Laune Rangers 4-6, Fossa 1-7
Laune Rangers Senior Ladies collected the Donal Curtin Cup Division 4 trophy on Sunday evening after defeat of Fossa in the Final played in Milltown. It marked the first silverware won by the Senior team in a decade, and the first taste of Senior success for nearly all of what is a young Laune Rangers outfit.
Laune Rangers led from first whistle to last, building up a strong first half lead. A point in the first phase of play from Ailbhe Clifford was followed by a brace from Fodhla Houlihan including one free. However, Fossa settled and an Ava O’Neill pointed free was followed by one from playby Ciara Griffin.
Laune Rangers had a breeze behind them though and stayed on the front foot, with midfield pair Kayleigh McGlashan and Rachael Evans dominating between the 45s. The first goal of the game came through Fodhla Houlihan who finished excellently, leaving Laune Rangers ahead by 1-3 to 0-2 with fifteen minutes played.
Rachael Evans added a point before Fodhla Houlihan scored her and her team’s second goal – slotted excellently after a superb Meadhbh Johnston pass in the lead up.
Meadhbh Johnston scored a third goal a couple of minutes later with another cool finish, while Ava O’Neill slotted a free just before the break.
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers 3-4, Fossa 0-3.
Fossa came out fighting in the second half. Seoladh Colleran pointed but it was cancelled out by an Ailbhe Clifford free. Anna Clifford pointed for Fossa before her captain Anna O’Reilly ended a great run by netting a goal for her side. With fifteen minutes to play, Laune Rangers led Fossa by 3-5 to 1-5.
Fossa were now piling on the pressure, but Laune Rangers defence were up to the task. Led by captain Orla O’Brien, Andrea Nolan and Kayleigh McGlashan ahead of them, Rangers blocked down, intercepted or forced errors on a number of Fossa attacks. A Seoladh Colleran point was nullified by one at the other end by Sara Leslie and, while Fossa added another point through Ava O’Neill, the goal chances they needed were cut out time and again by the Laune Rangers backs.
Laune Rangers broke on a late counter attack, and Fodhla Houlihan completed her hat-trick for her team’s fourth goal to cement a great win.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers 4-6, Fossa 1-7.
After the game, Orla O’Brien was presented with the Division 4 trophy from Nora Fealey of Kerry LGFA, cuing scenes of jubilation by players, coaches and supporters.
Laune Rangers:- Sarah O’Connor, Éabha Dolan, Andrea Nolan, Milly Foley, Meadhbh O’Sullivan, Orla O’Brien (capt), Erin Murphy, Kayleigh McGlashan, Rachael Evans (0-1), Meadhbh Johnston (1-0), Sophia Doherty, Laura Leslie, Lucy O’Donnell, Fodhla Houlihan (3-2, 1f), Ailbhe Clifford (0-2, 1f). Subs used: Sara Leslie (0-1), Laura Patton, Isobelle Sheahan.