at least three different markers on him during the game, who cut in from the left before delivering low to the losers' net.
That was after 11 minutes of play but soon after they lost the services, through injury, of influential team captain Kevin Walsh.
Undaunted, they continued to play route one and a 19th-minute delivery from centre-back Mick Quirke, already with a point, broke kindly for Barren Murray, who tucked it away without any fuss.
Bandon had twice netted and might well have added two more be¬fore their third goal arrived eight minutes before the interval. This time it was Richard Milner who did the damage after a Tom O'Bonoghue release, from midfield, had the losers' defence in a tangle.
Now nine points to the good, Ban¬don were in cruise control but three unanswered Kilmac points, and a point-blank Pat Prendergast save that denied John O'Briscoll an in¬jury-time goal, gave an indicator of what was to come.
The introduction of a few subs res¬ulted in a reshuffle that brought a Kilmac reformation that had the op¬position virtually a prisoner in their own half for the first twenty minutes after the resumption.
Slowly they reeled in a Bandon side that had to wait until the 16th minute of the closing half before John O'Connell added a point to their half-time tally. It only tempor¬arily stymied a Kilmac revival that was boosted by a John Christopher Keohane goal, after he ghosted in between a defender and the Bandon keeper in the 49th minute.
A Robert Moloney pointed free gave the winners a little more breathing space before substitutes Keohane and Kevin O'Sullivan were on target to level the match in the 56th minute. Just when they looked certain to go for the jugular, Kilmac were beaten by their lack of experi¬ence and a Bandon revival that proved that champions really do die hard.
Scorers for Bandon: R Milner 2-1, Darren Crowley 1-1, D'Murray 1-0, R Moloney 0-2 (0-1f), M Quirke, A Johnson, J O'Connell, E O'Donovan 0-1 each.
Kilmacabea: JC Keohane 1-1, Daniel O'Donovan 0-4 (0-1f), J O'Driscoll 0-3f, K Me Carthy 0-2, R Hourihane, D McCarthy, K O'Sul livan 0-1 each.
BANDON: P Prendergast; J Walsh, j O'Donovan, N Connor; K Walsh, M Quirke. David Crowley; K Lucey, T O'Donoghue; Dar ren Crowley, A Johnson, R Moloney; J O'Con nell, R Milner, D Murray. Subs: E O'Donovan, A Tobin, D Lucey, C O'Mahony, D Aherne.
KILMACABEA: T O'Donovan; M O'Donovan, N McCarthy, S O'Driscoll; C Sweetnam, C O'Donovan, T O'Mahony; T Sheehan, R Houri¬hane; K McCarthy, Diarmuid O'Donovan, D McCarthy; Donie O'Donovan, Daniel O'Donovan, J O'Driscoll. Subs: JC Keohane, N McCarthy, G O'Donovan, K O'Sullivan.
Referee: Donal Shorten (St Mary's).
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Southern Star 30th August 2008
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The Junior A football championship final between Bandon and Caheragh has been fixed for
this Saturday evening August 30th in Dunmanway at 6.45 p.m.
Bandon 4-08
Kilmacabea 1-13
On Friday night last Bandon mixed the sublime with the ridiculous in defeating Kilmacabea
by 4.08 to 1.13 in the new pitch in Rosscarbery. Bouquets to Carbery Rangers for the excellent
condition of the pitch,given the inclement summer we are enduring,and also for their overall
organisation of the fixture.
Bandon led by 3.05 to 0.05 half way through the first half and like our Kerry neighbours in Croke
Park we appeared to sit back admiring our handiwork rather than pushing on for what appeared to
be an inevitable victory.
Credit also to Kilmacabea who really stood up and were counted in the second half and drew level before
the excellent Richard Milner scored his second goal with time virtually up.
Bandon stopped playing the direct football of the first-half and like the Cork footballers last Sunday
forgot all about winning primary possession around mid-field until Alan Johnson came out there in the
last five minutes to save the day.
You cannot point the finger of blame at your inside forward line when they are being starved of the ball.
Most annoyingly they appeared to have the beating of the Kilmac full-back line, given a decent supply of
ball.
Best on the night were Pat Prendergast, James O'Donovan, James Walsh, Darren Crowley and Richard Milner.
Team : P.Prendergast, J.Walsh, J.O'Donovan, N.Connor, K.Walsh, M.Quirke(0.01), David Crowley, K.Lucey,
T.O'Donoghue, Darren Crowley(1.01), A.Johnson(0.01), R.Moloney(0.02), J.O'Connell(0.01), R.Milner(2.01), D.Murray(1.0), Subs.: E.O'Donovan(0.01), A.Tobin, D.Lucey, C.O'Mahony, D.Ahern
This sloppy second half performance will certainly not suffice against old rivals Caheragh who have
made an unwelcome habit out of turning over Bandon in this championship over the last fifteen years.
Very best of luck to all involved in the Junior A football team, Seamus McCarthy, John Collis, Colm Ahern, Jimmy Gabriel and the lads as
they bid for two in a row.
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U14s complete West Cork double - Brogans SS 30th Aug
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ST. BROGAN'S GAA CLUB NOTES. FOLLOWING on the exploits of the hurlers, St. Brogan's under 14 footballers completed the West Cork double for the club when they defeated Bantry in the final.
This has been a marvellous year so far for this group. Many of the same players are involved in both codes and their enthusiasm continues despite a very busy season. Let's hope that the footballers will now do well in the county series.
Other age groups have also been performing with style. The under 8 footballers have had a few outings recently. They lost their unbeaten record in the Harvest Festival Blitz in Timoleague when they were just beaten by the home side. The standard of football played was excellent from both sides and all parents and spectators were enthralled by the fare.
St. Brogan's under 10 hurlers were just pipped by Eire Og in a recent league match but all connected with the group are delighted with their progress. They still have a few matches to complete before the season ends and hopefully they will be rewarded with some overdue wins.
The under 12 footballers were also in action on Tuesday, August 12th, and recorded a fine win in their match against Rosscarbery by 2-9 to 2-7. This was a great game played in a wonderful spirit with Brogan's recovering from a deficit of 7 points early in the second half to eventually sneak the win.
The St. Brogan's GAA sum¬mer camp ran from August llth to 15th. One hundred and fifteen boys and girls of different ages and sports experience attended and the club was delighted how the week went. The weather, famously bad in other places, did not provide any difficulties. At the end of the week participants were presented with their camp kits, replica St Brogan's match strips which, hopefully, will encourage new participants to come along to training on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8.30.
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Southern Star 23rd August 2008
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The Junior A football championship semi-final between Bandon and Kilmacabea has been fixed for
this Friday night August 22nd in Rosscarbery at 7.15 p.m.
The annual Golf Classic held in Bandon Golf Club on Friday last was a resounding success. Over seventy teams participated with a Bandon team led by locals Trevor O'Mahony and Derek O'Driscoll who reportedly "carried" the team Captain Valley Rovers man Don O'Sullivan the popular local hotelier to victory. The handicap Secretary in the Golf Club who is taking a particular interest in the trio has
apparently framed their score-card.
Many thanks to all the participating teams and to those who sponsored tee-boxes.
Former Cork Camogie star Miriam Murphy led the winning ladies team.
Huge thanks to club Vice-Chairman Brian Desmond, Niall Morrissey, Kieran Hurley, Noel McNamara, Donough Lucey and James Milner who formed the organising Committee. Also to those who helped on the day, Joe Crowley, Kevin McCarthy, David Lehane, Raymond Brennan, John Collis, Kathleen Canty and Michael Minihane.
Well done to Phil Murphy,Padraig Crowley (Back Quay),and Donal O'Donovan who trained the St. Brogans U14 footballers to their fifth West Cork title in seven years and their fifth win in six finals on Monday night last. They overcame Bantry in the West Cork final played in Dunmanway by 1.09 to 0.06. In doing so they avenged a ten point hammering by the same Bantry team in the league. This team has won the elusive West Cork U14 double and were beaten in the County U14 hurling final after a replay by Blackrock. Their next opponents in the first round of the County Championship will be against near neighbours Valley Rovers and the game is down for decision this week-end.
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St. Brogan's retain their title - U14HC - Southern Star 16-08-08
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St. Brogan's 1-09
Bantry 0-06
ST. Brogan's under 14 A footballers retained their SW title in Dunmanway on Monday evening last when their bigger, stronger side overcame a bat¬tling Bantry outfit.
Mercifully, the heavy rain of the afternoon had cleared away as the game got underway and the Sam Maguire pitch had stood up very well to the deluge.
There was hardly a kick of the ball between the teams in the first half with both sides having their periods of domi¬nance. The fine free-taking of Bantry's Joe Murphy was the feature of the opening minutes as he converted three placed balls but Brogan's had their hero in midfielder, James McSweeney, who kicked two great points from play to level the scores twice in the opening six minutes.
A marvellous combined Bantry point from Kevin Barry put Bantry two points in the lead, 0-4 to 0-2, with the out¬standing Gavin O'Shea and Seamus O'Mahony dominating midfield.
The game was highlighted by some outstanding goalkeeping by Conor Gossage of Brogan's and Donal Casey of Bantry and Casey was in early action with a fine save from Matt McNa-mara. With the outstanding James McSweeney and the spectacular Eoin Kelly grab¬bing the initiative at midfield, Brogan's were back on level terms with points from both players.
It was unlucky thirteen for Bantry when No. 13 for Bro¬gan's, Daithi O'Donovan, angled a great shot to the roof of the Bantry net in the 13th minute. It was 1-4 to 0-4 in Brogan's favour at the end of the first quarter and, amazing¬ly, there wasn't a single score in the second quarter as both defences got well on top.
With the strong Padraig O'Leary and Colm Ahern unbeatable in the Brogan's full back line and Oisin Healy fly¬ing on the wing, there was no way through for the Bantry for¬wards, although Brogan's had a lucky escape when Joe Mur¬phy's free hit the inside of the goal post and bounced across the goal mouth, going out for a 45. Bantry's appeal for a goal, claiming that the ball had crossed the goal line, were over-ruled by referee, Donie McCarthy of Dohenys.
Jimmy McCarthy was out¬standing at corner back for the Blues with Jack McCarthy clearing well at full back. James Foley and Shane Delaney were more than hold¬ing their own in the half back line but just before the break goalie, Casey, was called on to make a fantastic double save from Brogan's Mike Cahalane.
It was still 1-4 to 0-4 at the interval and again there was little between the sides in the third quarter. Eoin Ryan stretched Brogan's lead with the first score in 17 minutes and Conor Gossage brought off a fine save from Colm James. The strong John Lynch was now beginning to make an impression for Bantry at cen¬tre forward, with good assis¬tance from impressive corner forward, Henry Deane, wingers Joe Murphy and Kevin Casey and corner man, Peter Kelle-her. Lynch pointed from play but Barry Collins, who had a fine second half for the win¬ners, pointed a free.
Lynch then had a piledriver tipped over the bar by the out¬standing Gossage and Barry Collins answered with two fine points from play. Brogan's were now five points to the good and with Eoin Kelly working his socks off at midfield they con¬tinued the pressure.
Up front, Collins got good support from Mike Cahalane and Matt McNamara as Caha¬lane put six points between the sides in the 53rd minute. That was to prove the last score of the game as Bantry applied loads of pressure in the closing minutes but were thwarted by the Brogan's defence in which Richard Walsh, after shipping a leg injury, was outstanding in the closing minutes. John Lynch did rattle the Brogan's crossbar but that was as near as the Blues came to rescuing the game and there were great scenes of delight as chairman of Bord na nOg, Aidan O'Rourke, presented the cup to delighted captain, Eoin Kelly.
Scorers - St. Brogan's: Daithi O'Donovan 1-0, James McSweeney 0-3, Barry Collins 0-3, 0-1 free, Eoin Ryan 0-2, Mike Cahalane 0-1.
Bantry: Joe Murphy 0-3 frees, John Lynch 0-2, Kevin Casey 0-1.
St. Brogan's: Conor Gossage, Colin Jackson, Padraig O'Leary, Colm Ahern, Oisin Healy, Richard Walsh, Patrick O'Brien, James McSweeney, Eoin Ryan, Matt McNamara, Mike Cahalane, Barry Collins, Daithi O'Donovan, Michael Beechinor, Jack Murphy. Subs: Dean O'Gorman, Chris Har-rington, Alex O'Neill.
Bantry: Donal Casey, Jimmy O'Leary, Jack McCarthy, Owen Quill, Noel O'Flynn, James Foley, Shane Delaney, Gavin O'Shea, Sea¬mus O'Mahony, Kevin Casey, John Lynch, Joe Murphy, Peter Kelleher, Colm James, Henry Deane. Subs: Ryan Cronin, Eoin Lynch.
Referee: J Bermingnam (Bride Rovers).
