Late penalty drama as Bantry snatch win to send Glanmire into PIFC relegation decider after thriller

Bantry Blues 4-10 (4-2-6) Glanmire 1-18 (1-3-12) 

Bantry Blues and Glanmire played out a marvellous McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier IFC clash won by the West Cork side at Clonakilty last Saturday.

One of the best games of this year’s Cork football championships delivered drama in abundance.

Glanmire, aggrieved at the foul count against them throughout a thrilling encounter, thought they had won it when Harry Browne converted an injury-time penalty.

Instead, Bantry went down the other end and converted an even later spot-kick, via Arthur Coakley, to snatch victory with the last kick of the game.

Cork senior Dara Sheedy, watched by John Cleary, saw Jack O’Neill’s goal plus Arthur Coakley and Dara McCarthy points edge Bantry 1-2 to 0-0 ahead early on.

Glanmire got on the scoreboard via David Lynch and Harry Cogan shortly after.

Next, Arthur Coakley pounced for Bantry’s second goal after 17 minutes.

Billy O’Mahony kept Glanmire in touch as chances were missed at both ends. Coakley extended Bantry’s lead via two frees after Harry Cogan fired over his second score.

The Blues were penalised for three-up infringement and former All-Ireland winner and Glanmire goalkeeper Colm O’Neill showed all his class to convert the two-pointer.

Still, Glanmire trailed 2-4 to 0-6 at the break.

Sadly, an unnecessary flare-up threatened to boil over as both teams left the pitch. Thankfully, calmer heads prevailed.

Glanmire completely dominated the third quarter.

Unanswered Daragh Murray, Colm O’Neill (free), Harry Cogan (free) and David Lynch efforts levelled matters, 2-4 to 0-10.

Then, O’Neill landed another free to hand Glanmire their first lead after 39 minutes.

Jack O’Neill scored a badly needed Bantry equaliser before Cork senior Ruairí Deane landed a sublime two-pointer.

Harry Cogan replied but Dara Sheedy made it 2-8 to 0-12 with ten minutes to go.

O’Neill repeated his free-taking heroics with a two-point conversion before David Lynch curled over to edge Glanmire ahead with time almost up.

Then, another moment of controversy as Glanmire were incensed with the non-award of a free, and Bantry pounced. Dara Sheedy’s attempt dropped short and substitute Owen O’Neill palmed to the net.

Undeterred, Glanmire won a free and, who else, Colm O’Neill converted his third two-pointer to equalise, 3-8 to 0-17. Bantry were further punished when Harry Cogan edged Glanmire back in front.

It was far from over however, as Bantry worked the ball to Dara Sheedy who kicked a two-pointer.

Deep into injury-time, Dan Hogan was brought down in the square. Harry Browne converted the resulting penalty.

All over? Not a bit of it.

Arthur Coakley slotted home an even later spot-kick, five minutes into injury-time to win it and maintain Bantry’s PIFC status. A crestfallen Glanmire head into a relegation play-off against Castletownbere.

Scorers for Bantry Blues: A Coakley 2-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2f ), J O’Neill, O O’Neill 1-0 each, D Sheedy 0-3 (1 2pt), R Deane 0-2 (1 2pt), D McCarthy, J O’Neill 0-1 each.

Glanmire: C O’Neill 0-8 (3 2pt f, 0-2 f), H Cogan 0-5 (0-1 f), D Lynch 0-3, H Browne 1-0 pen, B O’Mahony (f), D Murray 0-1 each.

BANTRY BLUES: B Clancy; T Cronin, C Cronin, E O’Shea; C O’Brien, M Óg O’Sullivan, D McCarthy; J O’Neill, R O’Mahony; B Sheehan, S O’Leary, K Casey, A Coakley, R Deane, D Sheedy.

Subs: Jack Sheedy for K Casey (h-t), O’Neill for B Sheehan (39), K Coakley for D McCarthy (53).

GLANMIRE: C O’Neill; R McSweeney, B Murphy, C O’Donovan; D Murray, C Nelligan, S O’Driscoll; J Kingston, C Hackett; D Hogan, D Lynch, H Cogan; B O’Mahony, T Hourihan, H Browne.

Subs: H Jones for C Hackett (ht), D Molden for S O’Driscoll (44), B Galvin for B O’Mahony (49), C Crowley for T Hourihan (51), J Crowley for D Lynch (55).

Referee: John Enright (Ballyteague).