Listowel Emmets 0-10, Laune Rangers 0-10
A strong breeze was blowing towards the dressing room end of Frank Sheehy Park on Sunday afternoon, making the tussle of Listowel Emmets vs Laune Rangers a game of two halves. Laune Rangers took the field without joint captain Dáire Cleary (injured) and Shane Daly who both missed the game. They did welcome back John Tyther & Jack O’Connor, while Fiachra Clifford & Eoghan Hassett took their place on the bench.
Seán Keane opened the scoring for the hosts but it was soon cancelled out by a Matt Leslie free. However, Listowel Emmets made full use of the breeze at their backs to score four consecutive points through Eddie Browne, David Keane (two frees) & Seán Keane before Matt Leslie kicked another free to get one back for Rangers.
Laune Rangers came close to finding the net, as some incisive passing by John Tyther & Gearóid Hassett put Eoin O’Sullivan in on goal, but his pass across to Stephen Sealy got caught in the breeze and didn’t fall kindly to the onrushing forward. Jamie McVeigh added a point for Emmets to see the home side leading by 0-6 to 0-2 with fifteen minutes played.
After a long spell without a score, Darragh Lynch added a point for Listowel to put them five ahead, but two important late points for Rangers were added by Matt Leslie (free) and John Tyther, leaving the hosts ahead by three at the break.
Half Time Score:- Listowel Emmets 0-7, Laune Rangers 0-4.
Matthew Leslie kicked a point from play before adding a free for Rangers, before half time substitute John Burke kicked an outstanding free from distance to level matters in the 38th minute. Burke added a super point from play to put Laune Rangers ahead for the first time, but Emmets soon levelled through David Keane and the sides couldn’t be separated through three quarters – the score reading 0-8 a piece with fifteen minutes remaining.
Laune Rangers added a point through Stephen Sealy but it may have been more, as he overturned a kickout to charge forward with the goalkeeper rushing back – Sealy’s shot zipping over the crossbar, however. Sealy’s day got worse as he received his marching orders a few minutes later, leaving Laune Rangers shorthanded for the remainder of the game but, after John Burke had a shot saved by Tom Harte, substitute Eoghan Hassett put the visitors further ahead with a well taken point.
However, with the breeze subsiding – albeit with the addition of a shower of rain – and a man advantage, Emmets had the time to come back once more. They added a brace of points through David Keane (one free) to level matters, and the full time whistle was blown to see spoils shared.
Full Time Score:- Listowel Emmets 0-10, Laune Rangers 0-10.
Laune Rangers:- Padraig Ahern, Seán Arthurs, David Mangan (capt), Patrick Carey, Eoin Clifford, Seán Cleary, Calum Moriarty, Jack O’Connor, Eoin O’Sullivan, Stephen Sealy (0-1), John Tyther (0-1), Rory O’Connor, Gearóid Hassett, Patrick Daly, Matthew Leslie (0-5, 4f). Subs:- John Burke (0-2) for Daly, Fiachra Clifford for R O’Connor, Ryan Diggin for O’Sullivan, Eoghan Hassett (0-1) for Tyther, Evan Madden for Carey.
