Kilcummin 0-5, Laune Rangers Blue 1-17
Laune Rangers Blue team made it three wins from three in Division 1 of the County Minor League on Saturday afternoon, with an impressive away victory over Kilcummin.
Playing with the aid of a strong breeze in the first half, Rangers got off to an excellent start and were up by 0-5 to 0-0 after seven minutes – Darragh Clifford (2), Niall O’Brien (2) and John Burke (2) all with excellent long range points. Further scores by John Burke (free) and Rian O’Sullivan were added to leave the visitors ahead by 7 with fifteen minutes played.
Darragh Clifford, Niall O’Brien and John Burke all added to their respective tallies before Clifford added another brace to take full control of the tie. Kilcummin’s goalkeeper pulled off a great save from Jack Lynch to deny a Rangers goal, before the home side scored their first point of the game through a free. Jack Lynch added a pointed free to bring the opening period to an end.
Half Time Score:- Kilcummin 0-1, Laune Rangers 0-13.
Kilcummin’s netminder made another excellent save – this time from Oisín Birmingham – and this provided some impetus to the home side. A third quarter purple patch saw Kilcummin score three points in succession, but wayward shooting stopped them from closing the gap further as they kicked four wides in the same period. Rangers stemmed the tide and a pointed free by Jack Lynch was followed by the only goal of the game, as Darragh Clifford finished excellently to leave Rangers ahead by 1-14 to 0-4 with a quarter of the game remaining.
The breeze that had blown throughout the game died down during the latter stages. Substitute Seánie Diggin, Rian O’Sullivan & John Burke (free) added points while Kilcummin added the final two point of the game, although a Conor Buckley save from a dropping ball into the square kept his clean sheet in tact.
Full Time Score:- Kilcummin 0-5, Laune Rangers Blue 1-17.
Laune Rangers scorers in chief Darragh Clifford (1-5), John Burke (0-4) were outstanding on the day, while Niall O’Brien may have added to his own three point tally but for a positional switch into defence after twenty minutes. Elsewhere, the defence – led by Shane Clifford & David O’Brien in the full back line – were excellent when called upon.
Laune Rangers Blue:- Conor Buckley, Tim Mangan, Shane Clifford, David O’Brien, Eoin O’Connell, Oisín Birmingham, Gavin Mangan, Tom Garry, John Burke (0-4, 2f), Jack Lynch (0-2f), Rian O’Sullivan (0-2), Niall O’Brien (0-3), Stephen Gannon, Darragh Clifford (1-5), John Tuohy. Subs: Seán Diggin (0-1) for O’Connell, Devon Hogan for G Mangan, Logan Foley for Tuohy.