Bantry Blues look to retain their Carbery U21 football title against Ibane Gaels

The Clóna Milk Carbery U21 A football championship final is down for decision this evening between Bantry Blues and Ibane Gaels.

Sam Maguire Park in Dunmanway is the venue with a start time of 7.45pm. It’s a repeat of last season’s decider when Bantry Blues won 4-10 to 1-9.

Both teams played their semi-finals three weeks ago. The holders defeated Castlehaven 3-13 to 2-15, while Ibane Gaels, an underage amalgamation of Barryroe and Argideen Rangers, won against O’Donovan Rossa 1-12 to 0-10.

Bantry Blues manager Ivan Kingston admits preparations haven’t been ideal with so much happening.

“It has been challenging, no doubt about that,” he says.

“All the preparation recently had been put into the Premier Intermediate and Junior teams. That’s just what it is. A busy time of the year. Look, it is what it is.

“I rather play the U21 football championship this time of the year anyway to be honest. If there was a bit more give in the schedule, it would help the situation. But it’s great to play U21 football in August.

“U21 is an important grade and you have players that are trying to push onto the adult teams too as well. It’s great for the club to be in a final with a trophy up for grabs. It’s going to be a tough game. Ibane Gaels are a super team and we know how dangerous they will be.

“The more teams you have playing championship football and the more wins, it’s obviously brilliant for the club. Hopefully everything will go well for us in the final.” 

This is Ibane Gaels' fifth successive final appearance at this grade. They last won this title though in 2022, when they completed the double.

Danny Murphy, an All-Ireland winning Cork U21 hurling captain in 1997 and ’98 and also captained Ballincollig to the Cork IHC in 1999, is the coach of this current crop of Ibane Gaels footballers.

“Bantry Blues gave us a trimming in last year’s final, so we are under no illusions regarding this game,” the Ballincollig native states.

“We will be underdogs coming into this game. Bantry Blues are a fine team who have the majority of last year’s team available to them. There are some real powerhouses of West Cork football up at U21 A level in Carbery.

“It’s great for us to be in the final. Every club has its challenges in terms of getting 15 players out on the field especially in rural areas. We have been really lucky that the U21 grade has given us so much over the years.

“I would like to think that if you are getting to the tail end of these championships every year, you're always learning. When you get to a final, you want to win, but if you don’t, at least you're going as deep as you can from a learning and developmental aspect.”