Keane’s SuperValu Minor County Football Championship, Shield Quarter-Final
Report by Colm Kelly
Laune Rangers: 3-13
Rathmore: 3-13
Laune Rangers lined out against Rathmore on a muggy Monday evening at Bishop Moynihan/Tim Linehan Park hopeful of progressing through to the Semi-Finals of the Keane’s Supervalu Minor Championship Shield competition and that early hope was justified with an early goal from Adam O’Neill. There was solid link up play by the Rangers during the first half with Aaron Doyle working well from the half back line with Colm Evans and Jamie Flynn to put up some impressive scores. However a series of frees, a 45′ and some well taken points had Rathmore in a commanding position by the half-time mark, leading the Rangers on their home ground by six points.
Half-Time Score Rathmore 2-10, Laune Rangers 2-4
Taking their mark from the impressive display of the Seniors the day before, the Minors were undeterred by the gap and took advantage of a considerable breeze to begin to whittle down the margin for the second half. Odhran Foley coming on in the second half on the full forward line. A great solo effort from James Jones at the start of the second half set the tone, followed by fine long-distance points from Colm Evans and Adam O’Neill, kept the momentum going for Laune Rangers and the comeback was on. There was a noticeable pick up of intensity in the second half and what looked like a certain goal effort was just salvaged by excellent Rathmore goalkeeping and the post to keep the margin in Rathmore’s favour. It was a testament to Laune Rangers’ renewed efforts that Rathmore did not get their second half scoring underway until the 11th minute. However, despite the efforts of the Rangers, the 7-point margin 42 minutes in seemed an insurmountable hill to climb. But climb they did, with a particular turning point being a well-taken goal from Oran O’Sullivan and good tenacity from the back line, and slowly but surely the Rangers doggedly got themselves back into the match. The key scores came near the end from an influential and sprightly Mikey Hynes whose courageous and quick-thinking long-range efforts had Rangers level with a minute to play. Rathmore won possession from the kickout and were on a mission to find the winner but tackling from the Rangers put paid to their advance. With fading light, the referee made little allowance for injury time and the fairer result was to give both hard-working and evenly matched teams an opportunity to square up again. Laune Rangers will face Rathmore once again to settle the matter and will surely take the positives from this solid effort into the replay.
Final score: Rathmore 3-13, Laune Rangers 3-13.