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Kelly's sharp-shooting downs Bandon - U21HC - Cois Farraige - Southern Star 09-08-08
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U21 Hurling Championship
Newcestown 1-16
Bandon 1-13
THOSE who turned up to Ballinascarthy on Friday evening last in hopes of seeing a cracking South West under 21 A hurling semi-final between Newcestown and Bandon seemed to have travelled in vain, as Newcestown romped to a nine-point lead in the opening 25 minutes, totally dominating proceedings against a Bandon outfit that was out-hurled, outfought and outmuscled.
Just when it seemed that the game would be over by half time in a disappointing, one¬sided contest, the Lilywhites rallied before half time as New¬cestown suddenly lost control. Rattling over five unanswered points in a row, Bandon closed the gap to a very manageable four points and could easily have taken the lead as three good goal chances were missed.
It was an amazing turn of events and continued into the second half as Bandon closed to within a point with three more white flags. Now the game was on and the contest we had expected to see was in full flow. Shell-shocked Newcestown recovered briefly to re-open a three-point lead but, in the 40th minute, it was all square when Jason McCarthy rattled the Newcestown net. The momentum seemed to be with Bandon now but, bravely, New¬cestown regrouped and cometh the hour, cometh the man.
The name of Eoin Kelly has become synonymous with high scoring on the intercounty scene but Newcestown pos¬sessed an Eoin Kelly of their own and when the need was greatest he showed nerves of steel as he rifled over five frees, most from long range, in the closing twenty minutes, to add to the 1-8 he had already accu¬mulated in the opening forty minutes. His display of sharp-shooting proved just too much for Bandon on the run-in, as the Lilywhites missed some vital frees at the other end. In the end three points separated the sides and it was Kelly's amazing personal tally of 1-13 that was the difference between the sides on the night in a game that started with a schimozzle, was one-sided for most of the first half and then exploded into real life after the break.
GRATEFUL While Newcestown owed their survival to Kelly, they had reason also to be grateful to goalie, Graham Courtney, who was magnificent between the posts, denying Bandon with some great handling and bring¬ing off one fantastic save when Bandon were rampant just before half time. Kieran Kelly was sound at the edge of the square while Ger O'Driscoll manned the centre back slot with class and style, well aided by outstanding wing back, James Desmond. Daniel Twomey had a fine outing at midfield all the way through while Fionn Keane caused a lot of problems up front when he got the right ball. Tall James Walsh had some good moments on the forty and Mike Bradfield also hurled well.
Bandon took a long time to get going in this game, which was to cost them the game, but they can also look at conceding twelve points from frees to Kelly throughout the hour, a damning statistic. They strug¬gled until the introduction of, Brian Crowley, after 20 minutes and his strong play seemed to galvanise the rest of the team. He came very close to goaling but, unfortunately, suffered a re-occurrence of a shoulder injury near the end. Robert Wilmot and James Walsh did well in the full back line with James O'Donovan prominent at centre back and, later, at midfield. Gavin O'Ri-ordan and Roy Payne tried hard at midfield while Barren Crowley took his scores well, eight points in all, seven from frees, at centre forward. Ronan Crowley also did well, along with Jason McCarthy in the corner.
The game got off to an explo¬sive start when the sliotar had to be thrown in twice because of a schimozzle at the very start and in a game littered with far too many frees, Eoin Kelly had his first point of the day from a free before Darren Crowley answered likewise. Fionn Keane, looking very sharp up front, had the first point from play and Newces¬town were almost through for a goal after a fine move in the 7th minute. Kelly pointed two more frees as Newcestown took control in all sectors and Keane added his second from play when he might have goaled. The inevitable goal did come in the 13th minute when Keane set up Kelly with a peach of a ball and the sharpshooter made no mistake, cutting in from an angle. Darren Crowley and Kelly swapped frees and it was rampant Newcestown in front by 1-6 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter, with Bandon yet to score from play.
NEEDFUL
Ronan Crowley finally did the needful for Bandon in the
16th minute but wandering corner back, Cormac Ryan, hit a great long-range point in reply. When Kelly pointed two more frees we were really look¬ing at a whitewash for the Lily-whites as they trailed by nine points but the introduction of Brian Crowley, who gave a new physical approach to Bandon's play, signalled the start of a revival.
Crowley lashed over a point, Darren Crowley followed from a free and Brian Kelly had a chance of a goal but his shot was too weak. Darren Crowley pointed another free and then Bandon were awarded a semi-penalty, but Darren Crowley's well-hit shot was well saved. In the 31st minute Brian Crowley broke through but his rasper from close range was magnifi¬cently saved by goalie, Graham Courtney. Undaunted, back came Bandon with two points from Darren Crowley, one from play, and at the break it was 1-9 to 0-8, with the momentum very much in Bandon's favour.
Within three minutes of the restart Bandon had cut the lead to a single point with a point from Jason McCarthy, another from Brian Crowley and a free from Darren Crow-ley. Bandon now had Ronan Crowley and James O'Donovan at midfield and it seemed to be working but, to their credit, Newcestown, having conceded eight points without reply, slowly battled back into the game.
Kelly pointed a free and nearly goaled before pointing another free to restore a three-point gap. It looked as if they had weathered the fierce Ban¬don storm but in the 40th minute the fat was really in the fire when Gavin O'Riordan set up Jason McCarthy for a Ban¬don goal and the game was all
.
It was ding-dong stuff in the closing twenty minutes but was spoiled by too many frees and there-in lay the difference between the sides as Kelly rifled over five points from placed balls, some from long distance, while Bandon missed three vital frees in a row. New¬cestown built up a three-point lead again before Jason McCarthy replied for Bandon but two Kelly frees made it a. safe-looking four-point lead for the winners before a late surge from Bandon, which never real¬ly looked like producing the badly-needed goal, saw Darren Crowley pointing from a free.
It finished 1-16 to 1-13 with Newcestown advancing to the final against Barryroe or Kilbrittain.
Scorers - Newcestown: Eoin Kelly 1-13, 0-12 frees, Pionn Keane 0-2, Cormac Ryan 0-1. Bandon: Darren Crowley 0-8, 0-7 frees, Jason McCarthy 1-2, Brian Crowley 0-2, Ronan Crowley 0-1.
Newcestown - Graham Courtney, Cormac Ryan, Kier-an Kelly, Chris White, James Desmond, Ger O'Driscoll, Odhran Keane, Barry Morgan, Daniel Twomey, Adrian Phelan, James Walsh, Mike Bradfield, Eoin Kelly, Cian Twomey, Fionn Keane. Sub, Denis Desmond.
Bandon - Cian Collins, Robert Wilmot, James Walsh, Tim Crowley, Tom O'Donoghue, James O'Donovan, David Crowley, Gavin O'Riordan, Roy Payne, Roan Crowley, Darren Crowley, David Kelly, Brian Kelly, Ray Brennan, Jason McCarthy. Subs, Brian Crow-ley, Joe Harrington, Stephen Lynch and Robert Wilmot.
Referee: Martin Collins, Clonakilty.
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Southern Star 9th August 2008
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U21 Hurling Championship
Newcestown 1-16
Bandon 1-13
Bandon's U21 hurlers could have been forgiven for thinking that when they drew level with Newcestown at 1.10 apiece they would kick for home and win the game played on Friday night in Ballinascarthy.
Not for the first time this team was unable to close out a match on the home stretch and Newcestown ran out deserving winners 1.16.to 1.13.
In the first half Newcestown raced into a 0.00 to 1.05 lead playing with a very strong wind. Looking back on it now, with the benefit of hind-sight this lead was the winning of the game.
How much Bandon's great rally before half-time to make the score 0.08 to 1.09 took out of them,we will never know? On the night Darren Ryan and Eoin O' Donovan were sorely missed.
Bandon only scored 1.05 in the second half with the aid of the strong wind with only Jason McCarthy posing a real scoring threat.
Bandon drew level half way through the second-half,but having hit four wides on the trot their effort faltered and Newcestown took over again.
When the need was greatest Newcestown's star players played better than Bandon's and they once again showed how difficult they are to beat in any championship.
Team: Cian Collins, Timmy Crowley, James Walsh, Robert Wilmot, David Crowley, James O'Donovan, Tomas O'Donoghue, Gavin O'Riordan, Roy Payne, Ronan Crowley (0.01), Darren Crowley(0.08), David Kelly, Brian Kelly, Raymond Brennan, Jason McCarthy(1.02). Subs:Brian Crowley(0.02), Joe Harrington.
The St. Brogans Summer Camp co-ordinated by Cork senior football star Daniel Goulding takes place between the
11th and 15th of August in the club.The main organiser is Pat Ahern and a place can still be booked through St.
Brogans.
Sport took a poor second place last week with the news of the sad and untimely death of Gerald Long.
Ger hailed from Derrycool on the Newcestown border and was truly one of the most successful and outstanding
dual players ever to play for Bandon.
Whenever the history of Bandon's golden era in the 1970's is recalled with pride, the name of Gerald Long is
synonymous with those great teams. Ger played on three County championship winning teams in four years.
He was an outstanding under-age player in the 1960's when Bandon swept all before them winning the clubs first
U14 County in 1966 and following it with a minor County in 1969 both in hurling. These victories proved to be the
foundation stones for the glory of the next decade and Ger Long was a huge part of that success.
Gerald starred in both hurling and football with the club winning County Junior and Intermediate hurling championships
in 1971 and 1974 respectively,when he anchored the team from centre half-back.
He went on to confirm his status as a great dual player by winning a Junior football County in 1975 as a corner
forward. Two of that 1975 full-forward line have now, all too early, passed to their eternal reward.
For the remainder of the seventies he distinguished himself playing Senior hurling and Intermediate football with
the club.
His central role in the outstanding successes of that decade ensure that Ger's place in Bandon's "Hall of Fame" is secure.
Ger bore his illness and the cruel hand he was dealt, with the same courage and fortitude that he displayed on the GAA
pitch.
He was a great family man, a great GAA man and he will be sorely missed.
We extend our sincerest sympathies to his wife Eilis, sons David and Kevin, to daughters Cliona, Karen, Colleen and
Allanah and to his extended family.
Ar dheis lamh De go raibh a anam dilis.
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Bandon turn the tide on Colum's - JFC - Derry Farr - Evening Echo 21-07-08
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Bandon 1-10
St Colums 0-09
FOR the second time, against the same opposition, Bandon produced a winning scoring burst to force their way through to the semi-final of the South West JAFC.
The holders played the Kealkill lads in the first round of this championship and hit two goals and a point to lay the foundation for victory en¬tering the last quarter.
At Castletownkenneigh, last Sunday, Bandon left it even later before producing the winning scores in that quarter-final joust where Colum's led by two points at the break.
A sluggish Bandon saw matters get even worse before they got better as they fell eight points adrift and with ten minutes remaining they were down but definitely not out.
Once again Donagh Lucey, having come on as a half-time substitute, helped their cause by contributing a few points from frees; as did Robert Moloney with the equal¬iser, and Darren Crowley fired them ahead.
Any hopes Colum's harboured of making a comeback were dashed with the last kick of the game when Lucey goaled for Bandon who now face either Kilmacabea or Gabriel Rangers in the semi-final.
BANDON: P Prendergast; K Walsh, J O'Donovan, N Connor; D Crowley, M Quirke, Lucey; T O'Donoghue, J Mil-ner; C Sugrue, A Johnson, D Crowley; J O'Connell, R Mil-ner, R Moloney. Subs: J Walsh, D Lucey, D Kelly.
ST COLUM'S: Micheal Cronin, Michael Cronin, W O'Connor, J Wycherley; JP O'Sullivan, S Harrington, S McCarthy; A O'Connor, J Daly; D McSweeney, S Cronin, M O'Sullivan; A O'Sullivan, B O'Sullivan, D Cronin. Sub: M O'Sullivan.
Referee: Con Murphy, (Kilmeen).
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Burke to the fore as Bandon march on to the semis - IHC - Denis Hurley - Evening Echo 21-07-08
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BANDON'S Donnacha Burke notched his third goal in three games in the Lilywhites' 1-17 to 2-11 win over Milford in the Even¬ing Echo IHC quarter-final at Coachford on Friday night, writes DENIS HURLEY.
His seventh-minute strike, catching a Donough Lucey ball-in, before finishing well to put his side 1-4 to no score ahead, proved crucial as Milford came back into the game in the second half and could even have snatched a draw at the end. However, Eoin Dillon's goal attempt from a free was saved by the mass of Ban¬don defenders on the line.
"I'm delighted alright, we expected a tough game and we got it," said Donnacha.
"They nearly came back at us at the end, especially when they had that 20-metre free, we've let in ones like that in the past, but luckily we had enough on the line thank God and we stopped it."
Bandon led 1-10 to 1-4 at half-time, having been up 1-7 to 0-3 at one stage, but shot 11 wides with the wind at their backs, which could have proved costly but luckily didn't.
