Our Ladies made the long journey to Watergrasshill yesterday afternoon to kick off their Div 3 County Senior league campaign for 2024.Looking for a good start to the season the girls in blue came away with an emphatic win.

With heavy conditions underfoot Bantry started well with a well taken point from Elaine OSullivan Connell on three minutes which was quickly followed up by a fine point from Megan McSweeney a minute later.

Watergrasshill opened their account with a point in the fifth minute and again on seven minutes to level affairs but a Rachel Murphy pointed free and a lovely fisted goal from Megan McSweeney on ten minutes saw Bantry regain control. Watergrasshill goaled on eleven minutes but Bantry's midfield pairing of Caitlin o Mahony and Ali OSullivan were now dominating affairs and supplying great ball into the Bantry forwards where Sarah Bishop was winning with stylel.Points from the hard working Kate Keevers and Caitlin OMahony and a great goal from Elaine OSullivan Connell on twenty four minutes saw Bantry well in command but goalkeeper Séadna OSullivan was yellow carded in the twenty eighth minute to see Bantry down to fourteen players but still went in at half time leading on a scoreline of of 2.5 to 1.3

Watergrasshill had the numerical advantage for the opening eight minutes of the second half and threw everything into attack but substitute goalkeeper Mary OShea and the Bantry defence were well up to the task.Thanks to some great defending from Cliodhna OShea, Lucy Coakley and Helen Martin in the Bantry full back line they limited Watergrasshill to just one point in the opening eight minutes and indeed for the entire second half.

Bantry now back to fifteen players were playing some great team football and three more pointed frees from Rachel Murphy saw them well on top.

Eve Murphy was doing serious damage at centre forward winning and laying off some great ball to the outstanding Rachel Murphy who goaled twice in the nineteenth and twentieth minutes to put Banty in complete control.

Try as they might Watergrasshill could not register another score as Bantry's half back line of Molly OSullivan,Bernadette OFlynn and Emma Spillane were in great form and two further goals from Zara Barry and the tireless Megan McSweeney saw the girls in blue win comfortably on a scoreline of 6.8 to 1.4.

A great start to this year's league campaign for Bantry who face Nemo Rangers away in their next outing.

Thanks to Watergrasshill for providing after game refreshments to the players and supporters.It was very much appreciated.

Scorers for Bantry

Rachel Murphy 2.4(4f)

Megan McSweeney 2.1

Elaine o Connell 1.1

Zara Barry 1.0

Kate Keevers 0.1

Caitlin o Mahony 0.1