Laune Rangers 2-16, Keel 3-9
A final quarter fightback for Keel came up short on Monday evening in Milltown as Laune Rangers held on to win the inaugural County Development League Division 1 title.
Both sides fielded young teams, with Keel’s second team with a few more older players than their opponents – Laune Rangers with only two players over the U19 age grade in their team.
Both sides pointed in the first minute as a Cian O’Shea point in the first play was quickly cancelled out by Keel. Laune Rangers began to build their lead in the opening quarter as Cian O’Shea, Ciarán O’Sullivan, Tom Whittleton, Morgan O’Sullivan & Jack Healy all scored points with Keel adding two (one free) at the other end to leave Rangers leading by 0-6 to 0-3 with fifteen minutes played.
Callum Russell pointed for Rangers before Cian O’Shea scored his team’s first goal and added a point shortly after. Calum Moriarty finished a super run with a great finish for the second goal, and Rangers added points through Tom Whittleton & Aona O’Shea to take a commanding lead into the break.
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers 2-10, Keel 0-3.
The withdrawal at half time of Calum Moriarty took some of Rangers drive from the team, although they had the answer to Keel’s attack as both pointed frees scored by the men in white in the third quarter were nullified by Rangers through Cian O’Shea & Callum Russell. With fifteen minutes remaining, Rangers remained 13 ahead at 2-12 to 0-5.
A large momentum shift occurred at the start of the final quarter as Keel were awarded a penalty that had the extra punishment for Rangers of a black card for Killian Spillane. However, Adam Carey made a great save from the spot kick before Keel tapped over for a point. Substitutes Eoghan Joy & Eoghan Hassett pointed for Rangers before Keel mounted their comeback. Three goals and a point in 4 minutes rattled the Rangers defence who were still short a man, and had made some substitutions also. Eoghan Hassett pointed a free for Rangers – their first score not from play – as the sin bin period came to an end. Keel pointed twice more but a final pointed free by Eoghan Hassett was enough to see Rangers through to victory.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers 2-16, Keel 3-9.
A ten minute purple patch for Keel made for a nervous finish in an otherwise excellent performance by Laune Rangers. A tally of 2-14 from play from ten different scorers highlighted an excellent attacking effort as Cian O’Shea finished with 1-4 from play. Elsewhere, the defensive unit was excellent when at full complement, with Daniel Evans particularly excelling, while Calum Moriarty was outstanding in the first half until his withdrawal.
Laune Rangers:- Adam Carey, Daniel Evans, Killian Spillane, Cathal O’Callaghan, Aona O’Shea (0-1), James Treacy, Ciarán O’Sullivan (0-1), Calum Moriarty (1-0), Callum Russell (capt, 0-2), Tom Whittleton (0-2), Marc Clifford, Cillian Foley, Cian O’Shea (1-4), Morgan O’Sullivan (0-1), Jack Healy (0-1). Subs: Jack O’Sullivan for Moriarty, Eoghan Joy (0-1) for M O’Sullivan, Cathal Crowley for O’Callaghan, Eoghan Hassett (0-3, 2f) for C O’Shea, Ryan O’Sullivan for Evans.