Laune Rangers 0-13, St Marys 1-10
St Mary’s registered their first point of the Credit Union County League Division 2 campaign as they claimed a draw against Laune Rangers in JP O’Sullivan Park on Sunday afternoon.
Laune Rangers were without Eoin Clifford and last week’s hat-trick hero Eoin O’Sullivan who joined Fiachra Clifford among the absentees for the home side.
Both sides missed chances in the opening stages and there was almost five minutes on the clock when St Mary’s opened the scoring – Bryan Sheehan coming up from his goal to slot a short range free from the ground. John Tyther sooned levelled matters with a well taken point, and the game kicked into life after ten minutes with chances being created at both ends.
Alex Coffey pointed the visitors ahead again before Laune Rangers scored three in quick succession through John Tyther, Gearóid Hassett and Ryan Diggin, leaving Laune Rangers ahead by 0-4 to 0-2 with fifteen minutes played.
Darren Casey came up field to score an excellent point for St Marys, but Laune Rangers added points by Eoghan Hassett & Dáire Cleary to extend their lead. A 23rd minute black card for Alex Coffey gave Laune Rangers an advantage for the remainder of the half and, after Bryan Sheehan had added another pointed free, points were scored at the other end by Matt Leslie (two frees), Rory O’Connor and Patrick Carey to give the hosts a six point lead at the break.
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers 0-10, St Marys 0-4.
Back to their full complement, St Marys came out a different side in the second half, and had matched their first half tally by the 11th minute of the second – Cournane brothers Anthony and Seán each slotting a free while Alex Coffey and Conor O’Shea added further points. With fifteen minutes to play, Laune Rangers led by 0-10 to 0-8.
A pointed free from out wide by Matt Leslie was quickly cancelled out by Cian O’Donoghue for St Marys, and Bryan Sheehan came up to add another free from the ground.
Gearóid Hassett scored an excellent point after beating a number of defenders to put Rangers two ahead, but a 56th minute black card for Dáire Cleary boosted St Marys. Within a minute, the ball was in the net as Ben O’Donoghue slotted a loose ball to the net after Tadhg O’Connor had stopped the it from going wide off a Conor O’Shea shot.
Laune Rangers were down to thirteen as Rory O’Connor was dismissed at the beginning of injury time, leaving the hosts with an uphill climb. However, Laune Rangers fashioned themselves a final chance and, after Calum Moriarty & Gearóid Hassett had combined well, John Tyther slotted the ball over the bar for an equalliser on the last kick of the game.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers 0-13, St Marys 1-10.
The result leaves Laune Rangers with a share of top spot in Division Two, while St Marys will look to build on their first point of season as they welcome more players back into the fold. St Marys were best served by Cian O’Donoghue, Conor O’Shea & Alex Coffey – the latter with a great showing at midfield. For Laune Rangers, Shane Daly, John Tyther & Gearóid Hassett led the way.
Laune Rangers:- Jason Browne, Seán Arthurs, David Mangan (jt capt), Seán Cleary, Ryan Diggin (0-1), Patrick Carey (0-1), Calum Moriarty, Stephen Sealy, Shane Daly, John Tyther (0-3), Gearóid Hassett (0-2), Rory O’Connor (0-1), Dáire Cleary (jt capt, 0-1), Matthew Leslie (0-3f), Eoghan Hassett (0-1). Subs: John Burke for D Cleary, Daragh O’Connor for Sealy, Dáire Cleary for Carey.
St Marys:- Bryan Sheehan (0-3f), Darren Casey (0-1), Darragh O’Sullivan, Patrick Cournane, Oisín Moran, Cian O’Donoghue (0-1), Conor Quirke, Muiris Fitzgerald, Alex Coffey (0-2), Tadhg O’Connor, Conor O’Shea (0-1), Mark O’Shea, Seán Cournane (0-1f), Anthony Cournane (capt, 0-1f), Ben O’Donoghue (1-0). Subs: Mark Quigley for Fitzgerald, Cillian O’Connell for Moran.