Donnacha, who captained Bandon to county junior glory in 1999, says that he wasn't surprised that Milford came back at them. "We were expecting it a bit," he said. "We knew they were well up for it and we had heard all week that they were gunning for this one."
A nasty injury to Bandon midfielder Charles Dullea in the second half seemed to stilt their rhythm for a period, but Burke paid tribute to his replacement Niall O'Rourke, who has plenty of experience. "The injury kind of broke our play a bit alright," he said. "Cha's a great player, he tears into everything, but Rourkey is a great fella on the bench to have to come on, he gives his all."
Was he pleased with his own performance, keeping up his goalscoring run? "Yeah, I'll take them anytime they come, I'm pleased enough al¬right!"
Next for last year's defeated finalists are Valley Rovers or Eire 6g in a semi.
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Crowley boys squeeze Bandon to semi-finals - IHC - Therese O'Callaghan - Irish Examiner 19-07-08
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Bandon 1-17
Milford 2-11
PLENTY of excitement in Coachford last evening for the Evening Echo Cork IHC juarter-final. As regards entertainment, you von't get much better — not sure though that Bandon will be as much appreciative, ftwice they had this game done and dusted, khead by seven points late in the opening half, and in front by nine early in the second half, and then at the death it all started to go pear-shaped as they defended like mad to Survive an unbelievable Milford fightback.
In the fifth of seven minutes of injury time Eoin Dillon was fouled as he made a last-ditch attempt to save this match. He bore down on goal and smashed the sliothar to the net but was fouled. Referee James fiermingham called back play and awarded the close-in free, much to the consternation of the Milford fans. Dillon squared up but |iis shot was saved and cleared. • Shortly afterwards the full whistle sig¬nalled, and it was only then Bandon could celebrate their narrow win, as they move a step closer to a possible second successive county final appearance.
Next up is a meeting with the winners of Valley Rovers versus Eire Og, however, before that, Red Crowley and his backroom team will have much to ponder.
They were in control for the majority of this tie, but twice surrendered big leads, and they shot 18 wides in comparison to Mil-ford's two. They started without Darren O'Donoghue (holidays) and the injured Eoin O'Donovan, nonetheless, they were ahead 1-7 to 0-3 following the opening 25 minutes, with full forward Donncha Burke getting a stick to Donough Lucey s delivery.
Their young guns were doing well too, Roy Payne and Ronan Crowley showing no nerves. They were winning a lot of the exchanges, however, Milford centre back Ronan Geary was well on top. So too was Jerry O'Brien at wingback, and when his clearance found his brother Dan, Milford were only trailing by three, 1-7 to 1-4.
However, a trio of points from Jason Hickey (twice) and Lucey left them behind by six at the break, 1-10 to 1-4.
Inside four minutes, Bandon had stretched the lead to nine points thanks to some fine points from the Crowley brothers, Darren and Ronan. But, a lengthy stoppage because of a shoulder injury to Cha Dullea upset their momentum.' Milford took over and were on top, scoring 1-4 to Bandon s solitary point — Dan O'Brien bagged his second goal.
Now in its final quarter, only three points separated the sides, Seanie O'Connell having fired four for Milford, and Dillon was causing problems at midfield. But, Bandon held their cool, their half back line of Kieran Hurley, Tomas Bambury and James O'Donovan keeping them in the match. A Darren Crowley free two minutes into stoppage time left Bandon four points clear, but Dillon pegged it back to three.
Then came Dillon's foul, followed by the tense finish.
Scorers for Bandon: D Crowley 0-6 (0-5 frees), D Burke 1-1, R Crowley 0-4, J Hickey 0-3, R Payne 0-2, D Lucey 0-1.
Scorers for Milford: D O'Brien 2-0, S O'Connell 0-4 (0-2 frees), E Dillon 0-3, M O'Connell, A Watson, J Cremin and H O'Gorman (si) 0-1 each.
BANDON: J Crowley; B Hurley, J Burke, G O'Riordan; K Hurley, T Bambury, J O'Donovan; D Lucey, C Dullea; R Crowley, A Johnson, J Hickey; D Crowley, D Burke, R Payne.
Subs: N O'Rourke for C Dullea (37 mins inj), V Goggin for R Payne (53).
MILFORD: M Cremin; J O'Connor, P O'Brien, R Villiers; J Leonard, R Geary, J O'Brien; P O'Regan, E Dillon; A Watson, M O'Connell, H O'Gorman; S O'Connell, D O'Brien, J Cremin.
Subs: B Geary for J Leonard (45), B Sexton for P O'Re¬gan (58).
Referee: J Bermingnam (Bride Rovers).
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Bandon can continue on winning path. - IHC - JOHN HORGAN - Evening Echo 18-07-08
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BANDON left Pairc Ui Chaoimh last year broken men after losing the county final to Fr O'Neill's in an epic contest.
Only a point separated the sides but, as they say, a point is as good as 10 goals.
Despite that defeat, however, they pledged to do everything in their power to redeem the situation this year and to travel that extra mile in search of glory.
It's been a case of so far, so good, and they will start as favourites here to carry the process a stage fur¬ther.
This game represents a different sort of challenge for them in so far as it will be their first outing in this year's championship against an op¬ponent from outside their own divi¬sion.
In their two games to date they were paired against Barryroe and Kilbrittain and successfully negoti¬ated both tasks.
The side is still constructed around tried and trusted players like Tom Bambury, Donough Lucey, Donnacha Burke, Barren Crowley and his younger brother Ronan, a Cork minor panellist, though Bar¬ren O'Bonoghue is a loss.
Coming through two difficult West Cork derbies will have steeled them considerably for what lies ahead but they will be facing a Mil-ford team that has grown in confid¬ence since they set off on the voy¬age.
It took them two games to see off Eire Og in the first round but then they showed their true worth by ending the hopes of Kilworth in the third round.
After all, this was a Kilworth team that lost by a point to eventual
inners Fr O'Neill's last year.
The North Cork unit is built around a very solid half-back line :hat contains two very seasoned campaigners in Jerry O'Brien and Ronan Geary.
Eoin Billon is generally regarded - being one of the county's best young hurlers and he'll be a key player in this operation.
Mike O'Connell at midfield and Anthony Watson are two more play¬ers that were bang in form in the defeat of Kilworth and this is very much a side that appears to be head¬ing upwards.
There will be no lack of commit¬ment here but Red Crowley will have Bandon primed to the last and, on paper anyway, they look more balanced.
Expect a massive struggle for su¬premacy with Bandon carrying the favourites tag into a game of im¬mense potential. They get our verdict.
Verdict: Bandon.
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Champions Bandon lucky to survive Ilen test - JFC - Cois Farraige - Southern Star 19-07-08
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Bandon 0-08
Ilen Rovers 0-07
SUPER SUB, Donagh Lucey, was the hero of the hour for champions Bandon in this exciting junior A football championship, in perfect conditions in Ardfield on Friday last. Sent on with fifteen minutes remaining, he slotted in at corner forward and caused major problems for the Hen rearguard.
More importantly he kicked two vital points in the closing minutes, which allowed Bandon to scrape home the narrowest of winners against an Hen outfit that surely deserved at least a draw for their great effort.
The champions entered this third round game as hot favourites against Ilen's sec¬ond string but were put to the pin of their collars to survive a searching test from the losers, who led at the break by two points and would surely have caused a major upset had they availed of a couple of clear chances in the closing minutes.
Bandon would have kicked themselves had they lost this game as they should have wrapped it up in the opening min¬utes when they missed two gilt-edged chances of goals and then preceded to squander possession with some terrible finishing that left them vulnerable right to the end. Bandon are having to do with¬out seven of last year's winning team bu1 they rarely displayed any of the fluenl play we saw for them when they won the title. They played in fits and starts and despite some fine individual perfor mances, never really got it together as a team.
On the other hand Hen often overdid the teamwork and very often a pass too many saw them losing possession. Still, they proved more economical in a limited attack and with veteran Pat Connolly kicking some magnificent points they weathered Bandon's early storm and, playing with the breeze, led at the break by two points.
Bandon began the second half well, cutting back the deficit and leading by a point as they held lien scoreless in the third quarter. But any notions Bandon might have had of surging on to a good victory were demolished by a battling Hen side who gave more than they got in the final quarter, drawing level before con-ceding victory to a Lucey point two minutes from time.
While the standard of football left a lot to be desired, Ilen playing too much short passing and Bandon being very disjointed, the closeness of the scores kept the excitement alive and most fans would have readily settled for a draw, even the Bandon mentors admitting they got out of jail on the night.
James O'Donovan had a fine game at full back for Bandon and was responsible for setting up the winning point while Kevin Lucey, who moved effectively to midfield in the second half, got through a lot of work. James Milner dominated mid-field for three-quarters of the game but tired in the final quarter when Hen took command.
Conor Sugrue, back after a long injury, did well on the wing, as did Barren Crow-ley on the other side while Alan Johnson worked very hard on the forty. Richard Milner was a handful at full forward and John O'Connell always looked dangerous but was wayward in his finishing for a change.
Brendan Duggan looked the class act at full back for Hen with Paddy Minihane having a great outing at corner back. Cia-ran 6 Drisceoil was very determined at centre back, flanked by two lively wingers in Aidan Coughlan and Barry Looney. Pat Connolly at midfield may not be as mobile as of yore but was in the thick of the action and could still give lessons in kick¬ing long balls. Peadar O'Driscoll looked promising at centre forward while Adam Hayes and Michael McCarthy showed the Clonakilty football blood in their veins. Sub, Florrie Driscoll, made a big impact in the final quarter.
Referee, Leonard Cooke, Carbery Rangers. Arrangements in Ardfield were top class as usual.
THE PLAY Ilen had the breeze in the first half but it was Bandon who got off to a flier. How¬ever, they failed to avail of two great opportunities of goal with John O'Connell nodding on both occasions. Peadar O'Driscoll opened the scoring with an Hen point and Pat Connolly pointed a free but after that scores were scarce as both defences got on top and both attacks missed chances.
Bandon applied a lot of pressure with little reward until Conor Sugrue finally found the target after Richard Milner had hit the post from an acute angle in the 13th minute. John O'Connell also found the target to level the scores, 0-2 each, at the end of a lively first quarter.
Pat Connolly kicked a massive point from 60m and Barren Crowley blazed over for Bandon. lien finished the half better with points from the hard-working Paddy Bohane and Pat Connolly from a 55m free. It was 0-5 to 0-3 at the break and Bandon had the breeze in the second half.
The Lily Whites got down to business immediately after the break but again
found it difficult to score. Richard Milner pointed a free but then the winners had some wild wides before Barren Crowley levelled the scores, 0-5 each, from the wing. When John O'Connell fisted a lead point to end the third quarter it seemed Bandon had at last weathered the storm but it was lien who lifted their game in the last quarter. With sub, Florrie O'Driscoll very prominent and corner back Paddy Minihane surging forward, lien had their chances but often over¬played the ball.
Adam Hayes pointed a free to level the scores again before Donagh Lucey made his presence felt with a marvellous lead score in the 21st minute.
WERE RAW. Still, Hen refused to buckle and Hayes again kicked a good equaliser with six minutes remaining. It was anybody's game now, with Hen looking the more determined. However, they failed to pen¬etrate a tough Bandon full back line and in a breakaway Lucey was on hand to kick Bandon into the lead once more in the 58th minute. Bandon nerves were raw at this stage as lien again went in search of an equaliser but two clear chances were kicked wide before referee, Leonard Cooke, blew the final whistle with Ban¬don on the attack.
Bandon lived on the edge in this game, their finishing in particular, being very faulty. They now meet St. Colum's in the quarter-final and were decidedly lucky to get over the Kealkil side in the first round.
Scorers - Bandon: John O'Connell 0-2, Barren Crowley 0-2, Bonagh Lucey 0-2, Richard Milner 0-1 free, Conor Sugrue 0-1.
Ilen Rovers: Pat Connolly 0-3, 0-2 frees, Adam Hayes 0-2, 0-1 free, Peadar O'Driscoll 0-1, Paddy Bohane 0-1.
Bandon: Pat Prendergast, Kevin Walsh, James O'Bonovan, Niall O'Con-nor, Kevin Lucey, Mick Quirke, Bavid Crowley, James Milner, Tom O'Bonoghue, Conor Sugrue, Alan Johnson, Barren Crowley, Bavid Kelly, Richard Milner, John O'Connell. Subs: Adam Tobin, Bon¬agh Lucey and Cha Bullea.
Ilen Rovers: Bominic Casey, Flor O'Donoghue, Brendan Duggan, Paddy Minihane, Barry Looney, Ciaran O Drisceoil, Aidan Coughlan, Pat Connolly, Bavid Whooley, Adam Hayes, Peadar O'Briscoll, Banny O'Bonovan, Michael Coughlan, Paddy Bohane, Michael McCarthy. Subs: Florrie O'Briscoll, Gavin Barry.
