Our u13 ladies got their league campaign off to a great start with a hard fought win over Ilen Rovers in the park yesterday.

In a fiercely competitive game that went down to the wire a last minute goal from Callie o Donoghue saw Bantry take the spoils.

Bantry started brightly with a well taken point from Olivia Minehane opening their account in the fifth minute.

Ilen Rovers replied with a point on seven minutes but Bantry again forged ahead with a fine point from the lively Emily o Neill in the tenth minute and a well taken pointed free from Sophie o Donnell on eleven minutes.

Ilen Rovers scoring chances were limited by a resolute Bantry defence with Áine Courcey,Polina Popenko,Caragh McCarthy and in particular goalkeeper Layla Rose Kingston Fitzgerald to the fore.

Bantry's midfield pairing of Kacey Cotter and Emma Harrington were well on top and were supplying good ball into the Bantry forwards where Anna Russell was winning some great ball and another point from Emily o Neill saw Bantry extend their lead.

A clever finish to the net from Anna Russell and another well taken point from Emily o Neill saw Bantry well on top and a lovely goal from Emily o Neill on the stroke of half time saw Bantry leading at the break on a scoreline of 2.4 to 0.1.

The second half of this game proved to be a lot more competitive with a rejuvenated Ilen Rovers side taking the game to Bantry.Emily o Neill registered the first score of the half with a fisted point on three minutes for Bantry but Ilen Rovers were now starting to run at the Bantry defence and were rewarded with a goal on ten minutes followed up by a point on eleven minutes.When they goaled again in the fifteenth and seventeenth minutes this game looked to be slipping away from the girls in Blue.

A pointed free from Sophie o Donnell steadied the ship for Bantry but Ilen Rovers again pushed forward to score two more points despite the defensive efforts of Alex Manning and Saoirse Cooke.

Ilen Rovers again pushed for scores but a top class save from Bantry goalkeeper Layla Rose Kingston Fitzgerald to deny Rovers a certain goal in the twenty fifth minute spurred Bantry on and with their next attack they earned a penalty which was expertly dispatched by Sophie o Donnell to level affairs.This was anyone's game now and with the last attack of the game the ball broke near the end line to Callie o Donoghue who cut inside two defenders and finished superbly to the net to give the girls in Blue the victory they deserved winning on a scoreline of 4.7 to 4.4

Well done to each and everyone of the girls on a great display of football and a great start to their season.

Scorers for Bantry

Emily o Neill 1.3

Sophie o Donnell 1.3(1pen 2F)

Anna Russell 1.0

Callie o Donoghue 1.0

Olivia Minehane 0.1

BANTRY BLUES U13s Sponsored by BANTRY BATH & TILE

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