Naomh Abán hold on for deserved victory to give Bantry the blues
Naomh Aban's Dónal Ó Ceallaigh tries to get away from Bantry's Cillian O'Brien during the McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC game between Bantry and Naomh Aban that was held at Newcestown, Co. Cork. - Picture: David Creedon
Naomh Abán 1-9
Bantry Blues 1-7
A blistering opening 20 minutes during which Naomh Abán corner forward Daniel Ó Ceallaigh scored 1-3 laid the foundations for a deserved triumph for the Gaeltacht team in their top of the table clash with Bantry Blues in the final group game in the Premier Intermediate Football Championship played in Newcestown as the light dwindled on Saturday evening.
Both sides lined out without some of their star players for this crunch tie - Cork playmaker Ruairi Deane and Sean O'Leary were sidelined from the Bantry fifteen while Naomh Abán were missing midfielder Conchur Ó Críodáin for Saturday's clash.
The Gaeltacht Mhúscraí side were already down Ed Myers, who has played at County minor and Under 20 level for Cork.
During that early period, Bantry missed scoreable opportunities which they would later rue and it was Daniel Ó Ceallaigh who opened the scoring with a point from play in the fifth minute.
The corresponding number 13, Bantry's Arthur Coakley, responded within moments with a free of his own.
Another Ó Ceallaigh point from play, this time from a tight angle on the right wing, nudged Naomh Abán into the lead and he followed up with a tremendous goal minutes later, with a run in on the left wing finished with a piledriver into the top corner leaving Bantry goalkeeper with no chance to stop the green flag being raised. At this stage it was 1-2 to 0-2.
Maidhcí Ó Liatháin added another in the 13th minute after a run through the centre which the wingforward finished with precision and then, on 20 minutes, Ó Ceallaigh pointed again.
Two pointed frees from Maidhc Ó Duinnín for Naomh Abán gave them a 1-6 to 0-2 lead and there was a final exchange of points, a fine score from play by Kevin Coakley and another Ó Duinnín free brought the half to a close with no extra time being played by referee Brian Coninery of Crosshaven.
Going in at half time with a sizable lead, 1-7 to 0-3, Naomh Abán had a right to feel confident but the second half would prove to be an entirely more competitive affair when Bantry would dominate with a combination of pressure and unforced errors which they would exploit.
A sub introduced at half time, Conor O'Leary for Cillian O'Brien, was black-carded moments into the half after upending Naomh Abán forward Wayne MacCarthaigh with what appeared to be a high challenge and now Naomh Abán were seven points and an extra man to the good.
But that period of ten minutes was, if not a purple patch, a period of domination for Bantry and they scored a point through the boot of the ever reliable Arthur Coakley to be followed, almost straight from the disastrous short kick out by Naomh Abán keeper, Gearóid Ó Luasa, by a goal which Shane Keevers rolled to the net to bring Bantry back within four points for the final quarter.
The second half was a period which saw Naomh Abán back in their own half for most of the proceedings with their supporters on the sideline loudly bemoaning the absence of forwards to threaten the Bantry goal. All that said, however, Naomh Abán's brace of points from Ó Duinnín in that second half would prove to be the difference between the sides at the final whistle.
The light was fading and the standard of football declining as the game edged towards the 60 minute mark but the final whistle wouldn't sound. Bantry missed a few scoreable opportunities in that period which they will rue as much as those they missed in the opening minutes.
When the final whistle did eventually sound after seven minutes of injury time, Naomh Abán were winners by two points and to claim the scalp of the beaten finallists for the past three years is a good result any day. Both teams will see quarter final action though Bantry Blues, had they won, could have landed a semi final berth.
Naomh Abán scorers: D. Ó Ceallaigh 1-3, M Ó Duinnín 0-5 (0-4 frees), M Ó Liatháin 0-1
Bantry Blues scorers: A. Coakley 0-5, (0-4 frees), S. Keevers 1-0, K. Coakley 0-2.
NAOMH ABAN: G O Luasa, C De Roiste, C O Deasunaigh, É O Criodain, D O Loinsigh (C), C de hIde, J O Donnchu, C O Donnchu, S O Riordain, M O Liathain, D O Laoire, M O Criod, D. O Ceallaigh, M. Ó Duinnín, W MacCarthaigh.
Subs: D. Ó hAllamháin for E. Ó Críodáin, D. Ó Ceocháin for S. Ó Riordáin
BANTRY: M. Casey, S Thornton, C O Brien, E Minehane, M Og O Sullivan, E O Shea, C Cronin, R O Mahony, D McCarthy, S Keevers, K Casey, K Coakley, A Coakley, J Sheedy, D Daly.
Subs: C O Leary for C. O'Brien, B. Foley for E. O'Shea.
Referee: Brian Coniry (Crosshaven).
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