Keane’s SuperValu Minor County Championship Round 3
Report by Eddie Birmingham
Dr Crokes: 4-11
Laune Rangers: 1-7
A much-depleted Laune Rangers minor team made their exit from the County Minor Championship Cup competition in Lewis Road on Monday evening.
After being defeated by a full-strength Dr Crokes team, Laune Rangers were level on points at the top of the group with Dr Crokes and John Mitchels. This was a very gallant display, but a scoring burst in the last 10 minutes of the match by Crokes was the difference between us staying in the Championship or exiting it on scoring difference.
In a well refereed match by Garry Kissane, the 1st half was a very cagey affair, with Crokes going in at half-time, leading by 2 points, 2-3 to 1-4. Laune Rangers played well in the first period and went in happy enough at the break.
Dr Crokes started the 2nd half strongly, scoring 5 unanswered points to open up a 7-point lead. Laune Rangers didn’t throw in the towel though, got back into the game after scoring a few good points. However, the goal that Laune Rangers needed to push on never came.
In the last 10 minutes, while driving hard for a 2nd goal, Crokes broke up the pitch on the break a few times and scored a couple of goals to put clear daylight between the sides, which really didn’t reflect how closely fought the match was up until this stage.
Laune Rangers can hold their heads high after this defeat, as they never gave up right until the final whistle was blown.
The boys now have the Keane’s SuperValu Minor Shield to compete for, and when a few that were absent for this match make their return to the side, they will surely be challenging for honours again soon.
Laune Rangers: Colm O’Shea, Daniel Kelly, Dylan Flynn, Rian Hogan, Patrick O’Donnell, James Jones, Conor Murphy, Aaron Doyle, Charlie O’Sullivan, Colm Evans, Adam O’Neill (1-5), Odhran O’Sullivan, Jamie Flynn (0-1), John Horgan, Bryan McKenna (0-1). Subs: Odhran Foley, Callum Russell, Brian Foley, Hugh O’Sullivan, Mikey Hynes.
Dr Crokes: Kasper Robak, Conor Clifford, Sean Kiely, Con McGlynn, Conor Lynch, Jake Nash, Cathal Sugrue, Adam Byrne, Cian Mulcahy, Muiris O’Donoghue, Mark Carroll, Nathan Cronin, Luke O’Shea, Ben Kelliher, Liam Hennigan. Subs: Sean Collins, Dara O’Sullivan, Kieran Moloney, Craig Brennan, Killian White, Michael Carey Buckley, Finn O’Donnell, Killian Collins.