Kerry Petroleum Intermediate Club Football Championship, Quarter-Final
Report by Aidan Clifford
Glenflesk 2-18
Laune Rangers 3-19
Laune Rangers will take their place in the last four of the Intermediate Championship for the first time since 2017 following victory over their hosts Glenflesk on Sunday afternoon in the Quarter Final.
It took 80 minutes to separate the sides though as Laune Rangers mounted a fantastic second half comeback to reel in a 7 point deficit, while four combined extra time goals saw Laune Rangers finish on the right side of the result after the game of the season.
Glenflesk lost Jeff O’Donoghue to injury in the opening minutes before John Tyther and Tommy Bowler traded early frees. Eoghan Hassett temporarily regained Laune Rangers’ lead, but Ian & Darragh Roche – two of three siblings in the home side’s full forward line alongside younger brother Dylan – each pointed to put their side in front.
Dáire Cleary levelled matters with a shot that flashed over the crossbar while Fiachra Clifford put Rangers ahead again in a pendulum-like first quarter. With fifteen minutes played, Laune Rangers led by 0-4 to 0-3.
Glenflesk rose into the game with the breeze at their backs in the second quarter. Jamie Moynihan & Darragh Roche (2) scored well taken points, although Eoghan Hassett drew the visitors level with a brace (one free). This was short lived though, as Glenflesk finished the half strongly to head to the pavilion with a four point lead – Darragh Roche (two frees), Jamie Moynihan & Tommy Bowler (a long range free) with the scores for the East Kerry men.
Half Time Score:- Glenflesk 0-10, Laune Rangers 0-6.
Laune Rangers wanted a quick start to the second half, but Glenflesk restarted as they had let off before the break. Kevin Bowler’s shot at goal after a minute rolled wide during an advantage period, but Darragh Roche pointed the resulting free and added two more points to put his side seven ahead.
Laune Rangers’ backs were to the wall and needed to react quickly. John Tyther pointed a free after Dáire Cleary was brought down when through on goal, and that kicked their side into action. John Burke was next to shoot for goal but his effort rolled outside the post, although the ball was in the net a couple of minutes later – Gearóid Hassett with a great finish after collecting a super long pass from Eoin Clifford. With fifteen minutes to play, Glenflesk led by 0-13 to 1-7.
John Burke reduced the deficit to two with a point before it was cancelled out by a Tommy Bowler free. With another Bowler free nullifying an Eoghan Hassett effort Glenflesk maintained their three point lead with Darragh Roche put through on goal with only Jason Browne to beat. Browne made himself big and pulled off a huge save to keep his side in the hunt.
Matt Leslie & Eoghan Hassett pointed to leave Rangers only one behind, although Darragh Roche double Glenflesk’s lead in the 57th minute. Matt Leslie replied quickly with another point and, in injury time after wides for both sides, Fiachra Clifford came up with a super equalizer. Laune Rangers held out the resulting Glenflesk attack and extra time beckoned.
End of Normal Time:- Glenflesk 0-16, Laune Rangers 1-13.
In contrast to normal time, Laune Rangers played the first half of extra time with the breeze at their backs and they used it to go three ahead in the opening minutes – John Burke, Eoghan Hassett & Fiachra Clifford with the scores.
A Michael Mullane point for Glenflesk was cancelled out by opposing defender Oisín Birmingham – a deserved point to mark a great display by the teenager.
When Laune Rangers scored their second goal in first half injury time – Dáire Cleary with a great finish – they would have had confidence in defending a six point lead against the wind. However, Glenflesk had other ideas and responded immediately. Brian O’Donoghue & Dylan Roche linked up to feed Seán Doherty who finished to the net.
Half Time Score in ET:- Glenflesk 1-17, Laune Rangers 2-17.
Darragh Roche brought his tally for the day to double figures with a free before Matt Leslie replied with a point in the opening minutes of the final period. Glenflesk had one more trick up their sleeve, and they levelled with their second goal – Brian O’Donoghue with the finish.
That would be Glenflesk’s final score though. Laune Rangers drove on and had restored their goal advantage two minutes later. A clever pass from Eoin Clifford found John Burke in the left corner, and the young forward turned his man before passing across to Eoghan Hassett who slotted to the net.
Glenflesk were on all out attack but were turned over and quick passing through Fiachra Clifford, Matt Leslie & John Burke put Oisín Daly into space, who passed across to the wide open Seán Cleary who punched over the insurance score.
There would be time for Glenflesk to seek an unlikely saving grace, but Laune Rangers held out to the final whistle to take their place in the Semi Finals of the Kerry Petroleum Intermediate Championship.
Full Time Score (AET):- Glenflesk 2-18, Laune Rangers 3-19.
Laune Rangers will take on Fossa on Sunday next, August 25th at 4pm in Fitzgerald Stadium.
Glenflesk:- Eoin Moynihan, Michael Mullane (0-1), Cian Lynch, Joe Ruddan, Emmet Finnan, Killian O’Sullivan, Cian Horan, Jamie Moynihan (0-2), Tommy Bowler (0-4f), Kevin Bowler, Jeff O’Donoghue, Callum Cronin, Ian Roche (capt, 0-1), Darragh Roche (0-10, 5f), Dylan Roche. Subs: Denis O’Connor for J O’Donoghue, Sean Doherty (1-0) for Horan, Liam Warren for Lynch; Peter Cronin for O’Connor, Brian O’Donoghue (1-0) for K Bowler.
Laune Rangers:- Jason Browne, Shane Clifford, Oisín Daly, Seán Cleary (0-1), Calum Moriarty, Tom Whittleton, Oisín Birmingham (0-1), Stephen Sealy, Eoin Clifford, Patrick Daly, Gearóid Hassett (1-0), Fiachra Clifford (capt, 0-3), Eoghan Hassett (1-6, 1f), John Tyther (0-2f), Dáire Cleary (1-1). Subs: John Burke (0-2) for P Daly, Ryan Diggin for Moriarty, Matthew Leslie (0-3) for Tyther; John Tyther for D Cleary.
