Laune Rangers B 0-10, St Michaels/Foilmore 0-14
Conditions were nothing short of tropical on Sunday afternoon as Laune Rangers B hosted St Michaels/Foilmore in JP O’Sullivan Park.
In blistering heat, it proved to be former County players of different eras – and counties – to provide the main scoring threat from either side with five time All Ireland winning Mike Frank Russell and former Kildare forward Éanna O’Connor providing the most work for the umpires, while another former Kerry player Mark Griffin operated at midfield for the visitors. Rangers were without Johnny Carey and Colm O’Shea through injury for the game
The first quarter was dominated by the visitors, who scored five unanswered before the water break through Sean O’Sullivan and Éanna O’Connor (4, 1 ‘45) and added a sixth through Darren O’Sullivan before Rangers registered their first point – a super long range effort that curled in off the left boot of 44 year old Mike Frank Russell.
Russell added a free before Ronan O’Shea pointed a 45 for the home team. However, the six point gap was restored before the break as Padraig King, Eanna O’Connor and Bernard Kelly al pointed for the visitors. Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers B 0-3, St Michaels/Foilmore 0-9
Tony Lyons saved twice for Rangers in the early minutes of the second half – Éanna O’Connor’s shot going over the bar, and Bernard Kelly’s being pushed around the post for a 45, which Éanna O’Connor made no mistake in putting over the bar. Rangers did well to respond with two excellent points from acute angles by Gavin O’Shea and Mike Frank, as James Treacy and Mike Frank (2) continued to reduce the gap with points to see the visitors leading by 0-11 to 0-8 at the first of two second half water breaks in the blistering heat of JP O’Sullivan Park.
O’Connor brothers Éanna & Cian scored for the away side to stretch their lead to 5 at the final water break. Ronan O’Shea pointed a free before Mike Frank Russell was brought down inside the square for a penalty. However, Brian Smith saved brilliantly from Ronan O’Shea to push the shot around the post. O’Shea did well to put the resulting 45 over the bar and leave three between the sides. However, Bally/Foilmore held on and a final Padraig King point was enough to see them home.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers B 0-10, St Michaels’Foilmore 0-14.
Laune Rangers B:- Tony Lyons, Patrick Brennan, Cormac Johnston, Darragh O’Shea, James Treacy (0-1), Pierce Tyther, Daragh O’Connor, Shane Mangan, Callum Russell, Eamonn Carey (capt), Michael F Russell (0-5, 2f), Gabriel Griffin, Cian O’Shea, Ronan O’Shea (0-3, 2 ‘45s), Gavin O’Shea. Subs:- Eoin O’Sullivan for Carey, Mikey O’Donnell for C O’Shea, James Lynch for Brennan, Jack Healy for G O’Shea.