Bantry Bay Rovers AFC was established in 1990 to cater for the needs of soccer enthusiast in the general area of Bantry, Durrus, Glengarriff and Kealkill..

The founders were Michael Mc Carthy [Secretary], Colm Mc Carthy [Chairman], both from Glengarriff and Michael O’Driscoll  Treasurer since 1991 and the first President of the club. Brian O’Connor was the club’s first PRO and set up the club’s first U18 team. The clubs first jerseys were sponsored by Sheila Murphy who has been the Club Secretary for the last 11 years.

Our home games were played on the community fields in Durrus and Glengarriff while the underage teams had the use of the pitch at St Gobans College Bantry.

The underage section of the club didn’t play for a number of seasons when the West Cork League objected to the use of St Gobans pitch. Despite various pleas to the people of Bantry a new pitch could not be found.

Then during the summer in 2002 , just when it looked that Bay Rovers would be history, local Businessman Donal Casey  of Bantry Tyre centre, offered the club the use of his land at Lisheen,  Kealkill. A lot of hard work and time was put in by Michael O’ Driscoll, Danny Peters and Tony Drummey and more members to get the pitch ready for the 02-03 season. We now have 3 full size pitches and dressing rooms .We field 9 teams this season ,Junior, Junior A, U18-U16-U14-U12-U10-U9-U8.

MATCH REPORTS

It was another very busy weekend for Bay Rovers with a lot of teams in league, cup, and blitz action. On Saturday Bay Rovers U12 team remained top of the Premier Division League after a comprehensive 9-0 home win against Skibbereen.This was a good overall team performance with the forwards and midfielders slick passing and movement creating alot of openings and catching the eye of all present. The defence also performed well to keep Skibb scoreless and provide the forwards with quality possession. The ref named Ryan O'Sullivan, who netted a hat-trick for Bay Rovers, the Man of the Match with brother Sean (2), Kuba Ratajczak (2), Timothy O'Driscoll and Darragh McElhinney compleating the scoring. The rest of the team were James Crowley in goal, Botond Rosza, Thomas Flynn, Shane Murray, Rudi Gaffney, David O'Sullivan, Sebastian Milanowski, Patrick Barry, and Mark Power. On Sunday Rovers U14 team, who have had a tough first half of the season, matched their U12 club mates in the scoring stakes with a moral boosting 9-2 win away to Dunmanway Town Youths in the 1st round of the Cup. Rovers dominated most of the first half and led 4-2 at half time. In the second half  Rovers tightened up in defence and midfield and ran out comfortable winners. Man of the Match Shane McSweeney scored a hat-trick for Rovers and Thomas Keavney (2), Daniel Murray (2), Eoghan Minehane and Jack McCarthy completed the scoring. The rest of Rovers U14 team on the day were James Lavin, Kevin Coakley, Jack O'Driscoll, Tadgh Clayton, Eric Dowling, Thomas Black, Patrick Casey, Stephen O'Driscoll, Denis Doyle, and Sean Downey. On Saturday morning Bay Rovers two U9 teams played five games at an indoor futsal blitz in Dunmanway. Results were Bay Rovers A 4, Clon 0, Paddy Cronin (2), Dara McCarthy, and Vilson Kotarja. Bay Rovers A 2, Bunratty 0, Paddy Cronin (2). Bay Rovers B 2, Bunratty 0, John Crowley and Christopher O'Sullivan. Bay Rovers B 2, Christopher O'Sullivan and Adah O'Donovan. Bay Rovers A 4, Vilson Kotarja (3) and Paddy Cronin, Bay Rovers B 1, James Crowley. Best for Bay Rovers A were Paddy Cronin, Dara McCarthy, and Matthew O'Donovan. Best for Bay Rovers B were Christopher O'Sullivan, James Collins, and Luke Maher. Also on Saturday Morning in Kealkil Bay Rovers two U10 teams played in a blitz against teams from Togher and Ardfield. Bay Rovers A drew with Ardfield and lost to Togher. Bay Rovers B lost to Togher but beat Ardfield in a close game. On Sat 14th Jan Bay Rovers U8 team played three games at their indoor blitz in Dunmanway. Results Bay Rov 2, Lyre 1, Callum McElhinney and Paddy Cronin. Bay Rovers 2, Bunratty 2, Callum McElhinney and Paddy Cronin. Bay Rovers 1, Drinagh 7, Cillian O'Brien. Rest of U8 panel. Dan Andrews, Christopher Cronin, Robert Cronin, Sean Cronin, Soni Gaffney, Alan Kelleher, Dara McSweeney, Kyle O'Leary, Ben O'Sullivan, Ronan O'Sullivan, and Bryan Tooher. Fixtures, this Sat 28th U11 outdoor blitz in Inchigeelagh. U8 indoor blitz in Dunmanway, U14 away to Clonakilty in league, U18 away to Skibbereen in league. 4th Feb U9 indoor blitz in Dunmanway.  