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Cahalane's late equaliser earns Bandon a replay - U14HC - PETER McNAMARA - Evening Echo 15-07-08
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Bandon 5-02
St Michaels Blackrock 3-08
A GRIPPING finale to a thrilling contest ensured these two will have to do it all over again as an in¬jury-time
point from Michael Ca-halane earned Bandon an unlikely replay in the U14 A county hurling final.
At half-time, Blackrock were in a commanding lead 2-6 to 2-1, and looked to be in a favourable position to kick on
from there.
The heavy scattered showers made the contest scrappy at times but Blackrock appeared to hold all the aces in the opening half, playing with more fluency and purpose.
Bandon showed incredible fighting spirit in the second half, raising three green flags to compensate for their lack of point-scoring to claw their way back into the game.
Bandon's solitary point in the opening half came from an Eoin Ryan an free and the Rockies were the team scoring with a lot more ease. Wing-forward Callum Crowe, showing his class, notched their first three points from play.
Ryan Dineen scored a fine indi¬vidual point off his left soon after and Blackrock were ahead 0-4 to 0-1 after nine minutes of play.
A rasping low drive from Bandon wing-forward Barry Collins was then well-saved by Ritchie Sweeney but Michael Cahalane was quickest to react and flicked the sliothar to the net after 18 minutes.
Shortly after, Bandon found them¬selves in front. A first-time shot from Eoin Ryan flew past Sweeney, rattling the net. Out of nothing, the Rockies were in a right game of it.
Blackrock's reply was instant as it was emphatic. Their star man in the first half, Crowe, again causing Ban¬don all sorts of problems in their de¬fence, shot for goal and billowed the net from close range.
The sides were now level at 2-1 to 1-4 after 22 minutes but Blackrock went up a gear until the break. Ryan Dineen was switched from centre to full-forward and it paid dividends.
Dineen crashed in another goal and two further points, including a peach of a score from substitute Alan Nolan put them five ahead at the break.
Blackrock began the second half as they finished the first with the in¬dustrious midfielder Peter O'Brien adding another point.
Bandon hit back again with a third goal and arguably the pick of the bunch. Barry Collins intelli¬gently picked out Cahalane 13 metres from goal.
The Bandon man made for goal and fired past Sweeney for his second three-pointer of the after¬noon.
This left it at 2-7 to 3-1 in favour of the city side after 33 minutes. Three wides in quick succession left Ban-don frustrated but Cahalane then struck for his-trick, another rocket leaving Sweeney helpless and draw¬ing his side level.
Bandon were transformed and their tails were up. Alan Nolan hit back with a goal for Blackrock and a quick point from Crowe put them 3-8 to 4-1 in front.
Oisin Healy flicked home another goal for Bandon and the tension was immense, Blackrock desperately clinging on, Bandon desperately try¬ing for a last-gasp equaliser, an equaliser that star man Cahalane scored.
Scorers for Blackrock: C Crowe 1-5, R Dineen, A Nolan 1-1 each, P O'Brien 0-1.
Bandon: M Cahalane 3-1, E Ryan 1-1 (0-1f), O Healy 1-0.
BLACKROCK: R McSweeney; H McCarthy, S Corbett, PJ Green; S Murphy, J Ryan, J Bourke; P O'Brien leapt), D Hurley; C Crowe, R Dineen, N Cashman; R Meally, C Cunningham, F Whyte.
Sub: A Nolan for F Whyte (26).
BANDON: J McSweeney; R Walsh, C Hourihan, C Jackson; C Lynch, P O'Leary, P O'Brien; M McNamara, M Beecher; B Collins, A O'Neill, E Ryan leapt); D O'Donovan, M Cahalane, O Healy.
Referee: Dave McCarthy (Kilmurry).
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Southern Star 5th July 2008
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Intermediate Hurling Championship
Bandon 1-18
Kilbrittain 0-15
One abiding memory sticks out from Bandons excellent win over fancied Kilbrittain in the Intermediate Hurling Championship game played in Timoleague.
As brilliant second half substitute Ronan Crowley stood over his fourth successive side-line cut,having already scored from the previous three, an eerie silence descended over the huge crowd, Bandon supporters out of respect, Kilbrittain people from a combination of sportmanship and utter disbelief at the silken skills of the 17 year old championship debutant. While his final effort dropped agonisingly short, his achievement was not in the least diminished.
The final score was 1.18 to 0.15 with Bandon making the most of the strong wind in the second half. Bandon's full-back line and half-back line were very strong throughout and Kilbrittain never looked like getting through for a goal.
Donnacha Burke scored a vital first half goal which put Bandon in a flattering position at half-time 1.05 to 0.10. Bandon's backs stood tall under pressure in limiting wind-assisted Kilbrittain in that opening thirty minutes.
Over the hour Brian Hurley was having the "game of his life" before he got injured,Kieran Hurley was prominent,and once again Darren Crowley,who contributed ten points from frees and from play was exceptional.
They say a team is only as good as it's substituteswell all three, Cha Dullea, Ronan Crowley and Roy Payne excelled. They contributed seven points to Bandon's second half total.
Anyone want to try picking the Bandon team for the quarter final against Milford?
Scorers for Bandon: D Crowley 0-10 (0-7f); R Crowley 0-5 (0-3sl); D Burke 1-0; R Payne 0-2; D O'Donoghue 0-1.
Kilbrittain: M Sexton 0-6 (0-4f); R Cashman, V O'Brien 0-2 each; J O'Brien, D O'Connell, P O'Mahony, P Sexton, A Hayes 0-1 each.
BANDON: J Crowley, B Hurley, J Burke, J O'Donovan, K Hurley, T Bambury, G O'Riordan, D Lucey, N O'Rourke, D Crowley, A Johnson, J Hickey, D Bourke, D O'Donoghue, E O'Donovan. Subs: C Dullea for B Hurley (30 inj.); R Payne for N O'Rourke (36 inj.); R Crowley for J Hickey (40)
KILBRITTAIN: R Hayes, James Deasy, J Murphy, P Hurley, R Cashman, D Desmond, M Deasy, J O'Brien, V O'Brien, M Sexton, P Sexton, A Hayes, P O'Mahony, D O'Connell, T Marring ton.
Subs: P Ryan for D Desmond (25); O Sexton for P O'Mahony (51).
Referee: D Copps (Ballyhea)
Junior Hurling Championship
Kilbrittain 1-13
Bandon 1-11
The Junior A hurlers almost did the double over Kilbrittain and were very unlucky to go down 1.11 to 1.13 on Sunday
in the championship in Ahiohill.
U21 Football Championship
Macroom 0-10
Bandon 0-07
Ten days later the depleted U21 footballers went down to Macroom after a very spirited display.
The game played in Kilmurray ended 0.07 to 0.10 with both sides dominating against the wind.
The effort that Bandon made in the first half to stay in contention playing against the wind against a rampant Macroom side took it's toll.
Bandon were never the same force in the second half and struggled to get the ball into their inside forwards for scores. With the benefit of hindsight injuries and defections cost Bandon dearly in this County U21 championship.
Of the seven players in all who were unavailable and the six who had played in the unforgettable West Cork final win, the irreplaceable loss to the side proved to be talismanic centre-back James Walsh. He cried off injured during the week. Also the recent injury to Cork minor Michael Minihane further drained resources.
James O'Donovan at full-back was outstanding as he has been throughout his under-age career. He inspired Bandon with his never say die spirit and inspirational defending. It is a total travesty that this outstanding prospect was never considered by the Cork U21 football selectors at any stage over the past three years and despite the best promptings of his club. He has been a colossus during that time for Bandon, playing a huge part in the winning of two West Cork U21 football championships. He is one of the finest under-age players the club has ever produced and he has hardly had a trial for Cork in hurling or football.
Others to shine on the day were Adam Tobin, Tomas O'Donoghue, David Crowley, David Kelly and Darren Crowley.
Bandon have played Macroom at this level many times in recent years and we sincerely wish them well. Nobody deserves that County U21 football title more.
Scorers - Macroom: S. Kiely, 0-3; D. Goold, 0-3, frees; S. Casey, D. Golden, C. O'Sullivan and S. Pierce, 0-1 each.
Bandon: R. Payne, 0-2; R. Crowley, 0-2; D. Crowley, C. O'Mahony and C. O'Donoghue, 0-1 each.
Macroom: Thomas Creedon, Peter Lynch, Rory Buck-ley, Gerard Angland, Mark McSweeney, Philip Corrigan, Brian Horgan, Stephen Casey, David Goold, Trevor Horgan, David Golden, John Ryan, Conor O'Sullivan, Sean Kiely, Gearoid Cronin. Subs: Ivan Casey for Cronin, 35 minutes, Shane Pierce for K. Horgan, 55 mins.
Bandon: Jack Donegan, Adam Tobin, James O'Donovan, Mark O'Sullivan, Gavin O'Riordan, James O'Donoghue
Mark O'Leary, David Crowley, David Kelly, Jason McCarthy, Darren Crowley, Erin O'Donovan, Cian O'Mahony, Roy Payne, Ronan Crowley. Subs: Chris O'Donoghue for M. O'Sulllivan, 40 mins, Raymond Brennan for J. McCarthy, 55 mins.
Referee, Sean Collins, Carrigaline
The Junior footballers have been drawn against Ilen Rovers on this Friday July 11th in Ardfield at 7.30p.m.
The Intermediate hurling championship quarter final against Milford has been fixed for Saturday July 19th at 7.15 p.m.in Coachford.
The annual Golf Classic will take place on Friday 8th August in Bandon Golf Club. Anyone interested in putting in a team or sponsoring a T-box should contact a club member.
Bingo takes place in the Pavilion every thursday night and new players are more than welcome.
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Macroom hold their nerve in a very exciting finish
- U21FC - B. KENNEALLY - Southern Star 05-07-08
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Macroom 0-10
Bandon 0-07
A much improved second half display earned Macroom victory over Bandon in the Cork County under-21 football championship quarter-final at Kilmurry on Sunday afternoon last.
There was a fairly strong breeze favouring the team playing away from the village end and Macroom had the advantage in the opening half. However, despite turning over leading by 0-5 to 0-3, Macroom had every reason to be worried at this stage as Bandon, who lined out without four of their West Cork championship winning side who are presently in the US were the most impressive side in the opening half and would have been in front had they availed of the goal chances that had come their way.
Bandon kicked eight wides in that opening thirty minutes to Macroom's tally of four and this gives an indication of the amount of possession the West Cork champions had. From the throw-in for the restart, how¬ever, Macroom were a changed team and carried the game to Bandon. They doubled their interval lead early on and when Bandon fought back to narrow the deficit to a single point, 0-8 to 0-7, four minutes from the finish, Macroom did not panic but rallied strongly again in the closing minutes and kicked two additional points to make their victory more secure.
Bandon will regret their waste of three golden goal chances in the opening half and of course will wonder what they would have achieved had their full squad been available. Macroom will be relieved to have emerged from this test of their championship credentials but will know that this level of performance will not do if a county title is to be won.
Macroom, like Bandon, had problems entering the game as Ivan Casey was deemed unfit to start and their midfielder Sean Kiely was forced to line out at full forward as he has been ill recently and playing with Muskerry in the senior championship and Cork juniors in the Munster final in the previous week did not benefit his health any.
Bandon's Darren Crowley who had an excellent first half opened the scoring in the 2nd minute but a foul on Kiely at the other end enabled David Goold to equalise from the resultant free. A foul on young Trevor Hogan gave Goold the opportunity of putting Macroom in the lead and they led to the finish. Stephen Casey and David Golden added points to put Macroom 0-4 toO-1 in front after eight minutes and Conor O'Sullivan's point in the 12th minute increased the Macroom lead further.
Macroom were not to score again until after the break as Bandon took control around midfield through David Crowley and David Kiely and Darren Crowley and Roy Payne gave Macroom plenty of anxiety up front. Bandon's downfall was their lack of clinical finish, however, and before half-time they had missed three goal chances, with the ball being blazed wide from close range on each occasion.
Their tally of wides mounted also and a point from Roy Payne, a lovely curling shot into the wind after 20 minutes and a punched effort from the same player just before the short whistle was poor return for the amount of quality possession the Bandon lads had enjoyed.
IN TROUBLE. Macroom were clearly in trouble starting the second half and they moved Kiely out to the half forward line from the throw-in and brought Ivan Casey off the bench within minutes of the restart. Both these decisions benefited Macroom who started the second half camped in the Bandon half. Five wides in the opening six minutes did not help their cause but at last Ivan Casey passed to Kiely and the latter took a point in the 38th minute. Two minutes later John Ryan took the punish¬ment before releasing to Kiely who kicked another point and Macioom were four pomts clear.
