Kenmare Shamrocks 0-12, Laune Rangers 1-15
After a ten year spell outside of the top tier of the County Senior Football League, Laune Rangers will contest Division 1 of the County Senior Football League after victory over Kenmare Shamrocks guaranteed their promotion from Division 2 on Sunday afternoon.
Kenmare, playing with the aid of a strong breeze in the first half, opened the scoring with a Jimmy Lehane point but it was soon cancelled out by a Dáire Cleary punched effort. Tommy ‘Atlantic’ O’Sullivan kicked an excellent point from distance for Kenmare, but another punched point, this time from Eoin O’Sullivan, levelled matters again. Kevin O’Sullivan added two well taken points, but a Matt Leslie free left Laune Rangers trailing by 0-4 to 0-3 after fifteen minutes.
Eoghan Hassett pointed a free to level the game as Laune Rangers began to gain control of the game. Matt Leslie and Dáire Cleary give Laune Rangers a lead that they would hold for the rest of the game.
Eoghan McCarthy saw points for Kenmare nullified twice – first from an excellent Shane Daly effort and the second from Tom Whittleton who was knocked off balance as he struck but still split the posts to give the visitors a two point lead at the break.
Half Time Score:- Kenmare Shamrocks 0-6, Laune Rangers 0-8.
Dáire Cleary claimed a clever offensive mark and made no mistake in slotting in between the posts to extend the lead, but Laune Rangers had two goal chances denied by the crossbar early in the second half – the first a pass across the square bouncing away to safety and the second an Eoin O’Sullivan effort that rattled the woodwork. The defences had the upper hand for the remainder of the third quarter, but John Tyther and substitute John Burke (free) gave Laune Rangers a 0-11 to 0-6 lead with fifteen minutes remaining.
Eoghan McCarthy (free) and Jimmy Lehane pointed in quick succession for Kenmare to reduce arrears. John Burke & Eoghan McCarthy traded points, before Patrick Daly (mark) & Kevin O’Sullivan (free) exchanged scores to leave Laune Rangers ahead by three points in the 53rd minute.
Fiachra Clifford extended the Laune Rangers lead but David Hallissey came close to finding the net for Kenmare only to see his shot flash over the bar.
The decisive goal came late in the game as Kieran Fitzgibbon came up field with Kenmare in search of a levelling goal. The ball was turned over as Dáire Cleary & Killian Spillane combined to rush out from defence, and Calum Moriarty found John Burke in space who had no trouble in tapping the ball to an empty net.
Kevin O’Sullivan pointed for Kenmare as he attempted to catch Jason Browne off his line, but the Rangers ‘keeper tipped the ball over the bar. Laune Rangers managed the rest of the game out, as John Burke pointed a long range free for the game’s last score.
Full Time Score:- Kenmare Shamrocks 0-12, Laune Rangers 1-15.
Kenmare Shamrocks:- Kieran Fitzgibbon, Conor Adams, Tommy O’Sullivan, Jamie O’Regan, Shane O’Sullivan, Dara O’Shea, Paraig Cronin, Tommy O’Sullivan ‘Atl’ (0-1), David Hallissey (0-2), Liam Palmer, Darragh O’Connor, Jimmy Lehane (0-2), Eoghan McCarthy (0-4, 1f), Kevin O’Sullivan (0-3, 1f), Darren Allman. Subs: Darragh O’Sullivan for Allman,
Laune Rangers:- Jason Browne, Patrick Carey, Seán Cleary, Ryan Diggin, Daragh O’Connor, Calum Moriarty, Rory O’Connor, Tom Whittleton (0-1), Shane Daly (0-1), Patrick Daly (0-1mk), Eoghan Hassett (0-1f), John Tyther (0-1), Dáire Cleary (capt, 0-3, 1mk), Eoin O’Sullivan (0-1), Matthew Leslie (0-2, 1f). Subs: John Burke (1-3, 2f) for Hassett, Fiachra Clifford (0-1) for Leslie, Killian Spillane for D O’Connor, Gavin O’Shea for P Daly, Michael O’Sullivan for Carey.
