Mid Kerry League Final
Laune Rangers 2-23, Beaufort 2-17
By Aidan Clifford
Laune Rangers bridged a 14 year gap on Sunday afternoon as they claimed the Mid Kerry Securities sponsored Mid Kerry Senior League title for the first time since 2011 with victory over Beaufort in Paddy Burke Memorial Park in Milltown.
Played in glorious Spring sunshine, Laune Rangers were quickest off the blocks, with Shane Daly & Gearóid Hassett pointing to open the scoring. However, Beaufort quickly levelled with Jack O’Connor scoring an excellent two-pointer.
Gearóid Hassett & John Tyther (free) restored the Laune Rangers lead, and Tyther struck for the first goal of the game in the 7th minute.
John Tyther added a free but Beaufort struck back, as Seán Coffey buried a shot to the net to halve his side’s deficit. Laune Rangers had a goal disallowed as Gearóid Hassett’s palmed effort was adjudged to have been pushed into the net rather than struck. John Tyther & Fergal Hallissey exchanged pointed frees before Laune Rangers struck for their second goal – Darragh Clifford with the finish after a great team move – leaving Laune Rangers ahead by 2-6 to 1-3 with fifteen minutes played.
Niall Carey & Jack O’Connor pointed before O’Connor struck a two point free for Beaufort. Laune Rangers saw another goal disallowed as goalkeeper Mike Moriarty was collided with before the ball crossed the line. Stephen Gannon pointed twice before Niall Carey slotted his second of the game, while Darragh Clifford ended the half with a well taken point for Rangers.
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers 2-9, Beaufort 1-8.
A Gearóid Hassett shot forced a discussion between the referee and his umpires before he was awarded the first point of the second half, but there was no doubt about his next point less than a minute later as it split the posts.
Fergal Hallissey pointed a free but it was a temporary retort, as Laune Rangers stretched ahead with points by Stephen Gannon, Darragh Clifford (3), a two point free from John Tyther and one from play by the latter. With fifteen minutes remaining, Laune Rangers led by 2-18 to 1-9.
As Laune Rangers rang the changes, Beaufort began to claw back the huge lead set by Rangers with the help of a couple of two point frees by Fergal Hallissey, although John Tyther & Cian O’Shea pointed at the other end in between those scores.
Fergal Hallissey continued to almost single-handedly reel in Rangers with another pointed free although Gavin O’Shea & Gearóid Hassett pointed for the Laune in response. Hallissey nailed another two point free before scoring his side’s second goal – a rocket from the edge of the square to the top corner of the net.
Beaufort sensed the most unlikely of comebacks, and Hallissey pointed again from play. However, Laune Rangers still had enough to see the game out and John Tyther pointed a free to restore a six point lead. A late black card to Joshua Coffey proved to be the games final act as Laune Rangers ended Beaufort’s long reign as Mid Kerry League Champions.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers 2-23, Beaufort 2-17.
After the game, Stephen Gannon was presented with the official Man of the Match trophy by Mid Kerry Board representative John Joe Harmon, before Eileen Roche presented the Dermot Twiss Memorial Cup to Laune Rangers co-captains Dáire Cleary & Oisín Daly.
Laune Rangers:- Jason Browne, Oisín Daly (jt capt), Killian Spillane, Seán Arthurs, Niall T O’Brien, Eoin Clifford, Ciarán O’Sullivan, Shane Daly (0-1), Stephen Sealy, John Tyther (1-8, 4f, 1tpf), Gearóid Hassett (0-5), Calum Moriarty, Darragh Clifford (1-4), Dáire Cleary (jt capt), Stephen Gannon (0-3). Subs: Cian O’Shea (0-1) for Moriarty, Ryan Diggin for Arthurs, James Treacy for E Clifford, Gavin O’Shea (0-1) for Cleary, Adam Carey for Browne.
Beaufort:- Mike Moriarty, Ryan Sweeney, Ger Hartnett, Liam Curran, Kieran O’Sullivan, Seán Kelliher, Rory Breen, Fergal Hallissey (1-10, 3f, 3tpf), Mark Neary, Niall Carey (0-2), Joshua Coffey, Eoin O’Hagan, Seán Coffey (1-0), Jack O’Connor (0-5,1f, 1tp, 1tpf) Mikey Moriarty. Subs: Jeremiah O’Sullivan, Padraig Doona
Referee: Connie O’Connor (Glenbeigh/Glencar)