Ibane Gaels land West Cork U21 A title against Bantry with Luke Murphy and Olan O'Donovan on song

Ibane Gaels 3-14 (3-3-8) Bantry Blues 1-14 (1-0-14)

Luke Murphy’s second-half hat-trick cemented Ibane Gaels' 2025 Clóna Milk Carbery U21 A football championship final win over Bantry Blues in Dunmanway last Friday evening.

The Barryroe and Timoleague amalgamation suffered final losses in the previous two years before overcoming holders Bantry in a cracker, regaining the trophy they last secured in 2022.

It was a poignant evening for the winners as Barryroe club stalwart and Gaels U21 team mentor Donal Holland passed away last month. The former Ibane Gaels coach would have been proud of his players' efforts, not least Man of the Match Murphy, with the former Cork minor hurler raising three green flags.

Carbery chairman David Whyte presents the Man of the Match award to Luke Murphy. Picture: David Creedon

Cork U20 footballer Olan O’Donovan wasn’t far behind, kicking eight points including three nerveless two-point frees. It took a full Ibane team effort to get over a dogged Bantry however, for whom Jack Sheedy, Mark Óg O’Sullivan and Paddy Cronin impressed.

This was Ibane Gaels’ night however, as they erased the memories of their two previous West Cork final defeats in front of a huge attendance.

In a repeat of last season's U21 decider, the sides were level four times in the opening 12 minutes and tied 0-4 apiece. Ibane would not score for the remainder of the half as the Blues took full control.

Bantry's Ruairi O'Shea pulls Ibane's Dara Walsh shirt as he breaks through. Picture: David Creedon

Having wasted two goal chances, Bantry’s Owen O’Neill, Luke Saltertownshend, Jack Sheedy (two) and Paddy Cronin scores handed the defending champions a 0-9 to 0-4 interval advantage.

The second half was a cauldron of excitement which began with Paddy Cronin and Daire Kingston extending the Blues' lead.

Bantry's Conor Cronin solos downfield. Picture: David Creedon

Down seven points, Ibane began their comeback with Luke Murphy punching to the net. Murphy and Cronin traded frees before Olan O’Donovan made his presence felt by converting a brace of two-point frees to level the score for a fifth time, 1-9 to 0-12.

Bantry retaliated within 60 seconds as Mark Óg O’Sullivan slalomed through and found the net to edge his team back in front. The Gaels reduced the deficit via O’Donovan (45) and James Crowley to leave a point in it with 13 minutes to go.

Next, a superb Charlie Dineen delivery found Murphy who billowed the Bantry net to make it 2-11 to 1-12.

Jack Sheedy and James Crowley exchanged points before a close-range Dara Sheedy free brought Bantry to within a point of their opponents.

Amid a welter of excitement, Murphy completed his hat-trick before a third O’Donovan two-point free rounded off a remarkable second-half comeback and Ibane Gaels' victory.

Olan O'Donovan on the turn. Picture: David Creedon

Scorers for Ibane Gaels: L Murphy 3-3 (0-2 f), O O’Donovan 0-9 (3 2pt f, 0-1 f, 1 45), J Crowley 0-2.

Bantry Blues: J Sheedy 0-5, P Cronin 0-3 (0-3 f), D Sheedy 0-3 (0-2 f), M Ó O’Sullivan 1-0, O O’Neill, L Saltertownshend, D Kingston 0-1 each.

IBANE GAELS: L McCarthy; K Hennessy, J Crowley, A Walsh; D Moloney, T Ó Buachalla (c), C Twomey; D Dineen, S Ryan; J Twomey, O O’Donovan, A Fleming; L Murphy, J Crowley, D Walsh.

Subs: D Flynn for A Fleming (ht), C Dineen for S Ryan (h-t), J Collins for J Twomey (58).

BANTRY BLUES: B Clancy; Conor Cronin, Christopher Cronin, R O’Shea; C O’Brien, M Óg O’Sullivan, E Reynolds; S O’Donovan, M O’Donovan; L Saltertownshend, D Sheedy, J Sheedy; O O’Neill, D Kingston, P Cronin (c).

Subs: O Wiseman for L Saltertownshend (41), O Murphy for D Kingston (51), B Sheehan for J Sheedy (61, inj).

Referee: Anthony O’Regan (Kilbrittain).

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