Our Minor Ladies made the long trek to Glenville yesterday afternoon to play Lisgoold in their County quarter-final.

Despite the heavy conditions underfoot this turned out to be a cracking game of football with the result in the balance until the final whistle.

Despite not having had a competitive game in over a month Bantry were in this game from the off and registered their first score on five minutes courtesy of a well taken Emma Kelly point.Lisgoold replied immediately with two points but Bantry again edged ahead with points from Aoife Kingston and Katie Russell and a cracking goal from Holly Sheehan.

This was end to end stuff as again Lisgoold battled back with two points and a fine save from goalkeeper Mary o Shea denied them a certain goal.

Further points from Holly Sheehan and Emma Kelly put Bantry back in front and a fine goal from Meadhbh Sammon on eighteen minutes put them in a great position.Lisgoold were not going away however and hit three further points to keep them well in contention.

Again the girls in blue pushed forward and Emma Kelly pointed on 28 minutes and in the twenty ninth minute a peach of a goal from Katie Russell followed by an Aoife Kingston point saw Bantry leading at half time on a scoreline of 3.7 to 2.8

The second half of this game proved to be as competitive as the first with both sides vying for the win which would see them through to a County semi final.Lisgoold scored the first two points of the half before Aoife Kingston pointed for Bantry in the third minute.

Again it was end to end stuff with the Bantry defence under serious pressure but coping admirably with Cliodhna o Shea,Molly o Sullivan,Kelly Daly,Ciara Barry and Cathy Kennan all putting in a serious effort.After a long injury lay off Ali o Sullivan was also putting in some trojan work in the middle of the field alongside the tenacious Lainey Barry and Aoidhe Murphy was winning some great ball to keep the Bantry forwards on the front foot.

Emma Kelly added another point for Bantry in the ninth minute and another fine goal from the hard working Katie Russell on ten minutes again gave Bantry the initiative.This was followed by points from the tireless Aoife Kingston and Meadhbh Sammon to give Bantry some breathing space but again Lisgoold would press forward and were rewarded with a goal on thirteen minutes followed by three points to really put this game in the melting pot.

Bantry were introducing fresh legs off the bench with Belle o Donoghue,Faye Hurley,Ciara Kelly,Lucy Harrington and Lauren o Connell all making a serious contribution to Bantry's cause.With time almost up this game was level and on thirty three minutes Daisy o Donoghue who was now playing to great effect in the forwards scored a fine point to give Bantry the minimum advantage but Lisgoold were now camped in Bantry's half looking for that elusive score that would take this enthralling contest to extra time.On thirty four minutes after some heroic defending Banrty broke down field to score a fifth goal from Meabh Sammon which was followed by a fine Ciara Kelly point on the stroke of full-time to break Lisgoold's hearts and see Bantry emerge victorious on a scoreline of 5.14 to 3.15 in what was an outstanding squad display from the girls in Blue.

They now go into a County semi final against the winners of Fermoy and Dromtarriffe

Scorers for Bantry

Holly Sheehan 1.1

Emma Kelly 0.5

Katie Russell 2.1

Meadhbh Sammon 2.1

Aoife Kingston 0.4

Daisy o Donoghue 0.1

Ciara Kelly 0-01

BANTRY BLUES SPONSORED BY BANTRY BATH & Tile