The Rebel Óg West Division 2 U15 Football Championship replay between Bantry Blues & Naomh Aban took place in Wolfe Tone Park on Tues evening. Having played the previous Friday, in a super contest where the teams finished level on a score line of Naomh Aban 1-05 V 0-08 Bantry Blues , this was going to be a good battle.

Naomh Aban who had comprehensive wins all year were the favourites coming into the original game, but the young blues were confident having drawn with them in Ballyvourney and having home advantage in Wolfe Tone Park for the replay.

The visitors dominated the opening minutes registering the first score, but there was fight in these young blues, with Ryan OBoy splitting the posts almost immediately. The visitors from the Gaeltacht were putting severe pressure on the blues backs who had not settled into the game , with Naomh Aban notching two more scores . The blues now started to win Kickouts and wing back Fionn Goggin raced up the pitch to be on the end of a pass and with a perfect shot raised the white flag.Having won the resulting kickout and a following free, Oisin Murphy tapped over the bar to level the score. With play moving up and down the pitch, defences were staying tight , however Danjoe Oneill found a yard of space and slotted a sweet point, but this was followed shortly by a Naomh Aban score to draw the game level again. Blues netminder, Luke Osullivan, pulled off some great saves to deprive the opposition certain goals.With the midfield pairing of Colin McCarthy & Oran Oconnell doing great work all over the pitch the blues were putting it upto the favourites. On the 22nd minute against the run of play, a loose ball around the blues goalmouth fell to a Naomh Aban player who rattled the blues net. This was a blow to the young blues, but they reacted immediately by winning the kickout and retaining possession to set up an attack which they hit a goal back within a minute thanks to some great team play and a sweet finish to the Naomh Aban net by Dan Joe Oneill who rifled a shot from the right side of the big square across the goals into the left corner to raise a green flag to level the game again. As the half was nearing its conclusion Naomh Aban snuck ahead with a good point from distance, but the blues again innmediately responded with a great point from Colm French.The blues kept pressing in the closing moments of the half and were rewarded when wing back Fionn Goggin again found himself in a great scoring position and placed the game ball passed the opposition keeper to give the blues a three point lead at the half time break

HT; Bantry Blues 2-05 V 1:05 Naomh Aban

The second half started like the first at a frantic pace with the visitors dominating out scoring the blues by four points to an Oisin Mutphy point in the opening ten minutes of the half to again have the sides level. This however was the turning point in the game as the blues backs started to take control with James Murphy fielding some great high ball and Patrick Harrington with Darragh Osullivan marking their men to deprive them of any scoring opportunities. With Conor Young dominating kickouts and Shay ODonovan breaking out from the half back line distributing ball to the attacking players to keep the pressure on their opponents. With the blues now winning their individual battles, Ronan Keenan battled strongly to win some important possession and assist in attacks with Ruairi Obrien. Naomh Aban were running out of ideas for scores while the blues punished at the other end with a pointed free from Oisin followed by a magnificent score from the edge of the D by wing back Conor Young to put the blues two in front. With ten minutes remaining and light fading , Naomh Aban were unable to breakthrough the blues defence and following a well moved blues attack and a super save by the Naomh Aban keeper, Oisin Murphy caught the rebound and rattled the net with three minutes left to play. With the blues now five points to the good, Naomh Aban attacked looking for a goal, but the strong blues defence held tight to deny them scores. In the closing minute Oisin Murphy added to his tally with another point. When referee, John Enright blew the full time whistle the young blues were estatic with their superb result.

Full Time Score ; Bantry Blues 3-09 V 1-09 Naomh Aban

Next up for these young blues is the West Cork Final where the blues face Sam Maguires. This fixture is provisionally scheduled for Sunday next at 12pm – venue to be confirmed

Bantry Blues U15s Sponsored by Okeeffes SuperValu Bantry