The Laune Rangers Blue team got their season underway with an away trip to Na Gaeil in Tralee in the Central Regional League.
Conditions were slippery as an early shower of rain made conditions challenging.
This was the first competitive game under the new rules and both teams and match referee did a great job adjusting to the new rules.
Rangers had the better start with 2 early points from Darragh O’Sullivan. However Na Gaeil responded with a well taken goal and followed this up with a point. Following a good kickout from Fionán Naughton, the ball was worked up by Pat Costello who found David O’Shea who passed it to Liam O”Shea to get the next point of the game.
Na Gaeil responded with scoring the next 3 points, however a well taken score by Kieran Patton after good support play from Conor Murphy kept the scoreboard ticking over.
The game went back and forth between the 2 teams, as they were evenly matched. However Donnacha Prenderville and Cormac Sweeney added their names to the score sheet with a point each. Kieran Patton added another point a few minutes before half time. Na Gaeil looked to put Rangers under pressure but great work and team play by Luke McGillycuddy, Charlie Foley and Eugene Mulligan kept the Na Gaeil chances to a minimum. Daragh McKenna added another well taken point.
As half time approached, Na Gaeil managed one more point to leave the score at half time Rangers 0:08 / Na Gaeil 1:05.
Laune Rangers came out for the second half hungrier and a well taken goal by Hugh O’Sullivan settled the team into the second half. Great work by Fionnan O’Connor, Henry Whittleton and Jack Buckley kept the ball down in the Na Gaeil side of the field. Mikey Hynes added a point to the Rangers tally. Laune Rangers seemed to be first to every ball in the second half, however Na Gaeil always worked hard throughout the game.
5 more points were scored by Rangers and the team were well into their stride with a goal each for Hugh O’Sullivan, Cormac Sweeney and Conor Murphy confirming the result. Laune Rangers showed great effort throughout the game with all players showing for the ball and putting in some good work off the ball.
It was a win for Laune Rangers away from home on the night with a some great football played by both teams.