Laune Rangers 3-20, Currow 1-8
Laune Rangers closed out their Credit Union SFL Division 2 campaign with a comprehensive win against Currow on Sunday afternoon, setting up a three-way playoff with fellow promoted teams Glenflesk and An Ghaeltacht to decide the champion of Division Two.
Before the game, the teams and spectators observed a minute’s silence in memory of the late Danny Cahill who passed away two weeks ago.
Currow got the ideal start with a goal in the opening minutes – Conor Sheahan slicing through the Laune Rangers defence for a super solo score, after Patrick Daly had opened the scoring with a point in the first minute for the home side. Laune Rangers dominated proceedings though, and points by Marc Clifford, Gavin O’Shea & Eoghan Hassett (free) soon cancelled out the early goal. John Buckley twice pointed frees but each time it was matched by points by Eoghan Hassett.
Patrick Daly added another point before Laune Rangers struck for their first goal. A quick counter attack saw the ball swept up field and Eoghan Hassett put Marc Clifford through, and the full forward slotted a soccer-style shot past Shane O’Leary to leave Laune Rangers leading by 1-7 to 1-2 with fifteen minutes played.
The one-way traffic continued in the second quarter. Fiachra Clifford, Eoghan Hassett and Patrick Daly (two, one free) stretched the home side’s lead before Mike McCarthy pointed a free for the visitors. Laune Rangers scored a second goal in the 27th minute, and it was full back Patrick Carey who finished excellently to the bottom corner after a run up field. A late Eoghan Hassett free closed out first half proceedings.
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers 2-12, Currow 1-3.
The gap between the sides increased even further in the third quarter with Eoghan Hassett (2) and Patrick Daly adding to their tallies, while substitute Cian O’Shea also got in on the act with a brace of points. Goal chances were spurned as John Burke’s chip shot was denied by the woodwork, while Shane O’Leary also saved from Ryan Diggin’s shot at goal. Jack Scanlon saw his shot at goal flash over the crossbar to leave Currow trailing by 2-17 to 1-4 with fifteen minutes remaining.
Shane Daly scored an excellent third goal for Laune Rangers before his brother Patrick slotted his sixth point of the day. Tom Whittleton and Jack O’Sullivan would add further points while Mike McCarthy (three) and Conor Sheahan added to the visitor’s tally before the final whistle.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers 3-20, Currow 1-8.
Laune Rangers:- Padraig Ahern, Michael O’Sullivan, Patrick Carey (1-0), Killian Spillane, Calum Moriarty, Seán Cleary, James Treacy, Shane Daly (capt, 1-0), Tom Whittleton (0-1), Patrick Daly (0-6, 1f), Fiachra Clifford (0-1), Gavin O’Shea (0-1), Eoghan Hassett (0-7, 3f), Marc Clifford (1-1), John Burke. Subs: Matt Reenstierna, Ryan Diggin, Jack O’Sullivan (0-1), Cian O’Shea (0-2), Cathal O’Callaghan; Mark O’Connor, Daniel Evans, Oisín Birmingham, Jake Reenstierna.
Currow:- Shane O’Leary, Alex Fleming, Adam Healy, Pat O’Sullivan, Mike Hanifin, Seán Brosnan, Luke Fitzgerald, Daniel O’Sullivan, John Curtin, Con Enright, Conor Sheahan (1-1), Mike McCarthy (0-4, 2f), John Buckley (0-2f), Seamus Scanlon (capt), Jack Scanlon (0-1). Subs: Paul Fleming , Niall Brosnan.