Laune Rangers 0-10, Beaufort 1-13
Beaufort are Mid Kerry Senior League Champions for 2020 following victory over Laune Rangers in the Final in Killorglin on Saturday evening.
The Mid Kerry Senior League is a pre-season competition generally played before the County Leagues get underway each year, although Laune Rangers had to wait 18 months to play the final, having qualified in March 1st 2020. The competition is generally used by Laune Rangers to give game time to as many players as possible – 37 players getting minutes in the five League games – and the Final worked out much the same, as up to a dozen of the Senior squad were unavailable on the day.
Scores were level at the first water break at 0-4 a piece, as early points by John Tyther (3) & Matt Leslie were met by points by Fergal Hallissey (2) and Padraig Doona (2). However, a black card for Shane Daly saw Rangers reduced to 14 men for the first ten minutes of the second quarter.
Beaufort captain Liam Carey pointed before creating the only goal of the game after a turnover on the kickout as he passed across the square for Ronan Murphy to tap the ball to the net. A further pointed free for Carey gave Beaufort a five point lead at the break, although Fergal Hallissey was shown a black card to reduce Beaufort to 14 men – levelling the numbers of personnel for a couple of minutes before Shane Daly’s return.
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers 0-4, Beaufort 1-6.
Seán O’Brien, Fergal Hallissey (two frees) and Ronan Murphy extended the lead to nine for Beaufort, before John Tyther pointed Rangers’ first score of the half. A triple substitution for Rangers included the introduction of Mike Frank Russell who kicked the score of the game from out wide to leave Beaufort leading by 1-10 to 0-6 at the second water break.
Liam Carey pointed a free before John Tyther, Jack O’Connor and Peter Crowley added points, and a final Rangers point by Dáire Cleary was sandwiched between a brace of frees for Fergal Hallissey to see Beaufort close out a comfortable win. Laune Rangers introduced Rory O’Connor late on for his Senior debut, making him the 38th player used by Laune Rangers during the course of the competition.
Full time Score:- Laune Rangers 0-10, Beaufort 1-13.
While players like Nathan Breen, Ciarán Kennedy and Mike Breen missed out for Beaufort, they had a much fuller deck to play with for the game as Rangers had to factor without the likes of Fiachra Clifford, Gearóid Hassett, Eoin Clifford, Mark O’Connor, Seán Arthurs, Conor Murphy, Gabriel Griffin, Stephen Sealy, Evan Madden as well as all the Under 18 contingent who were ineligible for this Final.
While Rangers will be disappointed, recent Mid Kerry Junior League, County Division 3 & 2020 Mid Kerry U21 titles as well as Division 5 survival is a great return for the pre-championship stage of the season.
Laune Rangers:- Jason Browne, Seán Cleary, Kieran Crowley (capt), Oisín Daly, Patrick Carey, Peter Crowley (0-1), Shane McSweeney, Shane Daly, Eoin O’Sullivan, Jack O’Connor (0-1), Dáire Cleary (0-1), Shane Mangan, Matthew Leslie (0-1f), John Tyther (0-5, 4), Roan Moriarty. Subs used: Mike Frank Russell (0-1), Daragh O’Connor, Patrick Daly, Ronan O’Shea, Rory O’Connor.
Beaufort:- Seán Coffey, Kieran O’Sullivan, Seán Kelliher, Liam Curran, Ethan Coffey, Ger Hartnett, Padraig O’Sullivan, Ronan Murphy (1-1), Jonathan Kissane, Ian McGillycuddy, Mick O’Sullivan, Seán O’Brien (0-1), Liam Carey (capt, 0-3, 2f), Padraig Doona (0-2), Fergal Hallissey (0-6f). Subs: Padraig Hallissey, Eoin O’Hagan.