Laune Rangers 1-17, Templenoe 2-10
With both sides assured of Division 2 safety, Laune Rangers and Templenoe may have been forgiven if they had given less than 100% in Saturday evening’s final round tie in Killorglin. However, spectators at JP O’Sullivan Park were treated to a highly entertaining exhibition of football.
Templenoe were without their County quartet while Laune Rangers also had an extensive list of absentees but it provided a chance to impress to some of the younger players in the squads, including Laune Rangers’ Eoghan Hassett who was playing his first game of the 2022 season and by extension his Senior debut.
It took less than 30 seconds for Hassett to register his first point as a Senior footballer, and followed it with a pointed free a minute later. Templenoe were the more cohesive side in the earlier stages, and relied on ace forward Stephen O’Sullivan to get their scores as he slotted three in succession (1 free) to give his side the lead. Shane Daly scored an excellent point from range to level matters temporarily, before Stephen O’Sullivan struck for two goals in quick succession to give his side a strong early lead. Laune Rangers rallied again and pointed through David Mangan (’45) and Daniel Macbeth who saw his punch of a high dropping ball go agonisingly over the bar. With fiteen minutes played, Templenoe led by 2-3 to 0-5.
Colin Crowley and David Mangan traded well taken points before Stephen O’Sullivan added to his tally with a pointed free. Eoghan Hassett knocked over a point after an excellent run before scoring a pointed free and, after Eoin Clifford and Stephen O’Sullivan (free) traded points, Colin Crowley added another for the visitors. However, Laune Rangers were afforded a chance to get back into the game, as the goalkeeper infringed to award the hosts a penalty. John Tyther smashed the ball to the net to leave the minimum between the sides at the break.
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers 1-9, Templenoe 2-7.
Daniel Macbeth caught an excellent long pass to claim a mark and tapped it over the bar for the first score of the second half. Stephen O’Sullivan added a point to bring his tally to 2-6 for the day, but Laune Rangers found another gear and scored points through Pa Carey, John Tyther (free) and Shane Doona to lead by 1-13 to 2-8 with fifteen minutes to play.
Gabriel Griffin added to Rangers lead before Brian Crowley & Colin Crowley (free) brought Templnoe back to one behind. However, Templenoe would score no more as Laune Rangers closed out the win. Calum Moriarty scored an excellent point, John Tyther added a free and Pa Carey left the score of the game until the very last one.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers 1-17, Templenoe 2-10.
It brings to close a 2022 Senior Football League Division 2 campaign that saw great strides in the development of a young Laune Rangers Senior team. Among the substitutions made by Rangers were two players making their first Senior appearance outside of the Mid Kerry League James Treacy and Marc Clifford. Also introduced was Killian Spillane – the young man with Templenoe blood brought on for his Senior debut.
Laune Rangers:- Padraig Ahern, Seán Cleary, Seán Arthurs, Evan Madden, Ryan Diggin, David Mangan (0-2, 1 ‘45), Rory O’Connor, Shane Daly (0-1), Calum Moriarty (0-1), Patrick Carey (0-2), Eoin Clifford (capt, 0-1), Daniel Macbeth (0-2, 1 mk), John Tyther (1-2, 1 pen, 2f), Peter Crowley, Eoghan Hassett (0-4, 2f). Subs: James Treacy for Arthurs, Gabriel Griffin (0-1) for E Clifford, Shane Doona (0-1), Marc Clifford for Macbeth, Killian Spillane for Crowley; Jason Browne, Cathal O’Callaghan, Jack O’Sullivan.
Templenoe:- Mark Looney, Mark Casey, Kieran O’Neill, John Rice, Brian Crowley (0-1), Joseph Sheehan (capt), Kieran McCarthy, Tommy Spillane, Josh Crowley Holland, Colin Crowley (0-3, 1f), Martin Reilly, John Moriarty, Stephen O’Sullivan (2-6, 3f), Aidan Crowley, Daniel Crowley. Subs: Michael F O’Connor for D Crowley, Hugh Granville for Reilly, Dan O’Connor for Tom Spillane.