Bay Rovers u16 team suffered a disappointing setback on Saturday afternoon when they failed to truly get into their stride. Skibbereen started the game brightly with a strong wind behind them but Bay were proving to be more than a match for their opponents and an even contest developed with both sides struggling ion the conditions to make good use of possession. Skibb opened the scoring on 20 mins when Bay failed to stop a strong run down the right which set up the opening goal and gave skibb the boost of confidence that they were looking for. Bay tried to force a way back into the game but despite 3 consecutive corners they were unable to truly test the keeper as the first half ended. The second half started with Bay enjoying the vast majority of possession as skibb set out to hold onto their lead, but Bays hoped were dashed on 50 mins when they were very harshly reduced to 10 men and Skibb extended their lead from the resulting free-kick as the bay defence stoof motionless. Bay showed great spirit and continued to dominate possession but apart from a Shane McCarthy long range effort and a Sacha Walden corner which hit the post they could not find a way through a disciplined Skibb defence. Skibb wrapped up the win with 5 minutes remaining when a swift break allowed them to take advantage of the extra man and slot home a third goal.  Paddy O'Shea worked tirelessly throughout and was named Bay Rovers Man of the Match .

Bay Rovers u11 team played in a series of Futsal indoor blitz in Dunmanway over the last month culminating in very entertainingday on sat 17th Dec. Bay Rovers beat Bunratty 3-1 in the first game and drew 5-5 with riverside in a thrilling game. Bay came back from two goals down to draw2-2 with Bunratty in the third game and were then unlucky to lose 3-2 to Riverside in another very close match. The team played very well every week with Charlie Lavin outstanding in goals and William Coakley,Daniel Downey and Jack o'Brien putting in some great displays at back, the pick of the defenders being Mathew Harley.  There were plenty of goals over the weeks, with Paddy o'Neill, Kevin Clifford,Shane Crowley, Ayrton Doyle, Joe Friedlander and Sean o' Sullivan netting for Rovers over the course of the month. On the last day, Daniel Downey put on a great display in the Rovers goal , in the absence of Charle Lavin. Best for Rovers over the course of the month were Mathew Harley, Charlie Lavin,Ayrton Doyle, paddy o'Neill and Joe Friedlander.  Rovers first Junior team had to travel to Midleton last Sunday where they took on the local Munster senior side in the 3^rd round of the Munster Junior Cup. Rovers travelled with a made up team between the 2 Junior teams as they were missing 9 first team players. Despite this they put in a fantastic performance and were unlucky to lose 3-2. Rovers took the lead in the 6^th minute when a Paul Drummey free was headed into the corner by James Horgan. Despite a lot of pressure Rovers kept frustating the home side. Midleton hit the crossbar in the 10^th minute but didn’t create too many chances in the first half as Rovers defended well. In the 53^rd minute Midleton were awarded a penalty when a mistimed tackle took the a Midleton attacker. The penalty was well taken to level the score at 1-1. Just 7 minutes later disaster struck as Rovers influential centerback Paul Drummey, who was having a great game, had to come off with a knee injury. Midleton took the lead just 2 minutes later when they took full advantage of the missing centerback. Rovers took the game straight back to Midleton and won a free in the 68^th minute. James Horgans free was well met by John Mc Carthy who leveled the score again at 2-2. Midleton used all their subs , a luxury that Rovers didn’t have, and pushed forward. Midleton took the lead in the 75^th minute. Despite several chances by both teams the final score was 3-2 to Midleton. It was a shame Rovers didn’t have more first team players available as this was a game they could have won to put them into the open round with a home game against Pike Rovers from Limerick. The team battled really hard and thanks goes to those players of the second team who helped us out on the day. Next up is a league game against Dunmanway Town on Sunday at 11AM  in Kealkill. Hopefully some more first team players will show up