Kilcummin 2-15, Laune Rangers 2-7
Laune Rangers Senior Ladies team got their season underway on Sunday afternoon with a trip to Kilcummin in Kerry LGFA’s Donal Curtin Cup, but it was the home side who picked up the victory in this Round 1 encounter. The involvement of four Laune Rangers players in the Kerry Senior panel saw them not eligible for this competition. However this, along with the unavailability of a couple of other established players, provided the opportunity for others to play, and the young Rangers team took the field with two debutants in the starting lineup – Laura Patton and Éabha Dolan.
Playing against a strong breeze in the first half, Laune Rangers were under pressure from the outset, but held Kilcummin to a couple of points before a shot from Sophia Doherty into the teeth of the breeze dropped into the net to give the visitors the lead. However, three points in succession for Kilcummin saw them take a 0-5 to 1-0 lead into the first water break. This period saw Lucy O’Donnell have to be withdrawn temporarily with a blood nose, and Amy Kelly was introduced for her Senior debut.
The pressure that the home side had been building with the breeze at their backs before the stoppage continued into the second quarter, and they added three points before Sophia Doherty split the posts for a point to stem the tide. This period may have been more advantageous for Kilcummin but for the goalkeeping heroics of Sarah O’Connor who made a number of saves with her surrounding defenders clearing up the leftovers. A brace of Nicole Moriarty points were sandwiched between two for the hosts to leave Kilcummin leading by four at the break.
Half Time Score:- Kilcummin 0-10, Laune Rangers 1-3.
Laune Rangers began the second half brightly, and halved the deficit with points from Éabha Dolan and Kayleigh McGlashan in the first minute. However, Kilcummin continued to threaten and scored their first goal in the 35th minute – Sarah O’Connor saving well only for the ricocheted ball to cannon up to the post and back down to the net. This took the wind out of Rangers’ sails and, as the breeze frustratingly died down to a murmur, Kilcummin added another 1-4 unanswered before the 40 minute mark to effectively seal the victory. Laune Rangers came close to hitting the net themselves but Kayleigh McGlashan’s shot sneaked outside the post. A Laura Leslie point left the visitors trailing by eleven at the second water break.
To their credit, Laune Rangers kept trying to close the gap, making changes in the process. Nicole Moriarty scored her third point before Kayleigh McGlashan was rewarded for her excellent display at midfield with her team’s second goal. Kilcummin kicked the final point of the game before the final whistle.
Full Time Score:- Kilcummin 2-15, Laune Rangers 2-7
Laune Rangers:- Sarah O’Connor, Laura Patton, Andrea Nolan, Grace Garland, Hannah McGeever, Lucy O’Donnell, Aoife Nash Freeman, Kayleigh McGlashan (1-1), Orla O’Brien, Laura Leslie (0-1), Nicole Moriarty (capt, 0-3), Éabha Dolan (0-1), Milly Foley, Sophia Doherty (1-1), Aoife Cleary. Subs: Sara Leslie for Foley, Amy Kelly for O’Donnell, Síofra Foley for Dolan, Áine Nash Freeman for Cleary, Aisling Scannell for Moriarty.