Upcoming Bantry Bay R.F.C. BBQ

BREAKING NEWS
Manning's of Ballylickey are this year donating all proceeds of their Annual Barbecue to Bantry Rugby Club Development, so make it a date on July 8th from 3pm. Guest of Honour - Mick O'Driscoll.
Main Sponsors: Manning's Emporium, McCarthy's of Kanturk, The Brick Oven / Mariner Bar, Paddy O'Donoghue, Tim Murphy, Online Club Members

Munster Development Squad 2012

Bantry Underage Players who have qualified for the Munster Development Squad 2012
2nd Year Cadets South Munster Regional Development Squad Under 17		1st Year Cadets South Munster Regional Development Squad Under 15
Brian Murphy   Tim Cronin   Paddy Sheehan   Aidan James		Dillon Murphy   Michael Casey   Fineen Wycherly   Killian O'Sullivan   Ian Hurley	Eoghan McIlhenny Sean McCarthy Ciaran O'Sullivan Phillip Walters
Congratulations to all concerned. Well done!!

Announcement

The death has taken place of John O'Shea, 

Raheen, and formerly of Ballylickey and Harbour View Bantry. 

John was a member of the great Bantry rugby teams of the Thirties, which won three county cups in that era, and the double in 1935 of the County Cup and the O'Neill Cup. When action resumed after the war, the county cup was won again in 1951.

John was a great centre, who was a hard tackler and had a great turn of pace, scoring many tries for Bantry during his career. He played senior rugby with Sundays Well, and also for the Munster Junior team. 

John returned to Bantry and in 1992 he was a main committee man in the revival of the club, Bantry Bay RFC. He served on the committee for ten years and was a loyal, wholehearted supporter, up to a few years ago he was a regular at all the games.

Husband of Betty (nee Connolly), and dear dad of Phil, Chris and Elizabeth (Campbell).

John will be missed by all at the club and particuarly in Ballylickey where Betty and John were great community activists.

May he rest in peace

Removal on Thursday 9th May from Coakleys Funeral home to St.Finbarrs Church Bantry.

Requiem Mass on Friday 10th May at 12 noon. Funeral afterwards to the Abbey Cemetery.

Thanks to all who attended the Guard of Honor at the removal last night
Bantry Bay RFC & Ballylickey Development Association.

South Munster U15's Cup Final

South Munster U15's Cup Final  -  Bantry Bay v Skibbereen

The final was played in the Presentation Collge Grounds, Cork, (near Dennehys Cross) at 12pm on Sunday the 15th of April 2012. (For a full match report see our website)

Bantry Bay RFC 15  - Skibbereen 22

South Munster U15's Cup Semi-Final

South Munster U15's Cup Semi-Final  -  Cork Con v Bantry Bay

The Semi-Final of the South Munster U15's Cup was held in Templehill, Cork on Saturday the 7th of April at 11am. (For a full match report see our website)

Cork Con 3  -  Bantry Bay RFC 5

U12 Blitz of Ballincollig

Under 12 Blitz of Ballincollig

Bantry Bay U12's travelled to Ballincollig on Saturday the 31st of March, to play in the above blitz. They had a very successful outing, defeating Skibbereen, Charleville, Highfield & Carrigaline.
Mentors & players were very happy with this outcome as they have been training hard all year.

Annual Awards Night

Bantry Bay RFC Annual Awards Night

On Friday the 30th of March, the annual awards night was held in The Mariner, Bantry. The venue & band were kindly provided by Stephen & Gillian O’Donovan.

The following received their awards:
           Player of the Year: Pat Murnane
           Most Improved Player: David Mullins
           Best Newcomer: Mike O’Donoghue
           Clubman of the Year: Kevin O’Kane 

There was a very good crowd present and a lively band, “The Calvinists”, to entertain the fans. Because of the short notice and the Munster/Leinster Rabo Direct match on Saturday night, it wasn’t possible to get anyone from Munster Rugby to attend.

            Neill Clarke and Eugene McCarthy spoke and presented the awards. Neill thanked everyone for their great efforts during the year and stressed that continued loyalty to the club way the way forward. He complimented the senior team for keeping things going in what was a difficult year. Progress had been made with facilities at Beach and phase one was nearing completion. Showers will be available shortly, the road was put in and togs out facilities are available.

            The second phase was to improve the playing surface. New rules just published mean that the club could qualify for funding for this development from the IRFU as they have relaxed the rules of leases.

            Eugene gave a run down on the playing side. He complimented the adult players for sticking to the task and thanked them for their commitment and co-operation. Injuries, retirements and emigration have hit the club hard, but players have shown great courage and commitment.

            At underage level, we are still in the strong growth phase. There is now over 300 players registered. Bantry under 15’s continue to have a wonderful season, making the semi-final of the league, they now play Cork Con again in the quarter final of the cup on Saturday the 7th of April at 11 O’Clock in Templehill, Cork.

            The club now is strengthened by the entering of teams into Munster competition by Colaiste Pobail Bheanntrai. The under 16’s made the quarter final of the King Cup and were unlucky to be beaten by Abbeyfeale 24 – 17 in Abbeyfeale.

The first and second year students won the West Munster League, in both categories. This will bring more students into rugby and the club. Our sincere thanks to Dr. Kevin Healey and the board of management of the school.

            Mini rugby goes from strength to strength, and one of the highlights of the year was a blitz at Beach when there was 140 players, 60 from Christians College in Cork and 80 from Bantry, in age categories under 7 to under 12. It was a marvellous sight and a great day for players parents and the club.

            Thanks was given to Stephen and Gillian O’Donovan for their work for the club and the provision of the venue & the band on the night. Apologies for the short notice, but the season only finished the previous week and some players were leaving town the following week.