Win for Rangers
Laune Rangers Minors opened their season with a hard-fought win in Lewis Road against Dr Crokes in ideal conditions on Saturday evening. There was very little to separate the sides which led to extra time and then penalties. These young minors are playing U18 this year due to the change in age structure within Kerry GAA.
Referee Gary Kissane got the game under way and John Horgan opened with Laune Rangers first point. Dr Crokes full forward kicked a point from play to open Dr Crokes account for the afternoon. Ciarán Birmingham assisted keeper Adam Radny with a Crokes attack, Crokes then scored a free. Laune Rangers forwards Colm Evans, Jamie Flynn and Adam O’Neill added points for the visiting side and Kasper Robak responded for Crokes. Aaron Doyle fielded a Crokes kickout and with a quick pass to Ned O’Grady added another point. John Horgan, Charlie O’Sullivan and Adam O’Neill added further points and Crokes kicked two.
Half Time: Dr Crokes 0-6, Laune Rangers 0-8
Dr Crokes opened the scoring in second half with a converted free, Adam O’Neill kept Laune Rangers score ticking over. Dr Crokes then kicked a free and two points from play to go ahead by 1. Adam converted a free to level the game again. Oran O’Sullivan won the ball from Crokes kickout and worked to Colm Evans, then to Jamie Flynn who had his shot on goal saved. Adam O’Neill then kicked two further frees and Charlie pointed from play. With seconds remaining, Dr Crokes won a free, and the men from the Laune lined the goals – the free was saved but Dr Crokes quicker to the rebound found the back of the net to send game to extra time.
Full Time: Dr Crokes 1-10, Laune Rangers 0-13
1st Period Extra time: Both teams exchanged points, Dr Crokes then added another point. Dr Crokes were searching for goals, and they found it difficult to penetrate Laune Rangers defence with Dylan Flynn coming his sides aid with a great save on the goal line and goalkeeper Adam Radny punched another goal shot over the crossbar.
Half Time ET: Dr Crokes 1-14 (17), 0-14 (14)
2nd Period ET commenced with Colm Evans (free) and Adam O’Neill (play) reducing Dr Crokes lead, Adam levelled the game with another point from play and Colm Evans found the back of Dr Crokes net. Laune Rangers were ahead by 3, Kacper Robek then kicked a two-pointer free from the ground and Dr Crokes kicked another point to level the game.
Full Time ET: Dr Crokes 1-17 (20), Laune Rangers 1-17(20)
So it was penalties to separate the sides, with Laune Rangers first penalty going just wide and Dr Crokes scored their first, Laune Rangers scored their second and third penalties, Crokes second penalty hit the cross bar and Adam Radny saved the third, then Laune Rangers and Dr Crokes both scored their fourth penalty, Aaron Doyle stepped up to take Laune Rangers fifth penalty and coolly slotted into back of Crokes net.
Panel: Adam Radny, Daniel Kelly, Ciarán Birmingham, Dylan Flynn, Charlie O’Sullivan, Aaron Doyle, James Jones, Liam O’Connell, Colm Evans, Patrick O’Donnell, Adam O’Neill, Oran O’Sullivan, Jamie Flynn, John Horgan, Ned O’Grady, Mikey Hynes, Hugh O’Sullivan, Conor Murphy, Callum Russell, Bryan McKenna, Conor Sheehan, Rian Hogan, Colm O’Shea, Alex Garry, Tomás Joy, Conor West and Pat Costello.
Management Team: John Sheehan, Glen Evans, Kevin Flynn, Maurice Foley, Fergus Riordan, Paul Sheehan and Billy O’Sullivan.