Kerry Petroleum Intermediate Club Football Championship, Round 1
Report by Aidan Clifford
Laune Rangers 0-13
Kerins O’Rahillys 2-9
Laune Rangers left Austin Stack Park on Friday evening in defeat to Kerins O’Rahillys as the Kerry Petroleum Club Championships got underway with the Intermediate clash between the pair. Missed chances proved costly as Kerins O’Rahillys took theirs to claim the win.
John Burke scored an excellent point after 90 seconds to open the scoring, but Laune Rangers were dealt a blow a minute later with the loss to injury of midfielder Shane Daly. He was replaced by his brother Patrick, who took over from his elder sibling as the oldest outfield player (at 26) on the Laune Rangers team.
Eoin O’Sullivan added a second Laune Rangers point but the sides were soon level with a pair of Tomás Kennedy scores. John Burke restored the Laune Rangers lead with a point. Laune Rangers had the first of three goal opportunities denied by Kerins O’Rahillys’ goalkeeper Robert O’Connor who saved Oisín Birmingham’s shot from point blank range. With fifteen minutes played, Laune Rangers led by 0-3 to 0-2.
Laune Rangers dominated the second quarter but couldn’t convert it to the scoreboard. An Eoghan Hassett free was followed by a Fiachra Clifford point, but a series of wides was followed by another goal chanced spurned – this time Eoghan Hassett charged down by Donagh Buckley as he shot for goal.
Gearóid Dillane and Eoghan Hassett exchanged points in injury time to leave Laune Rangers leading by three at the break.
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers 0-6, Kerins O’Rahillys 0-3.
Two Eoghan Hassett points book-ended scores from Tommy Walsh & David Moran before Kerins O’Rahillys drew level with a goal by Barry John Keane. Laune Rangers had a chance to cancel that goal out a few minutes later by this time John Burke’s shot pulled wide.
Tomás Kennedy gave Kerins O’Rahillys their first lead of the game with a free before substitute Cormac Coffey doubled their advantage. Patrick Daly & Fiachra Clifford replied to level matters again before Eoghan Hassett put Rangers ahead with a free.
Cormac Coffey’s introduction had given Rahillys a huge boost and he scored his second point to restore parity. John Tyther was introduced at the other end and he regained the Laune Rangers lead with a point.
The winning of the game came in the 58th minute through a Tom Hoare goal for Kerins O’Rahillys and, despite Eoin Clifford pointing to halve the deficit, Barry John Keane slotted an insurance point to claim victory.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers 0-13, Kerins O’Rahillys 2-9.
Laune Rangers:- Jason Browne, Shane Clifford, Oisín Daly, Seán Cleary, Calum Moriarty, Oisín Birmingham, Eoin Clifford (0-1), Stephen Sealy, Shane Daly (jt capt), Tom Whittleton, John Burke (0-2), Fiachra Clifford (jt capt, 0-2), Gearóid Hassett, Eoin O’Sullivan (0-1), Eoghan Hassett (0-5, 2f). Subs: Patrick Daly (0-1) for S Daly, John Tyther (0-1) for Whittleton, Dáire Cleary for Burke, Ryan Diggin for Moriarty, Stephen Gannon for F Clifford.
Kerins O’Rahillys:- Robert O’Connor, Darragh McElligott, Ross O’Callaghan, Donagh Buckley, Gearóid Dillane (0-1), Jake Foley, Daniel Bowler, David Moran (0-1), Tom Hoare (jt capt, 1-0), Barry J Keane (1-1), Shane McElligott, Ben Hanafin, Gearóid Savage, Tommy Walsh (jt capt, 0-1), Tomás Kennedy (0-3, 1f). Subs: Cormac Coffey (0-2) for Savage, Ryan Carroll for Dillane, Con Barrett for Bowler.
