Arthur Coakley on fire as Bantry hit Nemo for 2-20
Bantry Blues' Arthur Coakley is tackled by Nemo Rangers' Alan Cronin and Andrew McGowan during the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork PIFC at Enniskeane. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Arthur Coakley’s haul of 1-9 inspired Bantry Blues to a McCarthy Insurance Premier IFC Group 2 win over Nemo Rangers in Enniskeane on Sunday evening.
Having come up short in each of the past two season’s PIFC deciders, Bantry began their latest attempt to capture the Premier Intermediate title with an eye-catching performance and victory.
James Casey opened the scoring inside the second minute but Nemo’s Conor Horgan responded. Retaining possession, Bantry sprung a sudden attack with Mark Óg O’Sullivan finding Ruairí Deane who set up Arthur Coakley to palm to the net after four minutes.
Disaster struck for the West Cork club when goalkeeper Michael Casey was dispossessed by Conor Horgan and he fired into an empty net. Kevin Casey and Jack Coogan scored at either end to make it 1-2 apiece after 10 frenetic minutes.
Conor Cusack handed Nemo their first lead prior to an untidy spell in which both teams turned over possession. Coakley went close to a second goal only for Nemo net-minder Donagh O’Leary to brilliantly palm the ball over the crossbar. Next, Kevin Casey and Coakley points punished three consecutive Rangers wides to make it 1-5 to 1-3.
Horgan reduced the deficit but once again Coakley was on hand to reply. Nemo continued to press and Coogan’s second white flag plus Horgan’s third levelled a cracking game coming up to half time.
James Casey capitalised on good Ruairí Deane approach work to split the posts before Shane Keevers edged the West Cork side two clear. A Gary Sayers point was followed by another Coakley effort to hand the Blues a 1-9 to 1-7 interval lead.
Conor Horgan grabbed the first point of the second half and that was quickly followed by a Gary Sayers free.
Bantry awoke and Ruairí Deane’s second assist helped Kevin Casey find the net to make it 2-9 to 1-9. Another flurry of scores saw Bantry maintain a two-point advantage before the excellent Coakley fisted over with quarter of an hour remaining.
Shane Keevers and Coakley extended the West Cork side’s advantage, 2-13 to 1-11, before Ruairí Deane finally got his name on the scoresheet via a free.
Shane O’Dwyer reduced the deficit but another cracking Arthur Coakley effort stretched the Carbery team’s lead to seven with nine minutes remaining.
From there, Bantry kept their opponents at arm's length to comfortably win out 2-20 to 1-13.
Next up for the winners is a West Cork derby against Bandon on Sunday, August 18. Nemo Rangers face Naomh Abán in Kilmurry the evening before.
A Coakley 1-9, K Casey 1-3, J Casey 0-4, S Keevers, R Deane (f) 0-2 each.
C Horgan 1-4, J Coogan (0-1 f), G Sayers (0-2 f) 0-3 each, C Cusack, C Dalton, S O’Dwyer 0-1 each.
M Casey; S Thornton, R O’Mahony, E Minihane; M Óg O’Sullivan, E O’Shea, C Cronin; S O’Leary, K Coakley; S Keevers, R Deane, J Casey; A Coakley (c), K Casey, D McCarthy.
B Foley for R O’Mahony (37).
D O’Leary; A McGowan, M Hill, S O’Dwyer; D Quinn, A Cronin, C Shaloe; B O’Neill, C Cusack; C Dalton (captain), G Sayers, C Kiely; E Mangan, J Coogan, C Horgan.
B Hayes for E Mangan (ht), B Garylanes for C Kiely (42).
Ian McCarthy (Bandon).
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