Mid Kerry Minor Championship Final (Sponsored by Sugrue Excavations, Beaufort)
Laune Rangers: 4-10
Keel/Listry: 2-10
Laune Rangers are the Mid Kerry Minor champions of 2024, after winning a fascinating battle against Keel/Listry last Saturday. Paddy Burke Memorial Park in Milltown was in sublime condition in the Autumn sunshine for this highly anticipated contest.
Both teams played the game in a very sporting manner, helped by referee Tom Corbett, who officiated the game excellently.
Laune Rangers, without long term injury absentees, Conor West, Aaron Doyle, and Liam O’Connell, started slowly, with Brien Mangan, James Clifford, Eanna Murphy and Ryan Costello being to the fore for Keel/Listry.
The Launesiders were trailing by 1-3 to 0-1 after 12 minutes, but Adam Radny pulled off a vital save to keep us in touch, and he was well aided by his defenders in keeping the threat at bay during this opening period.
Gradually, Laune Rangers managed to claw themselves into the match, with the excellent work rate of our forwards and midfielders contributing to the boys in blue leading at halftime, by 2-6 to 1-5. The goals came from Colm Evans, after a great team move, the end of it being Jamie Flynn passing across the goalmouth for Colm to palm to the net, and the other being toe poked over the line by Jamie Flynn, after an exceptional tackle by Tomás Joy, who won the ball back from a defender, while Keel/Listry were attempting to clear their lines.
The second half began as the first half finished, with Laune Rangers scoring a few points to stretch their lead. The Keel/Listry boys didn’t give in and responded with a goal and a few points of their own to narrow the gap to 3 points. After 15 minutes of the second half played, Adam O’Neill decisively tucked a penalty into the bottom corner of the net after Jamie Flynn was taken down as he bared down on goal.
A couple of minutes later, James Jones got in on the act, as he forced the ball over the line for Laune Rangers fourth goal, after a long-range effort for a point by Oran O’Sullivan dropped short, causing confusion in the Keel/Listry defence.
With 10 minutes left in the match, Keel/Listry threw everything at Laune Rangers, but some resolute and disciplined defending kept our goals intact.
There were great scenes of joy when the final whistle went, with Laune Rangers ahead by 4-10 to 2-10.
There were superb performances from all of the Laune Rangers players on the day, but the man of the match award, deservedly went to Ciarán Birmingham, who played very well throughout, especially in the last quarter of the match when his team were under immense pressure.
Team captain, Oran O’Sullivan, gave a wonderful speech, after he accepted the Derry O’Sullivan Memorial Shield on behalf of his teammates, and the management group of Shane O’Sullivan, John O’Donnell, Pierce Prendeville, Aiden Spillane, Pat O’Shea and John Griffin.
This was a great way for our older age minors to finish up their underage careers, as they go on to senior football next year.
Laune Rangers: Adam Radny, Patrick O’Donnell, James Jones (1-0), Dylan Flynn, Charlie O’Sullivan, Ciarán Birmingham, Daniel Kelly, Alex Garry, Adam O’Neill (1-3), Colm Evans (1-1) Oran O’Sullivan, John Horgan, Jamie Flynn (1-2), Tomás Joy (0-2), Bryan McKenna (0-2). Subs: Colm O’Shea, Callum Russell, Rian Hogan, Brian Foley, Mikey Hynes, Odhran Foley, Hugh O’Sullivan, Conor Murphy, Charlie Foley
Keel/Listry: Corey Campion, Chris Kelliher, David McCarthy, Lee Crillo, Johnny Sexton, Danny Murphy, Coleman Courtney, Brian Mangan, Ryan Carey, Allyn O’Shea, Killian Fitzgerald, Cillian O’Donoghue, Ryan Costello, James Clifford, Eanna Murphy.Subs: Daire McCarthy, Max Clifford, Páraic Bonner, Keelan Kelliher, Tom O’Dowd, James Spillane, Kyle Benson, Keelin Riordan, James Leslie, Michael Griffin, Conor Flaherty, Fergal Murphy.
Final Result: – Keel/Listry 2-10, Laune Rangers 4-10.
