Killarney Legion 0-14, Laune Rangers 1-9
Laune Rangers will not progress to the knockout stages of the Intermediate Championship after defeat by Killarney Legion in Killarney on Sunday afternoon.
Laune Rangers spurned numerous goal chances in the first half with the breeze at their backs. The first of those came just seconds into the game as Gearóid Hassett’s shot was stopped by Brian Kelly – the ball ricocheting over the bar for the opening score.
Despite the game’s exciting start, the teams tried to feel each other out with some shadow boxing for the opening minutes, before Legion had a goal chance of their own, but Jason Browne pulled off a great double save from Jamie Alade and then Will Shine. Pointed frees by Matt Leslie & Fiachra Clifford for Laune Rangers were met by Eoghan O’Sullivan and Peter McCarthy for Legion, leaving the visitors from Killorglin leading by 0-3 to 0-2 with fifteen minutes played.
Fiachra Clifford and Ryan O’Grady (free) traded points before Laune Rangers created another goal chance. Stephen Sealy’s shot bounced off the foot of the post and away to safety, though. Another goal chance came at the same end some minutes later, but Eoin O’Sullivan’s shot was blocked at his boot by Danny Sheahan when a goal seemed certain.
Padraig Lucey pounced for a well taken point for Legion before Rangers were denied a goal yet again – Matt Leslie this time seeing his shot saved at point blank range by Brian Kelly. Will Shine nudged the home side ahead with a point just before the break.
Half Time Score:- Killarney Legion 0-5, Laune Rangers 0-4.
Gearóid Hassett levelled matters in the 38th minute and, after Will Shine had put Legion ahead again, Hassett scored another excellent point before Patrick Daly gave Laune Rangers a 0-7 to 0-6 lead with fifteen minutes to play.
Patrick Daly doubled his side’s lead with a pointed free, but Legion were soon level as Will Shine and Jamie O’Sullivan pointed frees for the Killarney side.
Laune Rangers finally scored the goal they threatened for so long – Hassett brothers Eoghan & Gearóid linking up before the latter fed Dáire Cleary who neatly found the top corner of the net.
Legion were far from finished in their chase for victory. Points by Will Shine (two frees) and Jamie O’Sullivan levelled matters, but Patrick Daly nudged the visitors ahead again. Legion were playing with confidence by now though, and Peter McCarthy levelled the game before James O’Donoghue split the posts from 40 metres. Laune Rangers were up field looking for a leveller, but a turnover presented Eoghan O’Sullivan with a chance to secure the win and he made no mistake with a point.
Full Time Score:- Killarney Legion 0-14, Laune Rangers 1-9.
Killarney Legion:- Brian Kelly, Darragh Fleming, Danny Sheahan, Rob Leen, Cian Gammell, Darragh O’Doherty (capt), Eoghan O’Sullivan (0-2), Padraig Lucey (0-1), Darragh Lyne, Finbarr Murphy, Jonathan Lyne, Jamie Alade, Ryan O’Grady (0-1f), Will Shine (0-5, 3f), Peter McCarthy (0-2). Subs: James O’Donoghue (0-1) for O’Grady, Jamie O’Sullivan (0-2, 1f) for Murphy, Peter O’Sullivan for Alade, Shaun Keane for Lucey.
Laune Rangers:- Jason Browne, Seán Cleary, David Mangan, Ryan Diggin, Eoin Clifford, Patrick Carey, Tom Whittleton, Shane Daly, Stephen Sealy, John Tyther, Dáire Cleary (capt, 1-0), Fiachra Clifford (0-2, 1f), Matt Leslie (0-1f), Eoin O’Sullivan, Gearóid Hassett (0-3). Subs: Patrick Daly (0-3, 1f) for Tyther, Eoghan Hassett for Leslie, John Burke for F Clifford, Rory O’Connor for Diggin, Marc Clifford for P Daly.