Bandon replied with a punched point from Ronan Crowley who beat Macroom goalkeeper Thomas Creedon to a Daire Crowley lob into the goalmouth and three points separated the teams at the three-quarter stage. Macroom were forcing the game and doing much better at midfield where David Goold upped his performance and Stephen Casey, Philip Corrigan and Trevor Hogan gave strong support.
Goold pointed a free after a foul on Kiely but Ronan Crowley's point cut the lead to three points once again. Cian O'Ma-hony had another Bandon point in the 50th minute and after Macroom had missed a couple of scoring chances, Bandon's Chris O'Donoghue punched over a point so with 56 minutes gone only a point separated the teams and the momentum was with Bandon. A minute later Sean Kiely finished off an excellent Macroom move with a vital point and Kiely appeared to have scored again immediately after but the 'score' was not allowed after ref and umpires consulted. Macroom were not to be denied, however, and in injury time Conor O'Sullivan set up substitute Shane Pierce for the final point of a very close encounter.
Scorers - Macroom: S. Kiely, 0-3; D. Goold, 0-3, frees; S. Casey, D. Golden, C. O'Sullivan and S. Pierce, 0-1 each.
Bandon: R. Payne, 0-2; R. Crowley, 0-2; D. Crowley, C. O'Mahony and C. O'Donoghue, 0-1 each.
Macroom: Thomas Creedon, Peter Lynch, Rory Buck-ley, Gerard Angland, Mark McSweeney, Philip Corrigan, Brian Horgan, Stephen Casey, David Goold, Trevor Horgan, David Golden, John Ryan, Conor O'Sullivan, Sean Kiely, Gearoid Cronin. Subs: Ivan Casey for Cronin, 35 minutes, Shane Pierce for K. Horgan, 55 mins.
Bandon: Jack Donegan, Adam Tobin, James O'Donovan, Mark O'Sullivan, Gavin O'Riordan, James O'Donoghue
Mark O'Leary, David Crowley, David Kelly, Jason McCarthy, Darren Crowley, Erin O'Donovan, Cian O'Mahony, Roy Payne, Ronan Crowley. Subs: Chris O'Donoghue for M. O'Sulllivan, 40 mins, Raymond Brennan for J. McCarthy, 55 mins.
Referee, Sean Collins, Carrigaline
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Macroom title quest starts well - U21FC - Fintan O'Toole - Irish Examiner 30-06-08
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Macroom 0-10
Bandon 0-07
BEATEN in the last two Cork County U-21 football finals, Macroom s bid for redemption in the 2008 county championship got off to a positive start in Kilmurry yesterday with a 0-10 to 0-7 quarter-final win over Bandon.
The mid-Cork side had the bulk of the team who had reached those two finals still eligible and it was their ex¬perienced performers who helped them shake off a determined Bandon challenge. In defence Rory Buckley and Phillip Corrigan gave the side a solid spine while David Gould caught plenty ball at midfield and kicked some important frees.
In attack Sean Kiely, who began the game at full-forward before moving to wing-forward at half-time, was their scoring star in the end. He shot three points in the second half, each score vital to the overall outcome.
Macroom sprinted into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead inside the opening 10 minutes but failed to build on that wind-assisted dominance. Bandon took over for the rest of the half, inspired by centre-back Tomas O'Donoghue, yet their shoot¬ing left them down. They could only muster up two Roy Payne points and should have been closer than the 0-5 to 0-3 interval deficit.
In the second half Macroom began strongly again and as the game entered its final quarter they were 0-8 to 0-4 in front. However Bandon then mounted a strong rally with Ronan Crowley, Cian O'Mahony and David Kelly all pointing to leave the minimum be¬tween the sides in the final minutes. Yet Macroom stayed composed and late points by Kiely and substitute Shane Pierce sealed their success.
Macroom are joined in the county semi-finals by Fermoy, who won their quarter-final against Beara at Carri-gadrohid on Saturday by 2-12 to 1-13. Two late injury-time frees by Ruairi O'Hagan handed Fermoy victory and brought his tally to 0-7 for the game.
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Kilbrittain gain sweet revenge in junior championship - JHC - Cois Farraige - Southern Star 28-06-08
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Kilbrittain 1-14
Bandon 1-12
IT was sweet revenge for Kilbrittain in the SW junior A hurling championship, losers' group, in wintry
Ahiohill on Sunday last when they got the better of great rivals Bandon, who had beaten them in the
intermediate championship three nights previously.
The sun did shine, after the torrential downpours the previous night, but a near-gale wind blew into the
dressing room end, making this a game of two distinct halves.
Bandon had the advantage in the first half but, after a promising start, they failed miserably to put
scores on the board. It was looking very good for Kilbrittain approaching half-time as they trailed by
only a single point but Bandon were thrown a lifeline when Jason McCarthy goaled in the 29th minute and
they led by five points at the interval. Few thought it would be adequate against the gale and when
Kilbrittain raised a green flag through Fintan O'Connell in the 35th minute, levelled a minute later and
surged four points in front by the end of the third quarter, the writing certainly was on the wall for the
Bandonians. To their eternal credit Bandon refused to throw in the towel and they clawed their way back into
contention in a rousing last quarter. As Kilbrittain, who had been superb in that third quarter,
faded badly in the closing stages, Bandon closed the gap point by point and with two minutes remaining the
gap was down to the bare minimum. It looked all over a draw but amid great excitement, Frank Hickey, scorer
of no less than eight points on the day, became the Kilbrittain hero when he lashed over a point to thwart
Bandon's come¬back and ensure a two-point win for the black and amber.
HERO. While Hickey was undoubtedly the hero of the hour, Kilbrittain had fine hurlers all over the pitch.
David O'Sullivan was very solid in front of reliable goalie, Ollie Harrington with Cal McCarthy and Pat
Deasy performing well in the corners. Seamus O'Brien was very strong at centre back and Des Deasy did a
lot of good work at wing back. Denis Ryan had a good hour at midfield and up front David McSweeney was
effective on the forty, Colman O'Brien hurled well at wing forward and Fintan O'Connell at full forward
created a lot of space for Hickey.
Bandon will regret not getting at least a draw out of this game but they left their best form too late.
Pat Prendergast kept a good goal and lan McCarthy caught the eye at corner back. Kevin Walsh was very
lively at wing back and David Lehane held well at centre back. James Milner put in a big effort at mid-field
and in attack Diarmuid Cronin rivalled Hickey for man of the match with six points to his credit from deadly
accurate free-taking. Jason McCarthy did well at wing forward and later at midfield while Niall Geary worked
very hard at full forward and John O'Regan showed a lot of courage on the wing. Referee, Martin Collins,
Clonakilty.
THE PLAY. Bandon started with the strong wind to their backs and got on top quickly with some determined
hurling. Niall Geary and Diarmuid Cronin, free, had them two points to the good before Kilbrittain began to
find their feet. Frank Hickey had his first point of the day and then Cronin pointed two frees either side
of a David Desmond point. Improving Kilbrittain were more than holding their own against the wind as the
first quarter drew to a close and a Cian O'Leary point closed the gap to a single score, 0-4 to 0-3.
Cronin and Hickey swapped frees before John O'Regan made it a two-point game, which suited Kilbrittain,
considering the strength of the wind favouring Bandon.
Bandon were given a boost in the 29th minute when a John O'Regan pass found Jason McCarthy who drilled the
sliotar to the Kilbrittain net. It was Bandon in front at the break by five points, 1-6 to 0-4 but that lead
looked inadequate, so strong was the wind.
Fintan O'Connell hit a quick point for Kilbrittain on the restart but John O'Regan answered with a fine
effort. Frank Hickey cut the lead to four points and then Kilbrittain struck a crucial blow when Fintan
O'Connell finished a long Seamus O'Brien free to the Bandon net in the 35th minute. Within a minute
Kilbrittain were level following a Frank Hickey free and the same player put his side ahead for the first
time in the 39th minute. Kilbrittain piled on the pressure and Pat Prendergast was called on to bring off a
good save before points from Seamus O'Brien, free, Denis Ryan and Hickey, free, opened a four-point gap by
the end of the third quarter.
There didn't seem any way back for Bandon as the last quarter started but they began to come more into the
game as Kilbrittain seemed to tire. Diarmuid Cronin pointed a free to begin the comeback and Frank Hickey,
free, swapped points with sub, Rob Moloney. Ollie Harrington had to be acrobatic in the Kilbrittain goal to
stop a Diarmuid Cronin shot before Jason McCarthy closed the gap to two points with five minutes remaining.
Bandon were sensing an escape now and went in search of scores against the wind. Cronin pointed another
free and only a single point separated the teams with two minutes remaining. It was exciting fare now as
Kilbrittain held tough and Bandon gave their all in search of an equalising point. It was not to be as
Frank Hickey clinched it for Kilbrittain with an opportunist point in the 62nd minute.
Kilbrittain now go on to the third round of the championship while Bandon are left to fight out the relegation group.
Scorers - Kilbrittain: Frank Hickey 0-8, 0-6 frees, Fintan O'Connell 1-1, David McSweeney 0-1, Cian O'Leary 0-1, Denis Ryan 0-1, Seamus O'Brien 0-1.
Bandon: Diarmuid Cronin 0-6 frees, Jason McCarthy 1-1, John O'Regan 0-2, Niall Geary 0-1, Rob Moloney 0-1.
Kilbrittain: 0 Harrington; P Deasy, D O'Sullivan, C McCarthy; D Deasy, S O'Brien, D Hayes; D Quinlan, D Ryan; C O'Brien, D McSweeney, C O'Leary; F Hickey, F O'Connell, D Desmond. Subs: D O'Mahony, L Ryan, J McSweeney.
Bandon: P Prendergast; J Harrington, C Moloney, I McCarthy; K Walsh, D Lehane, T Canniffe; V Goggin, J Milner; F O'Sullivan, J O'Regan; D Kelly, N Geary, D Cronin. Subs: A Nyhan, R Moloney, R Wilmot.
Referee: Martin Collins, Clonakilty.
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Bandon earn bragging rights - IHC - West Cork Gael - Southern Star 28-06-08
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Bandon 1-18
Kilbrittain 0-15
BANDON boys hurrah, as super-subs hasten the demise of Kilbrittain! Over an hour before the commencement of this eagerly awaited Cork
intermediate hurling championship local derby third round joust between razor keen rivals Kilbrittain and Bandon, the crowds were already
pouring into the picturesque Timoleague venue on Thursday evening last in anticipation of a thrilling contest.
Things may not quite have worked out that way because; this closely fought affair was at times too tense and
too tough to allow for classy hurling and deft touches. However, the Lily Whites will not fret in the least
about such trivial matters because at the end of the day the result was what mattered, and after an
astonishing second half turnabout that saw them fire over ten unanswered points without reply in a fifteen
minutes productive patch of scoring, they duly earned the current bragging rights and ran out comfortable
victors at the finish.
By any stretch of the imagination the two most striking features of this uncom¬promising affair where no
quarter was given, or indeed expected, but was fought out in a fine manly spirit in the overall context,
concern the last 20 minutes capitulation by Kilbrittain and the startling dominance of the Bandon boys during
this rosy and productive spell. They say that a team is only as good and vibrant as the substitutes on the
bench in Ronan Crowley, Charles Dullea and Roy Payne. Bandon really pulled three master strokes from the
magicians hat.
Enter Payne, back after a heartbreaking long-term injury, soon after the interval as substitute for the
injured mid-fielder Niall O'Rourke, while Dullea had been introduced just before the limit far Brian Hurley.
Ironically. Hurley had picked up the injury in a heroic attempt to thwart Kilbrittain's ace centre back Ross
Cashman who had embarked on a magnificent solo sally. Then to add farther badly need power to the Lilly
Whites attacking fire, with twenty minutes left on the clock Cork minor panellist Ronan Crowley joined
brother Darren in the fray when he replaced Jason Hickey.
UPTURN. It was more than a coincidence that from this juncture onwards Bandon's fortunes took a huge
upturn for the better. Where they had been eternally grateful for Donncha Burke's splendid strike in the
12th minute of the opening half to stay in touch against a rampant Kilbrittain, when he delivered a low
trajectory shot from an acute angle past Robert Hayes, after the Kilbrittain custodian had been partly to
blame for not clearing the initial long delivery from the out standing Kieran Hurley properly, now there
were three more soldiers of destiny ready and able to strengthen the Bandon battalion for the task that
lay ahead.
But while Dullea played a key role, it was Payne, with the Crowley brothers, Darren and Ronan, who, like the
famous biscuit, proved a cracking combination as they took Kilbrittain apart. Suddenly, where Kilbrittain
had looked assured and competent in defence with John Murphy, John O'Brien and partly the majestic Ross
Cashman in irrepressible form in the pivot position, allied to the industry of elegant midfielder Vincent
O'Brien and the attacking panache of Maurice Sexton and Alan Hayes, cracks began to appear in their formation.
