Glenflesk 1-8, Laune Rangers 0-15
Laune Rangers defeated Glenflesk on Wednesday evening in Round 1 of the County Under 21 Championship.
Laune Rangers took the lead in the early minutes, scoring points through Matthew Leslie and Gearóid Hassett and came close to an early goal, but Calum Moriarty’s excellent forward run was not rewarded as Jack O’Donoghue pulled off a point blank save. Glenflesk’s Luke Crowley then levelled matters with a brace of points for the home side.
Marc Clifford and Matt Leslie restored the two point margin but a pointed free by Luke Crowley left Glenflesk trailing by 0-4 to 0-3 with fifteen minutes remaining.
With the game retaining its entertaining end to end form, both sides tagged on scores. John Burke pointed a free for Rangers before Luke Crowley continued his impressive first half with another point. Calum Moriarty scored an excellent point from long range and John Burke added another, but Tommy Bowler ended the half with a pointed free from a tight angle.
Half Time Score:- Glenflesk 0-5, Laune Rangers 0-7.
Glenflesk made a flying start to the second half and were soon level with points from John Kelliher and Tommy Bowler (free). The home side missed a number of chances to take the lead with consecutive wides while Laune Rangers were much more efficient in their score taking, although they were denied a goal as John Burke’s shot was saved by Jack O’Donoghue. However, Matt Leslie (2), Gearóid Hassett and John Burke gave Laune Rangers a 0-11 to 0-7 lead with fifteen minutes remaining.
Glenflesk were soon level as a well taken point by County U20 captain Killian O’Sullivan was followed by a goal for the hosts – Michael Mullane coming up field from corner back to apply the finish and level matters with 49 minutes played.
Glenflesk would continue to be wasteful in front of goal, mainly thanks to some astute defending by the Laune Rangers backs led by Rory O’Connor and Seán Cleary, and the home side would not score again for the remainder of the game. In contrast, Laune Rangers took the lead with a Matt Leslie free before the full forward pointed from an offensive mark a couple of minutes later. In injury time, John Burke added to excellent points to insure Laune Rangers passage to the Quarter Finals of the County Under 21 Championship.
Full Time Score:- Glenflesk 1-8, Laune Rangers 0-15.
Glenflesk:- Jack O’Donoghue, Michael Mullane (1-0), Peter Cronin (capt), Cian Lynch, John Kelliher (0-1), Emmet Finnan, Killian O’Sullivan (0-1), Eoin Moynihan, Tommy Bowler (0-2f), Joe Rudden, Kevin Bowler, Ivan Crowley, Eoghan Kelly, Jack Kennealy, Luke Crowley (0-4, 1f). Iggy O’Leary for Rudden, Darragh McCormack for Moynihan.
Laune Rangers:- Adam Carey, Ryan Diggin, Seán Cleary, Matt Reenstierna, Killian Spillane, Rory O’Connor, James Treacy, Tom Whittleton, Calum Moriarty (capt, 0-1), John Burke (0-5, 1f), Marc Clifford (0-1), Cillian Foley, Jack O’Sullivan, Matthew Leslie (0-6, 1mk, 1f), Gearóid Hassett (0-2). Subs: Jack Healy for Foley, Callum Russell for O’Sullivan, Cathal O’Callaghan for Reenstierna, Darragh O’Grady for Clifford.