Laune Rangers A 3-9, Keel 0-7
Laune Rangers A side were first to play in Round 6 of the Mid Kerry Senior League, as they got the better of Keel in JP O’Sullivan Park on Saturday afternoon.
Fiachra Clifford almost got Rangers off to the perfect start as a great move put the forward into space, but his shot sailed just outside the post when it seemed destined for the top corner. Keel took the lead through a Tadhg Evans point, but it would be their sole lead of the game. Rangers first goal came after five minutes, as Fiachra Clifford made up for his earlier miss and hit the net. A second goal followed a few minutes later as Ronan O’Shea found the bottom corner with a great shot to finish an equally fine team move. David Couchman slotted Keel’s second point to leave Rangers leading by 2-0 to 0-2 at the midway point of the first half, although the game was stopped for a number of minutes due to an injury to Laune Rangers Mark O’Connor that saw him stretchered off.
Matt Leslie pointed a free for Rangers, but Keel grew into the game and generated a number of frees – three successively slotted by Tommy Buckley. Laune Rangers responded with pointed frees by Matt Leslie and Fiachra Clifford to take a four point lead into the break.
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers A 2-3, Keel 0-5.
Dylan Prendergast pointed a free for Keel, but Shane Doona soon cancelled it out with an excellent point. Fiachra Clifford pointed a free before Lachlan Griffin scored another point for the visitors. Rangers made changes, including the introduction of David Mangan for his first club appearance since October 2020, and Killian Spillane for his Senior debut. With a quarter of the game to play, Laune Rangers led by 2-5 to 0-7.
Cousins Fiachra (free) and Eoin Clifford added points in quick succession, while Shane Doona added another excellent point a couple of minutes later. Matt Leslie pointed a free for the hosts, before a third goal was scored, as Fiachra Clifford’s shot was saved well by the goalkeeper, only for the rebound to canon off a defender and roll into the empty net.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers A 3-9, Keel 0-7.
Laune Rangers A:- Jason Browne, Rory O’Connor, Oisín Daly, James Treacy, Ryan Diggin, Daragh O’Connor, Seán Cleary, Seán Arthurs, Eoin Clifford (0-1), Jack O’Connor, Ronan O’Shea (1-0), Mark O’Connor, Fiachra Clifford (1-3, 3f), Roan Moriarty, Matthew Leslie (0-3f). Subs: Shane Doona (0-2) for M O’Connor, Evan Madden for Treacy, Darragh O’Grady for J O’Connor, David Mangan for Diggin, Killian Spillane for Cleary; Padraig Ahern, Marc Clifford