Dr Crokes B 1-7, Laune Rangers White 4-19
A piece of club history was made on Thursday evening, as Laune Rangers fielded a 2nd Minor team in the County Leagues for the first time, and came away with a great win against Dr Crokes in Lewis Road.
While a First 12 from the Blue Team had to be submitted that can not participate for the White Team, it was testament to the Laune Rangers squad size that only 1 of the starting XV from Monday night’s game was required for this game. Goalkeeper Patryk Radny was the sole member of the U15 squad that started, meaning 28 different players from the Minor grade started a game this week.
The early exchanges were tight, with Crokes scoring the first two points of the game before Adam Owens knocked over a free to get Rangers off the mark. Owens was on hand to tap the ball from close range following a super team move. Dr Crokes were on the ascendancy though, and scored 4 successive points (3 frees) to leave the home side leading by 0-6 to 1-1 at the first half water break.
Rangers dominated the second quarter though, and scored an unanswered six points in the period. Adam Owens was unerring with his free taking, after some great work done by all in attack to force the fouls, while Rian O’Sullivan, Oisín Lynch and Joe Cronin Langham all got in on the scoring with the latter in particular scoring an excellent point.
Half Time Score:- Dr Crokes 0-6, Laune Rangers 1-7
Two further pointed frees by Adam Owens extended Rangers’ lead before it was halved by a Dr Crokes goal. Joe Cronin Langham, Cillian Buckley, Oisín Lynch all pointed excellent scores, while Owens increased his tally with two further frees. Dr Crokes had plenty of possession during this time, but the defence held firm with Tim Mangan, John Tuohy & Devon Hogan in particular driving out from the back. At the second half water break, Rangers led by 1-14 to 1-6, but that lead may not have been so much but for some great saves by young goalkeeper Patryk Radny.
Laune Rangers were not satisfied with what they had scored, and pressed on further in the final quarter to take the game out of sight. Cillian Buckley was fouled at the right half forward position and once the free was called, he took a quick glance at the posts and knocked the ball over from long distance. It got even better for Buckley, as he reacted quickest to a Jack Lynch point effort that came back off the post to catch and finish the ball to the net. Jack Lynch managed to get on the scoreboard with his next point effort, while David Crowley & Rian O’Sullivan added to their own tallies. Joe Cronin Langham scored Rangers’ third goal following a super pass from Cillian Buckley, and a fourth goal followed almost immediately as David Crowley blasted the ball home from the edge of the square. Crokes managed another point before it was cancelled out by Rian O’Sullivan with the last score of the game.
Full Time Score:- Dr Crokes 1-7, Laune Rangers 4-19
Laune Rangers:- Patryk Radny, Colin Griffin, Tim Mangan, James Prendiville, John Tuohy, Devon Hogan, Joseph O’Neill, Jack Lynch (0-1), Joseph Cronin Langham (1-2), Cillian Buckley (1-2, 1f), Cillian Foly, Rian O’Sullivan (0-3), Oisín Lynch (0-2), Adam Owens (1-7, 7f), David Crowley (1-2). Subs: Eoin O’Connell, Darragh Clifford, Conor Buckley, Gavin Mangan, Shane Clifford.