Ask Acorn County U21 Football Championship
Report by Aidan Clifford
Ballymacelligott 2-11
Laune Rangers 4-11
Laune Rangers have progressed to the Quarter Finals of the Acorn Life County Under 21 Championship following a win on the road against Ballymacelligott on Thursday evening.
Three first half goals proved to be too big a gap for Ballymac to claw back with Laune Rangers leading from their first score in the 4th minute until the final whistle. Eoghan Hassett tapped over Rangers first point after Calum Moriarty fought well to keep the ball from going wide, and Stephen Gannon cooly slotted a second point a minute later.
Donal Daly opened Ballymac’s account with a well taken point but the first of the visitor’s goals put Rangers in command – Oisín Birmingham with a well timed run to collect the ball before feeding Calum Moriarty, who fought off a stiff tackle to roll the ball to the net.
Donal Daly pointed again for Ballymac before Eoghan Hassett cancelled it out at the other end, but Ballymac replied yet again through Mairtín McKivergan but Laune Rangers struck for their second goal a couple of minutes later to strengthen the lead – Adam Carey finding Marc Clifford with along kickout and the ball went through Eoghan Hassett to Darragh Clifford who smashed the ball to the net with a quarter of the game played.
Donal Daly was keeping Ballymac in the game with his score taking, pointing two difficult frees in succession, although Laune Rangers kept the pressure on. Calum Moriarty split the posts with a great point, and a third goal came from the resulting kickout – Stephen Gannon pouncing on a loose kickout before passing to John Burke who found the top corner with a great finish.
Donal Daly pointed a free but it was quickly nullified by John Burke for the visitors. Donal Daly struck a superb 45 for the home side, but Laune Rangers closed out the half with the final score – a point from Eoghan Hassett.
Half Time Score:- Ballymacelligott 0-7, Laune Rangers 3-6.
Donal Daly claimed an offensive mark before netting a goal for Ballymac – a quickly taken sideline ball catching Rangers out, Niall Collins collected and passed off to Daly for a well taken goal with two minutes of the second half played.
With their lead halved in a matter of minutes, Laune Rangers rallied and Marc Clifford popped over a point to stem the tide while Darragh Clifford cancelled out another Donal Daly effort.
Stephen Gannon pointed from a tight angle before Laune Rangers struck for their fourth goal – Eoin O’Connell with a piercing run before passing to John Burke who struck the net for a second time.
Stephen Gannon pointed twice to put Laune Rangers ahead by 4-11 to 1-9 with a quarter play, but it would be the away side’s last score of the game as Ballymac kept battling away.
Shane Clifford was dismissed for a second yellow card which put the pressure on the final minutes. Donal Dály would point two frees before the hosts were awarded a penalty when Adam Sheehy was fouled, and Donal Dály made no mistake to score what would be the games final score in the 58th minute – Daly accounting for all bar one of his team’s scores.
Laune Rangers progress though, and will host North Kerry in the Quarter Final on Wednesday May 29th.
Full Time Score:- Ballymacelligott 2-11, Laune Rangers 4-11.
Laune Rangers:- Adam Carey, Cathal O’Callaghan, Shane Clifford, Eoin O’Connell, James Treacy, Oisín Birmingham, Ciarán O’Sullivan, Killian Spillane, Calum Moriarty (1-1), Mikey O’Donnell, Eoghan Hassett (capt, 0-3), John Burke (2-1), Darragh Clifford (1-1), Marc Clifford (0-1), Stephen Gannon (0-4). Subs: Joseph O’Neill for O’Callaghan, Seán Diggin for O’Donnell, Conor Buckley for Carey, Ryan Diggin for Moriarty, Tom Garry for Hassett.