There was a new pep in the Bandon step as the brilliant Kieran Hurley, Tomas Bambury, Joe Burke, Donough
Lucey, Donncha Burke, Gavin O'Riordan and Eoin O'Donovan all upped the ante.
Darren Crowley began the crusade as he continued his unerring free-taking, O'Donoghue added another fine
point, Payne got in on the act, but it was five superlative points from the stick of Ronan Crowley
(included three massive sideline conversations), that really tore the heart out of the Kilbrittain
challenge. After hitting the front for the very first time in the 47th minute, Bandon were now the total
masters, 1-17 to 0-14 ahead with four minutes remaining. While Kilbrittain fought tooth and nail to stay in
the hunt, their only reward was an Alan Hayes point in injury time. At this stage, the Bandon celebrations
had already started on the terraces.
DIFFERENT. How different it had been in the opening half, as Kilbrittain started with pace, panache and
precision hurling, Maurice Sexton spot on from frees and veteran Dan O'Connell stroking over an early point
with effortless ease, after young Tomas Harrington had blocked down Joe Burke's intending clearance. However,
that early Burke goal seemed to take much of the wind from their sails and while they subsequently recovered
and continued to impose their will on pro¬ceedings with Ross Cashman, Vincent O'Brien, Pat Sexton, John Murphy,
Alan Hayes and Michael Deasy all prominent, they failed to get sufficient first half scoring return on the
board, given that they had the stiff breeze to their backs.
Granted, Pat O'Mahony, Vincent O'Brien, Ross Cashman and Maurice Sexton had chipped in with some neat scores,
but their interval advantage of just 0-11 to 1-6 seemed shaky enough. As subsequent events transpired, this
is what panned out, but even they could not have envisaged the Bandon barrage that submerged them in the last
twenty min¬utes and to which they had no answer.
Our verdict: The scenes of unbridled joy and the crescendo of noise that reverberated around this hallowed
ground as we took our leave, was a ready barometer that victory means so much in these local derby clashes.
Bandon are now in pole position, having disposed of both Barryroe and Kilbrittain, but there is many a slip
between the cup and the lip, something that they will be acutely aware of. They take on Milford next, but
need to redress some problems in attack, where Darren Crowley continues to bear a big burden of
responsibility with his free-taking ability and only that vital goal from Donncha Burke and a solitary
Darren O'Donoghue point was the other contribution, not counting of course the massive final tally of the
Crowley brothers and Roy Payne who accounted for an astounding seventeen points between them.
WORRYING. Kilbrittain again came close, but that fade-out in the last quarter must be worrying to say the
least. It was a sporting game in an overall sense, bar a bit of handbag bashing near both dugouts on a
couple of occasions, a natural occurrence on days like these. However, a brief moment of midsummer madness
by Kilbrittain's John O'Brien left referee Copps from Ballyhea with little option but to issue a straight
red card in second half-injury time.
The host club are to be commended on their magnificent arrangements as they handled the huge attendance with
con¬summate ease and expert ability on a splendid evening for hurling.
While quite a few came into the frame for man of the match, with Ross Cashman, Darren and Ronan Crowley
partic¬ularly impressive, a performance of majestic hurling splendour from Bandon's Kieran Hurley earns
him our accolade. Man of the match, Kieran Hurley, Bandon.
Scorers for Bandon: D Crowley 0-10 (0-7f); R Crowley 0-5 (0-3sl); D Burke 1-0; R Payne 0-2; D O'Donoghue 0-1.
Kilbrittain: M Sexton 0-6 (0-4f); R Cashman, V O'Brien 0-2 each; J O'Brien, D O'Connell, P O'Mahony, P Sexton, A Hayes 0-1 each.
BANDON: J Crowley, B Hurley, J Burke, J O'Donovan, K Hurley, T Bambury, G O'Riordan, D Lucey, N O'Rourke, D Crowley, A Johnson, J Hickey, D Bourke, D O'Donoghue, E O'Donovan. Subs: C Dullea for B Hurley (30 inj.); R Payne for N O'Rourke (36 inj.); R Crowley for J Hickey (40)
KILBRITTAIN: R Hayes, James Deasy, J Murphy, P Hurley, R Cashman, D Desmond, M Deasy, J O'Brien, V O'Brien, M Sexton, P Sexton, A Hayes, P O'Mahony, D O'Connell, T Marring ton.
Subs: P Ryan for D Desmond (25); O Sexton for P O'Mahony (51).
Referee: D Copps (Ballyhea)
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Junior Hurling Championship Loss - JHC - Derry Farr - County Section 24-06-08
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Kilbrittain 1-14
Bandon 1-12
THIS South JAHC losers' round success enabled Kilbrittain to atone a little for their defeat against the same opposition in the recent county intermediate hurling championship.
In this Sunday afternoon encounter, at Ahiohill, the result was in doubt to the very end. Kilbrittain goal¬keeper Oliver Harrington was called on to save a goal-bound shot late in a close encounter. Bandon, aided by the wind, and helped by a 16th minute Jason McCarthy goal, shaded the opening-half ex-changes, and a team minus the services of Ronan Crowley, who had ac¬counted for most of their scores against Newcestown in their first-round loss, was well placed at the break with a five-point advantage.
That was until the early stages of the closing half, when a defensive error saw Bandon prevent a ball from going wide, but then failed to clear, allowing Fintan O'Connell to pounce for a crucial Kilbrittain goal. The black-and-ambers then had Frank Hickey, with eight points to his credit, heading their point-scoring charge in a game where they had a man dismissed for a second yellow card of-fence nearing the end.
A brave Bandon rally then had it all come down to the Oliver Harrington save that sent Kilbrittain into the third-round draw, and Bandon into the losers' group, where they will battle it out for survival with Ballinascarthy and the losers of Clon and Kilbree.
Kilbrittain: 0 Harrington; P Deasy, D O'Sullivan, C McCarthy; D Deasy, S O'Brien, D Hayes; D Quinlan, D Ryan; C O'Brien, D McSweeney, C O'Leary; F Hickey, F O'Connell, D Desmond. Subs: D O'Mahony, L Ryan, J McSweeney.
Bandon: P Prendergast; J Harrington, C Moloney, I McCarthy; K Walsh, D Lehane, T Canniffe; V Goggin, J Milner; F O'Sullivan, J O'Regan; D Kelly, N Geary, D Cronin. Subs: A Nyhan, R Moloney, R Wilmot.
Referee: Martin Collins, Clonakilty.
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Super sub Ronan to the rescue as Bandon go through - IHC - Denis Hurley - Evening Echo 20-06-08
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Bandon 1-18
Kilbrittain 0-15
A STAGGERING second-half turnaround turned this Evening Echo IHC West Cork derby clash Bandon's way at Timoleague last night.
Trailing by 0-13 to 1-7 after Maurice Sexton pointed a free for Kilbrittain, Bandon rattled off 10 unanswered points, including five by sub Ronan Crowley, three of them sideline cuts, to lead by seven with four minutes left.
This clash, the first between the clubs' first teams since the 1984 SW JAHC final, drew a large crowd hoping to see a competitive battle and, for the most part, they were not disappointed.
Kilbrittain flew out of the blocks and led 0-4 to no score after 10 minutes before a free from Crowley's brother Barren, who finished with 10 points, followed by a Donnacha Burke goal, his second of the championship, had Bandon level.
Kilbrittain looked the hungrier though, with their half-back line well on top and John and Vincent O'Brien dominating midfield, and it was they who led throughout the half, with Sexton deadly accurate from frees, though Bandon kept in touch to trail 0-11 to 1-6 at the break.
The second half looked to be following the same pattern in its early stages, despite Bandon now playing with the breeze.
However, where Kilbrittain were getting the breaks in the first half, they were now falling to Lilywhites and they seized them with gusto.
It was their substitutes who made the big difference, Crowley unerring with his cuts while Roy Payne got two points of his own.
Their defence also tightened considerably to limit Kilbrittain to two points for the last 23 minutes, with Kieran Hurley outstanding at wing-back, and it is they who progress to a clash with Milford in the quarter-finals.
Scorers for Bandon: D Crowley 0-10 (0-7f); R Crowley 0-5 (0-3sl); D Burke 1-0; R Payne 0-2; D O'Donoghue 0-1.
Kilbrittain: M Sexton 0-6 (0-4f); R Cashman, V O'Brien 0-2 each; J O'Brien, D O'Connell, P O'Mahony, P Sexton, A Hayes 0-1 each.
BANDON: J Crowley, B Hurley, J Burke, J O'Donovan, K Hurley, T Bambury, G O'Riordan, D Lucey, N O'Rourke, D Crowley, A Johnson, J Hickey, D Bourke, D O'Donoghue, E O'Donovan. Subs: C Dullea for B Hurley (30 inj.); R Payne for N O'Rourke (36 inj.); R Crowley for J Hickey (40)
KILBRITTAIN: R Hayes, James Deasy, J Murphy, P Hurley, R Cashman, D Desmond, M Deasy, J O'Brien, V O'Brien, M Sexton, P Sexton, A Hayes, P O'Mahony, D O'Connell, T Marring ton.
Subs: P Ryan for D Desmond (25); O Sexton for P O'Mahony (51).
Referee: D Copps (Ballyhea)
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Crowleys sparkle as Bandon win cracking derby - IHC - Theresa O'Callaghan - Examiner 20-06-08
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Bandon 1-18
Kilbrittain 0-15
BROTHERS Darren and Ronan Crowley starred for Bandon, hitting 15 points between them as last year's beaten finalists clinched their place in the quarter-final of the Evening Echo Cork County Intermediate Hurling Championship before a packed house at Timoleague.
Darren struck 10 of his side's scores but what was more astonishing was that five came from younger brother Ronan. He was introduced as a sub with 20 minutes to go and during that time he sliced over three sublime line balls and rifled over another two from play.
In contrast, it was a frustrating outcome for Kilbrittain who dominated for long spells. As expected from this local derby, the action was intense and while it was played in a sporting manner throughout, Kilbrittain midfielder John O'Brien received a straight red from referee David Copps for striking a player in the last few minutes.
It was all Kilbrittain at the start. They led up until the three-quarter stage after going four points clear inside the opening 10 minutes.
Playing with a strong wind, the O'Briens, Vincent and John, were hurling well and scores were coming easily. However they were soon brought back to earth conceding a soft goal against the run of play. The ball should have been cleared but credit to Donncha Bourke who netted a great goal from way out by the end line.
However from there to the break, Bandon depended largely on Darren Crowley frees. Against that, most of the Kilbrittain attack were featuring - Maurice Sexton and Vincent O'Brien in particular, seeing them to a 0-11 to 1-6 lead at the break. Outlining their superiority they tacked on a few more from Ross Cashman who had a very solid game at centre back, and the Sexton free soon after the resumption put them three points ahead.
But what a transformation from Bandon. And furthermore, what players they had to introduce. First, Roy Payne, who excelled with two points, and then Ronan Crowley.G
radually they carved open the Kilbrittain defence. Whilst their own rearguard also got on top, wing back Kieran Hurley was shining and with a plentiful supply heading into the forward line, the scoring machine began to click.
Ten unanswered points between the 40th and the 56th minutes was an unbelievable return and all came from the two Crowleys and Payne. Bandon were in front by seven clear points now, 1-17 to 0-13. Even though Kilbrittain got two of their own points from Sexton and Alan Hayes, there was no stopping a rampant Bandon who outlined their class in the final quarter as they crushed the Kilbrittain hopes.
Scorers for Bandon: D Crowley 0-10 (0-7f); R Crowley 0-5 (0-3sl); D Burke 1-0; R Payne 0-2; D O'Donoghue 0-1.
Kilbrittain: M Sexton 0-6 (0-4f); R Cashman, V O'Brien 0-2 each; J O'Brien, D O'Connell, P O'Mahony, P Sexton, A Hayes 0-1 each.
BANDON: J Crowley, B Hurley, J Burke, J O'Donovan, K Hurley, T Bambury, G O'Riordan, D Lucey, N O'Rourke, D Crowley, A Johnson, J Hickey, D Bourke, D O'Donoghue, E O'Donovan. Subs: C Dullea for B Hurley (30 inj.); R Payne for N O'Rourke (36 inj.); R Crowley for J Hickey (40)
KILBRITTAIN: R Hayes, James Deasy, J Murphy, P Hurley, R Cashman, D Desmond, M Deasy, J O'Brien, V O'Brien, M Sexton, P Sexton, A Hayes, P O'Mahony, D O'Connell, T Marring ton.
Subs: P Ryan for D Desmond (25); O Sexton for P O'Mahony (51).
Referee: D Copps (Ballyhea)
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Southern Star 14th June 2008 - Bandon Notes
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Junior Football Championship 1st Round Win
Bandon 2-11
St Colums 0-10
Another superb display by Alan Johnson at centre-forward was the highlight of Bandons deserved Junior A
Football Championship first round encounter against St.Colums last Wednesday night in Castletownkennigh.
