South Kerry 1-8, Laune Rangers 0-10
Laune Rangers Minors suffered a heartbreaking defeat on Friday evening as a late, late winning point claimed victory for home side South Kerry in Waterville in the opening game of the 2023 Keane’s Supervalu Minor Championship.
Laune Rangers were the stronger side in the opening half with the benefit of a breeze, and led by five at the break. Darragh Clifford pointed three long range frees before David Kennedy scored the first point from play in the game, leaving Laune Rangers ahead by 0-3 to 0-1 with fifteen minutes played.
The visitors continued to drive on, and doubled their tally with points from John Horgan, Niall O’Brien & Darragh Clifford – the latter a superb score from distance. Tom Clifford scored an excellent point for South Kerry before David Murphy pulled off an excellent double save to deny Laune Rangers a goal – first from Stephen Gannon and then the rebound from Adam O’Neill. A Patryk Radny pointed free left Rangers ahead by five at the interval.
Half Time Score:- South Kerry 0-2, Laune Rangers 0-7.
David Murphy came up from his goal to slot a 45 with an increased wind at his back early in the second half, before Laune Rangers were left down a man for half of the game as Matthew Spillane received two yellow cards in quick succession. Laune Rangers rallied well though, and three points from Darragh Clifford (two frees & as well as the score of the game from distance) left the visitors ahead by 0-10 to 0-3 with 45 minutes played.
Unfortunately for the under-manned Laune Rangers side, there was plenty of time remaining on the clock and a David Kennedy free and David Murphy 45’ were followed by the only goal of the game – Fintan O’Sullivan with the crucial strike to close the gap to two points.
Another point halved the difference between the sides as the regulation 60 minutes expired, but there was plenty of time on the clock for the home side to battle on. A 66th minute point levelled the game, and after Laune Rangers held the ball in attempt to create a scoring chance, the ball came out of defence. A late dismissal for South Kerry restored parity in numbers with time nearly up, but in the 41st minute of the second half, the Laune Rangers defence could hold out no longer and the winning point was struck by Adam Corridon.
Full Time Score:- South Kerry 1-8, Laune Rangers 0-10.
In a helter-skelter championship game, Laune Rangers were led by Clifford twins Darragh & Shane, who excelled at opposite ends of the field, as well as Charlie O’Sullivan.
Laune Rangers:- Conor Buckley, David O’Brien, Shane Clifford, Matthew Spillane, Charlie O’Sullivan, Niall O’Brien (0-1), James Jones, Eoin O’Connell, Patryk Radny (0-1f), John Horgan (0-1), Stephen Gannon, Seán Diggin, Adam O’Neill, Darragh Clifford (0-7, 5f), Dylan Flynn. Subs: Logan Foley for O’Neill.