Laune Rangers B 1-9, Finuge 4-5
It’s an age-old phrase in GAA – ‘Goals win games’ – and this was very much the case in JP O’Sullivan Park, Killorglin on Friday evening as a stronger Finuge side got the better of a young Laune Rangers B team in Division 5 of the County Senior Football League.
Both sides were depleted on the night although the away side, while short in substitutes, fielded a more experienced team. 2021 Kerry Minor goalkeepers in both codes were on show for Finuge – football netminder Kieran Mackessy between the sticks and hurling ‘keeper Keltyn Molloy at corner forward – and they were among a number of young players lining out with experienced campaigners such as Corridans Maurice & Pat. Laune Rangers for their part, fielded 9 Under 19s along the relative veterans like Cormac Johnston, Careys Johnny & Eamonn, Mikey O’Sullivan and Mike Frank Russell.
Laune Rangers were first to register a score as Mike Frank Russell slotted a free, while his former Kerry team-mate Pat Corridan levelled matters with a pointed free for the visitors. The wet weather conditions caused trouble for both sets of defenders, and Finuge benefited from a defensive slip that put Keltyn Molloy through before the young forward finished well to the bottom corner for the game’s first goal. Cillian Foley and Mikey O’Sullivan scored well taken points to leave Finuge leading by 1-1 to 0-3 with fifteen minutes played.
Finuge quinched the flames of momentum that Laune Rangers had been building with a second goal, as Adam Carey made a great save from Pat Corridan before the rebound came back to the centre forward who made no mistake with his second effort. Pat Corridan pointed two more frees while Cian O’Shea slotted a point at the other end to leave the visitors ahead by five at the break.
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers B 0-4, Finuge 2-3.
Pat Corridan scored his team’s sole point from play to open the second half scoring but Laune Rangers responded well, with Eamonn Carey getting on the end of a super defence-splitting pass by Ciarán O’Sullivan to tap the ball to the net. Mike Frank Russell (free) and Gavin O’Shea added points to leave Rangers trailing by the minimum, but Finuge scored their third goal through Darragh Mackessy to once again quell the rising momentum by the home side. Mike Frank Russell pointed a free before Rangers had a great chance for a second goal – Cillian Foley forcing an outstanding save from Kieran Mackessy as his shot seemed destined for the top corner. With fifteen minutes to play, Finuge led by 3-4 to 1-7.
Marc Clifford reduced the deficit for Rangers with a super point, but Finuge scored a fourth goal to take the game away from the hosts – a number of contenders with the opportunity to put the ball across the line but Colin Walsh appeared to be the one that obliged. Pat Corridan pointed a final free for the away side, while Rangers were unable to make any great headway into the difference on the scoreboard, as a Colm O’Shea free was the final kick of the game.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers B 1-9, Finuge 4-5.
Laune Rangers B:- Adam Carey, Daniel Evans, Cormac Johnston, Cathal O’Callaghan, James Treacy, Jonathan Carey (capt), Ciarán O’Sullivan, Michael O’Sullivan (0-1), Aona O’Shea, Cillian Foley (0-1), Marc Clifford (0-1), Cian O’Shea (0-1), Eamonn Carey (1-0), Michael F Russell (0-3f), Mikey O’Donnell. Subs: Gavin O’Shea (0-1) for Cian O’Shea, Killian Spillane for Evans, Patrick Brennan for E Carey, Jack Healy for Russell, Colm O’Shea (0-1f) for Clifford.
Finuge:- Kieran Mackessy, Niall Cullen, Jeremy McKenna, Aidan O’Brien, Rory McAuliffe, Declan McCarthy, Cathal McCarthy, Maurice Corridan, Colin Walsh (1-0), Evan McCarthy, Pat Corridan (1-5, 4f), John Buckley, Liam O’Brien, Darragh Mackessy (1-0), Keltyn Molloy (1-0).