The final score of 2.11 to 0.10 was however slightly flattering as Bandon had to fight hard for their
victory.
Incredibly the reigning West Cork Champions were missing seven of last years final line-up and hopefully
this will further strengthen competition for places as most of the walking wounded return.
James O'Donovan, James Walsh and James Milner were also prominent while Darren Crowley kicked some good
scores. The game also heralded the welcome return of Richard Milner at full forward where he used his strength and athleticism to good effect.
It was a winning start for new football coach Seamus McCarthy who was the respected Tipperary football
Coach for many years and we welcome him to the club. He brings a very respected pedigree and the players
appear to be responding well to him.
Hopefully Red and the hurlers will ensure the show stays on the road next week as the "lily white" tide
still rises unbeaten in championship 2008.
Everyone in the club wishes long term injury victim Patrick Calnan, one of last years heroes, all the best
on his road to recovery from his recent Achilles tendon injury.
Team: Pat Prendergast, James Walsh, James O'Donovan, Niall Connor,
David Crowley, Michael Quirke, Eoin O'Donovan, James Milner,
Tomas O'Donoghue, Tomas O'Leary, Alan Johnson, Darren Crowley,
John O Connell, Richard Milner, Robert Moloney.
Subs: David Kelly, Darren Ryan
The Intermediate hurling championship second round game between Bandon and Kibrittain has been fixed for
Thursday June 19th in Timoleague at 7.30 p.m.
We know the local club will again be rubbing their hands with glee at this fixture and will be eternally
grateful to Bandonians for their ongoing contribution to Argideens balance of payments surplus over the
last twelve months.
Membership is due now and is payable to Tom O'Donoghue.
Club merchandise is still available and can be bought through the Secretary.
If anyone has any photos or news they would like to share on the Bandon GAA website please click here to email them, or contact Donnacha Lehane.
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Southern Star 10th May 2008 - Bandon Notes
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Intermediate Hurling Championship 1st Round Win
Bandon 1-13
Barryroe 0-10
Bandon's Intermediate hurlers defeated Barryroe in Timoleague on Saturday night by 1.13 to
0.10.Credit to both teams for a fine sporting game played in the most miserable of conditions.
The half-time score was 1.08 to 0.06 with Bandon scoring their goal almost on the stroke of the short
whistle. Surprisingly five second half points were enough for Bandon in the second half when Barryroe were
unable to breach our last line of John Crowley, James O'Donovan and Brian Hurley.
Darren Crowley continued his outstanding recent form with yet another five star display. He again
underlined what an outstanding prospect he is. He contributed eight points on a succession of
opponents and made the crucial goal after another great run with an inch perfect pass to Donnacha Burke.
Joe Burke gave an imperious display at full back and was by a long way the best defender on view. Bandon
had their own "Rock" on the night as he dominated the entire back line particularly in that second-half
when the need was greatest.
Niall O'Rourke and another of the "young guns" Eoin o'Donovan were also prominent.
Anyone interested in the future of hurling in West Cork will have been thrilled to see Barryroe
making their debut in the Intermediate hurling championship and we wish them well for the remainder of
the year.
Team: John Crowley, Brian Hurley (Capt.), Joe Burke, James O'Donovan, Kieran Hurley, Tomas Bambury,
Gavin O'Riordan, Donough Lucey(0.04), Niall O'Rourke, Darren Crowley (0.08),
Alan Johnson, Jason Hickey, Darren O'Donoghue, Donnacha Burke(1.01),
Eoin O'Donovan. Subs.:Darren Ryan,Kieran Doyle.
Hopefully we will not have long to wait to have another West Cork hurling team join the Intermediate ranks.
Junior Hurling Championship 1st Round
Newcestown 4-10
Bandon 1-10
On Monday the Junior A hurlers did not fare so well against Newcestown going down by 4.10 to 1.10
in their championship opener. It was a disappointing performance overall after some good league
results. Half time score was 0.07 to 1.05.
Best were Ronan Crowley who was in tremendous form scoring 1.08, Pat Prendergast and Tadgh Canniffe.
Team: P.Prendergast, I.McCarthy, C.Moloney, T.Canniffe, B.Collins, D.Lehane, K.Walsh, V.Goggin,
Timmy Crowley(0.01), J.Milner, D.Cronin(0.01), R.Crowley(1.08), J.O'Regan, N.Geary, A.Nyhan.
Subs: T.O'Donoghue, M.Murphy, S.Murphy.
Well done to Ronan Crowley who made his championship debut with the Cork minor hurlers against Clare.
You will always know that with the arrival of the cuckoo the inter county championship season is upon us.
One of life's certainties over the years is Mick O'Dwyers annual "State of the Nation Address" in the
Irish Examiner.
True to form this week he had his say predicting a five in a row for Kerry in
the Senior football championship.
It appears to the bould Micko,there is nobody out there capable of mounting a significant challenge to the
mighty Kingdom over the next couple of years.
Thankfully long gone are the days in the 70's and 80's when Micko in the victorious All-Ireland dressing room,
would tip Cork as next years championship "dark horses", this would arise after Kerry hammered Cork in the previous
Munster final.
He thus endeared himself forever to all bewildered Cork football supporters,and he is still at it.
What the wily old fox omitted to mention however,is that this great Kerry team are on the verge of another five
in a row which they appear to want to air-brush from the history books across the county bounds.
This present Kerry team have the unenviable record of having now lost their last four National semi-finals/finals in
a row to Northern opposition.
They have lost All-Irelands to Armagh and Tyrone twice(one semi-final),and now this years National League final to Derry.
So as hope springs eternal,here's to Micko's next five in a row.
Membership is due now and is payable to Tom O'Donoghue.
Club merchandise is still available and can be bought through the Secretary.
If anyone has any photos or news they would like to share on the Bandon GAA website please click here to email them, or contact Donnacha Lehane.
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Southern Star 3rd May 2008 - Bandon Notes
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All roads this week-end lead to Timoleague for the eagerly awaited Intermediate hurling championship first round encounter
against Barryroe at 7.00 p.m. on Saturday night.
It only seems like yesterday that we were welcoming Barryroe to the Intermediate ranks for the first
time after their fine County Junior win.
The gremlins then conspired to bring us together when the first round Draw was made,in what should be a very
entertaining encounter.
Red Crowley remains in charge of the Intermediate hurlers together with Joe Crowley,James Deasy,Don McCarthy and
Robert Wilmot and we wish them well.
If Bandon can maintain and maybe build on their fine form of last year,they are certainly good enough to advance.
We know not to expect anything easy from Barryroe however.One has only to cast their minds back to last summer and
the enthralling draw and two subsequent replays in the Junior A football championship semi-final with the very same
opposition at the same venue.
Ronan Crowley is deservedly back on the Cork minor hurling panel for their championship first round encounter against
Clare.
On Monday afternoon at 3.30 p.m Bandon Junior A hurlers take on near neighbours Newcestown in Ballineen in another
championship first round.
Bingo takes place in the Pavilion every thursday night and new players are more than welcome.
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Southern Star 19th April 2008 - Bandon Notes
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Ronan McCarthy the Captain of the victorious Bandon U21 footballers was presented with the Buckley Financial
Services of Dunmanway team of the month award on Friday night.
This was due recognition for Bandon's fine victory in this years West Cork U21 football championship.
The club chairman Denis Lucey addressed the gathering and wholeheartedly thanked Tim Buckley for his continuing
generous sponsorship of these awards.
In presenting the trophy the affable Tim Buckley drew much laughter when he said he had expected to be facing
his car in a different direction to present this award. He went on to say that Bandon were worthy winners and
he congratulated them on their efforts in getting over the finish line.
Ronan McCarthy in another of his long-winded acceptance speeches spoke for about thirty seconds.
Bandon club and indeed all of West Cork are extremely grateful to Tim Buckley for his innovation and generosity
in sponsoring these awards and we wish him every success with Buckley Financial Services.
Clubs are genuinely delighted to receive awards like these and long may this sponsorship continue.
The very pleasant function was held in Nyhans Bar and well done to Carmel and her staff for their hospitality.
Michael Minihane underlined his enormous football potential when he was introduced to good effect for
the Cork footballers in their win over Limerick in the Munster Minor Football Championship.
Michael is the first player since the Lyons brothers Mike and Frank to play Minor Football for Cork.
He is also under-age next year and is joined on the Cork minor football panel by Jason McCarthy.
Bingo takes place in the Pavilion every thursday night and new players are more than welcome.
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Southern Star 12th April 2008 - Bandon Notes
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The Bandon minor hurlers scored a very good win over Kilbrittain in the Minor hurling league with
Ronan Crowley again showing his potential ably assisted by Cian O'Mahony.
The Bandon Junior A footballers had a narrow 2.12 to 1.12 win at home against Ballinascarthy in the
Junior A football league.
Best wishes to the club Treasurer Charles Lucey and to that "man for all seasons" Brian McCarthy who
are both hospitalised at the moment.Thankfully both men are on the mend.
Everyone in the club wishes them a speedy recovery.
The loss of Roy Payne and indeed Newcestown's Eoin Kelly to St. Brogans was there for all to see in
the All-Ireland Vocational Schools fotball final played last Saturday in Portlaoise.The depleted St.
Brogans were well beaten.
The school and all the players can be very proud of their achievements this year and can hold their
heads high.
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Southern Star 5th April 2008 - Bandon Notes
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The ghost of the west Cork Minor Football Final of 2004 was finally laid to rest by the lily whites in Rosscarbery last Sunday when Bandon put in a storming second half to overcome Castlehaven in a thrilling West Cork U21 football final by 2.07 to 0.11.
The game played in the excellent new Carbery Rangers pitch burst into life in the second half when with the 'Haven leading by 0.02 to 0.06,the man of the match Darren Murray goaled with his right foot.
Only four years ago in that infamous West Cork minor final a highly promising Bandon team were given a lesson in the art of gaelic football in Dunmanway by Castlehaven.
Castlehaven are and have been the outstanding football club in West Cork over the last twenty years and that hammering was to prove the catalyst for our change in approach to the West Cork football championship.
Those involved in football in the club knew after that defeat,that even though we were having great success at U12,U14 and U16 level we had to try to match the senior clubs and their professionalism,determination,and commitment to training.
What better role model to take than Castlehaven themselves.
The club began an overhaul of our approach to Minor and U21 football and new systems were put in place.
All the while the club continues to have success on the hurling field.
Since that fateful Saturday in 04,in football Bandon have contested three West Cork U21 football final's winning two,won a West Cork (beating Castlehaven) and County Minor football Championship,contested a Premier and County U21 football semi-final,and last year finally won a West Cork Junior Football championship.
This turnaround in fortunes is due in no small part to the combined under-age efforts of Sean Crowley,Denny Ahern,Joe Spillane,John Collis,Jimmy Gabriel,Colm Ahern,John Wilmot,Brian Kearney and Tom O'Donoghue.
Those who have attributed Bandon's advance to this years West Cork final entirely to luck,do us a dis-service and should remember the words of Gary Player the golfer who was interviewed after a series of "lucky" narrow victories on tour and he replied "you know the more I practice the luckier I get."
This Bandon U21 football side are unbeaten in eight games this year.
Did anyone mention luck last year when Bandon agonisingly lost both an Intermediate County final,and then lost a West Cork final to an injury-time goal ? Or in the first half last Sunday when James Walsh's thundering effort came back off the cross-bar and to add insult to injury the 'Haven went straight up the field and plundered a point,a four point differential in thirty seconds.
These lads as a unit are unbeaten since U14 and throughout this West Cork campaign this team has displayed "character" and again on Sunday,Bandon had it in abundance.
When the final was really in the melting pot half-way through the second half and Castlehaven "moved up a gear" they had brilliantly overcome our first goal to lead again by 0.09 to 1.02. To their credit no other team in West Cork would have lived with the 'Haven as they continously surged forward,but Bandon rallied, kept their heads and went on to add 1.05 to Castlehaven's 0.02 before the final whistle.
Minor Ronan Crowley is a player with all the talents and he will score many more goals in his future career but few more important one's than last Sunday.
All credit to the 'Haven who were missing players,and had players injured going into this final they were worthy and sporting West Cork and County champions.
Best on a great day for the club were Darren Murray,Eoin O'Donovan and David Ahern who were outstanding in the forward line,Ronan Crowley and sub Michael Minihane showed deft touches.James O'Donovan commanded the backs well and Tom o' Donoghue after an uncertain start,together with Darren Crowley,James Walsh,Adam Tobin,Mark O'Leary,David Crowley and Gavin O'Riordan came storming into the game when the need was greatest.
