Underage growth means Bantry Blues heading in right direction
The Bantry Blues squad that claimed 2025 Cork LGFA County and West Cork LGFA minor titles thanks to the dedicated efforts of a talented panel.
A thriving underage system gives West Cork LGFA club Bantry Blues every reason to look ahead with confidence to the 2025 Cork LGFA Junior A County Championship.
The past twelve months have been hugely positive for Bantry Blues. At underage level, the club claimed West Cork and county LGFA titles in both the U14 and minor grades.
In the 2024 minor county final, Bantry defeated Rosscarbery 2-10 to 1-4 in an all-West Cork showdown. This followed hard-fought victories over St. Catherine’s (4-16 to 4-9) in the quarter-finals and Bishopstown (2-8 to 2-7) in the semi-finals. Key contributors in the final included Meadhbh Sammon (1-2), Ciara Kelly (1-0), Faye Hurley, Aoife Kingston, Lauren Connell (0-2 each), Aoidhe Murphy, and Katie Russell (0-1 each). Earlier in the season, Bantry had also overcome Rosscarbery to claim the divisional title.
Bantry’s U14 team matched their minors’ success, completing a remarkable double by winning both divisional and county championships. They defeated Dohenys in the West Cork final and outclassed Shamrocks 7-9 to 4-4 in the county decider.
In 2024, a youthful Blues adult squad competed in the Junior A grade and reached the semi-finals where they were defeated by eventual champions Midleton. More of the same is expected this coming year where Bantry will once again expect to be in the mix for county honours.
Manager Aidan Coughlan’s side warmed up for the junior A championship by defeating Midleton 3-7 to 2-8 in the Division 3 League final. Sarah Bishop, Zara Barry and Megan McSweeney netted the winners’ goals on that occasion.
The Blues opened their account in the Cork LGFA Junior AFC with a resounding 5-7 to 3-9 defeat of Douglas at Wolfe Tone Park. Sarah Bishop, who would be one of her club’s most consistent scorers, had an afternoon to remember by accruing 3-3 of the winning total.
A high-scoring encounter with Rockbán also went Bantry’s way in their second outing. Bishop fired in 2-4 with Rachel Murphy (1-4), Holly Sheehan, Megan McSweeney (1-1 each) Mairead Dullea (1-0) contributing to a merited 6-12 to 4-7 triumph. A first championship defeat of the season occurred at home to West Cork rivals Dohenys (0-15 to 1-11) before a second consecutive loss occurred away to Midleton (1-8 to 0-5).
The West Cork club demonstrated admirable resilience by bouncing back to overcome Araglen Desmonds Buí, 2-17 to 1-4, at Wolfe Tone Park. That victory secured a county semi-final berth with Megan McSweeney (1-2) and Mairead Dullea (1-1) amongst the scores.
Alas, a fourth meeting with Midleton ended in defeat. The Blues trailed 1-4 to 0-3 at the short whistle before Midleton kicked for home in the second half. Despite Bantry’s best efforts, the county semi-final ended 1-8 to 0-6 in the hosts’ favour despite Sarah Bishop (0-2), Megan McSweeney, Elaine O’Sullivan Connell, Emma Spillane and Rachel Murphy (0-1 each) scoring for Aidan Coughlan’s team.
Sarah Bishop was one of her team’s standout forwards and helped the West Cork side qualify for the semi-finals. Eve Murphy was another forward who impressed as well as midfielders Ali O’Sullivan and former Cork senior Emma Spillane. At the back, a solid defence owed much to. Bernadette O’Flynn and Kate McCarthy’s consistent displays.
Midleton, who ended Bantry’s title aspirations, have been promoted to the intermediate ranks leaving the latter, Dohenys and Rockbán amongst the favourites for the 2025 junior A county title.
The Bantry club also celebrated another significant achievement recently, with stalwart Anne O’Grady joining new Cork LGFA senior manager Joe Carroll’s backroom team for the 2025 season.
As a selector, O’Grady was instrumental in West Cork’s historic first senior county title in 2020. Over the past 13 years, she has played a pivotal role in strengthening Bantry’s underage and adult structures. O’Grady’s expertise was also key to All-Ireland victories with Cork’s ladies’ minor teams under Carroll and current Cork men’s senior manager John Cleary.
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