Team : D.Ryan,A.Tobin,J.O'Donovan,M.O'Leary,D.Crowley,J.Walsh,G.O'Riordan,T.O'Donoghue,R.McCarthy,D.Murray (1.00),D.Ahern (0.04),J.McCarthy,E.O'Donovan (0.02),D.Crowley (0.01),R.Crowley (1.00), Subs.:D.Kelly,M.Minihane,R.Brennan.
It is also only fair to point out that Bandon were also without injured players going into this final,a shoulder injury meant that highly talented full-forward Brian Crowley played no part in this years championship,first choice goalkeeper Jack Donegan was injured for all four games,and we lost the hugely influential Roy Payne with a broken collar-bone only last week.
Twelve of last Sunday's winning side will be under age when Bandon begin the defense of their title in 2009.
Bandon are,and always will be a dual club and these lads can be justifiably proud of their great achievement,pride of place goes however to James O'Donovan,David Ahern and Ronan McCarthy have now won two West Cork U21 hurling and two football championships in the last four years.
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Southern Star 29th March 2008 - Bandon Notes
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The Bandon Intermediate hurlers played Glen Rovers in the Glen field on Saturday in the Sean Og Murphy
Cup winning by 2.08 to 0.07.
On Sunday in the West Cork Junior hurling league Bandon beat Clonakilty by 2.18 to 2.12.
Bandons Minor hurlers played Newcestown on Easter Monday and emerged victorious by 1.11 to 0.10.with
Ronan Crowley very prominent.
Bandon contest their third U21 West Cork football final in four years on Sunday at 3.30 p.m
in Rosscarbery against Castlehaven.
The club went an unbelievable twenty seven years without winning an U21 football championship and are
now sixty minutes football away from a second in four years.
While Bandon may have been guilty of underestimating their opponents up to now as little
was known about Skibbereen,St.Mary's or Carbery Rangers beforehand,the same cannot be said
about their forthcoming meeting with their West Cork final opponents.
Castlehaven are the reigning West Cork and County U21 football champions and are unbeaten
in this division since losing to Newcestown in 2006.
They beat Bandon convincingly on the way to winning last years title and will start Sunday's
final as raging favourites.
Hope springs eternal however and while Bandon will have to show a huge improvement from their
previous three games,a final was never won on paper yet.
As the 2005 final win against warm favourites Clonakilty proved, chances like these don't come around
every day and these games are there to be won.
Bandon have had enough under-age success in football over the last couple of years to make this an
interesting final and what better team than Castlehaven to provide a good bench-mark as to how much
progress is being made.
Roy Payne will be an incalculable loss for Sunday's final and everyone in the club wishes him a speedy
recovery.
These U21 players have worked hard to get to the final and are deserving of your support on the day.
Membership is due now and is payable to Tom O'Donoghue.
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Southern Star 22nd March 2008 - Bandon Notes
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Bandon only led for the first time in their West Cork U21 semi-final against Carbery Rangers with time almost up when Darren Murray capitalised on a costly defensive error and opted for a point after good pressure from Bandon's inside forwards forced the mistake.
Add to that an extremely lucky goal engineered at the start of the second half by Roy Payne and Bandon can consider themselves very fortunate to be in another West Cork final,their third in four years at U21 level.
The final score was 1.07 to 0.09 in a game played in Enniskeane where a gale force wind threatened to ruin the contest.Carbery Rangers led by 0.02 to 0.07 at half time with the aid of the wind and probably at least deserved a draw for their endeavours in a fine sporting game.
Bandon need no reminding that they lost two hurling finals in 2007 by a point and this team have taken inspiration from those defeats and have so far shown a never say die spirit while playing well within themselves as a team.
One lesson Bandon are learning over the years is that it is certainly better to win a game playing poorly than to lose a classic game playing well.
Bandon were dominated for long periods here and can thank a fine defensive display for their win.
Credit to Ross who never allowed Bandon get out of the starting blocks but the winners fought like tigers until the final whistle and managed to get enough scores to scrape through.
In the final Bandon renew their rivalry with the reigning West Cork and County U21 champions Castlehaven
Best on a tough day for football were Adam Tobin,James O'Donovan,David Crowley in the second half,Ronan McCarthy and David Ahern.
Team : D.Ryan,A.Tobin,J.O'Donovan,M.O'Leary,D.Crowley,J.Walsh,G.O'Riordan,T.O'Donoghue,R.McCarthy,D.Murray (0.01),D.Ahern (0.03),D.Kelly,R.Payne (1.01),D.Crowley (0.01),R.Crowley, Subs.: E.O'Donovan(0.01),J.McCarthy,M.Minihane,R.Brennan.
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Southern Star 15th March 2008 - Bandon Notes
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Two up-coming fixtures have been announced.
The semi-final of the West Cork U21 football championship between Bandon and Carbery Rangers has been fixed for Monday March 17th St. Patricks Day in Enniskeane at 3 p.m.
while the eagerly awaited Intermediate hurling championship first round clash between Bandon and newly promoted County Junior A hurling champions Barryroe has been provisionally fixed for Timoleague on Saturday May 3rd.
Bandon will be bidding for their third West U21 Cork final in four years when they take on a fancied Carbery Rangers side backboned by some fine Cork minor and U21 talent in Enniskeane.
Bandon were very lucky to overcome Skibbereen by two points in the first round and were also pushed all the way by St. Mary's in the quarter final.They will need to improve dramatically however to continue their fine record in this grade over the last couple of years as Carbery Rangers were far too good for Newcestown in their quarter-final.
Club Registrar Tom O'Donoghue reminds us that he is still busy collecting membership
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Southern Star 08th March 2008 - Bandon Notes
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Bandon GAA Club salutes our two young men who have brought four All-Ireland medals to the town over the last two weeks.
Roy Payne and Jason McCarthy (Crossmahon) were on both All-Ireland winning Cork Vocational schools teams.They can be proud of their part in the first ever All-Ireland double in this grade with the footballers easily beating Monaghan where Roy scored (1.01) and the hurlers beating Galway to win their fourth title in a row.
Roy was corner-forward on both teams and Jason was wing-forward.Both players are excellent club-men and have very bright futures ahead.
The U21 footballers have been pushed to the limit over the last two weeks but are now thankfully in the West Cork semi-final awaiting the winners of the drawn Newcestown and Carbery Rangers quarter-final tie.
Against Skibbereen it is fair to say that it was a game Bandon scarcely deserved to win as they were dominated by the losers for long periods and were never allowed to get out of the starting blocks they weren't helped by conceding two soft early goals which put them on the back foot.
Bandon were just not up to championship pace in this game and were lucky to win on a scoreline of 1.11 to 2.06 with Skibbereen coming close to goaling with the last kick of the game.
Only the outstanding Darren Crowley who scored (1.04) and Adam Tobin emerged from that game with any plaudits.
It is hard to believe that the man who fought so vehemently and indeed poisonously not to open Croke Park to rugby and soccer would a short time later be "gerry-mandering" a fixture at West Cork Board level to facilitate one of his club players who was off playing with Cork City.
Apparently that is exactly what happened with the Board's fixing of Bandon's U21 quarter final tie against St.Mary's for Sunday night at 8.00 p.m.under lights in Barryroe.The game was originally fixed for Newcestown on Sunday afternoon.
The target of much of his vitriol at the time, the former GAA President Sean Kelly would ruefully smile at"St. John's"late conversion "on the road to Barryroe".
"Do as I say not as I do" appears to be this mans modus operandi though thankfully his undue influence over fixtures does not yet extend to results.
No fault to the St. Marys players however whose fine display showed that it doesn't always pay teams to run away and hide in the B grades in West Cork when you are more than good enough to play in the A championship.This game was every bit as difficult an encounter as the Skibbereen game,and a well prepared St. Mary's really put it up to Bandon on the night,as they had done in the Junior A championship last year.
Without the changes which strengthened their team it is doubtful if Bandon would have won and the final score-line of 1.07 to 0.05 certainly flatters them.
Well done to Bandon however who unlike their opponents had little or no experience of playing matches under lights.
The entire defense as a unit spearheaded by debutant goal-keeper Darren Ryan,James O'Donovan and James Walsh played very well with Darren Murray and the full forward line the pick of the rest.
Team V.s St. Marys D.Ryan,A.Tobin,J.O'Donovan,M.O'Leary,G.O'Riordan,J.Walsh,David Crowley,T.O'Donoghue,R.McCarthy,D.Murray,D.Ahern,D.Kelly(0.01),R.Payne(1.01),D.Crowley (0.04),R.Crowley(0.01),
Subs.: M.Minihane,J.McCarthy,C.O'Mahony
Team V.s Skibbereen :R.Brennan,A.Tobin,D.Ryan,M.Minihane,G.O'Riordan,J.Walsh,David Crowley,T.O'Donoghue,J.O'Donovan,D.Murray,D.Ahern(0.04),R.McCarthy,E.O'Donovan(0.01),D.Crowley (1.04),D.Kelly(0.01),
Subs.: M.O'Leary,R.Payne,J.McCarthy(0.01),C.O'Mahony
Club Registrar Tom O'Donoghue reminds us that he is still busy collecting membership
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Southern Star 23rd February 2008 - Bandon Notes
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On Sunday next Bandon play their first championship game of the season when the U21 footballers play the first round of the West Cork championship against Skibbereen in Rosscarbery probably at 3.00 p.m.
Colm Ahern,John Wilmot jnr.and Colman O'Mahony are looking after the U21'footballers this year and are hopeful that these lads will give a good account of themselves and continue the clubs dramatic improvement in this grade over the last couple of years.
Bandon will not need reminding that the last time they lost in the first round of this grade four years ago was to Skibbereen in Rosscarbery.As Homer Simpson said hopefully "not deja-vu all over again".
Last Saturday night St.Brogans had their medal presentation in the Pavilion,in what proved to be a very enjoyable function.
West Cork Under Age Board were represented by Newcestowns "finest" Aidan O'Rourke,and Muskerry Board representative Michael White was also in attendance and everyone was welcomed by St. Brogans chairperson Nuala Meade who has just commenced her second year in office.
The outstanding young Cork footballer of 2007 Daniel Goulding of Eire og was guest of honour and presented the many medals on offer to u16,U14's U12's and U10's.
The players were introduced by their various coaches Carl O'Mahony,Paddy Murray,John Lynch,Christy Daly,Mick Beecher,Robert O'Mahony,Phil Murphy and Brian McCarthy.
Pride of place though went to the U14 footballers who won the West Cork championship for the fith time in six years and went on to win the double by "coming back from the dead" to beat Pedlars Cross in a thrilling hurling final.
A special presentation was made to Brian McCarthy one of the unsung heroes in the under age and indeed adult club.
Louise o' Regan acted as photographer in chief for the night.
Well done to all concerned.
Club Registrar Tom O'Donoghue reminds us that he is busy collecting membership
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Southern Star 9th February 2008 - Bandon Notes
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The Munster Arms hotel hosted a very enjoyable Club Annual Dinner on Friday night last.
On display were the Junior A football league and championship trophies and the Junior C
football league plaque.
Guests of honour were Fr. Denis O'Leary our new Parish Priest,outstanding Cork footballer
and current All-Star Graham Canty,the newly commissioned County Board Development Officer
Jim Murphy and his wife Chrissie from neighbouring Kilmurray club.
Medals were presented to the Junior footballers and the County Intermediate hurling finalists
by Graham Canty.
Presentations were also made to the successful Junior A football team management of Den Aherne,
Jimmy Gabriel and John Collis.
Chairman Denis Lucey urged for more of the same in 2008 and hoped the Intermediate hurlers and
Junior footballers would both go the extra mile to win their respective championships outright.
The event was expertly organised by Martin Kelly and his team of Noel Mcnamara,Kieran Doyle,
Kieran Hurley,Tom O'Donoghue and Cha Dullea.
A special word of thanks to Don O'Sullivan and his hotel staff for the excellent meal.
St. Brogans will hold their medal presentation in the Pavilion on Saturday the 16th February
with another Cork footballer Daniel Goulding in attendance.
Membership is due now and is payable to Tom O'Donoghue.
Club merchandise is still available and can be bought through the Secretary.
If anyone has any photos or news they would like to share on the Bandon GAA website please click here to email them, or contact Donnacha Lehane.
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Southern Star 19th January 2008 - Bandon Notes
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The annual Dinner Dance takes place in the Munster Arms Hotel on Friday the 1st February 2008.
Pride of place on the night will go to the Junior A footballers who won the West Cork league
and championship double.
Guest of honour will be Bantry and Cork footballer Graham Canty.
Tickets are available from the organising Committee of Martin Kelly,
Tom O'Donoghue, Kieran Hurley, Kieran Doyle, Cha Dullea and Noel McNamara.
Membership is due now and is payable to Tom O'Donoghue.
Club merchandise is still available and can be bought through the Secretary.
If anyone has any photos or news they would like to share on the Bandon GAA website please click here to email them, or contact Donnacha Lehane.
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