Laune Rangers Senior B Fall Short Against Strong Gneeveguilla Side
Laune Rangers Senior B team travelled to Gneeveguilla on Sunday afternoon in search of back-to-back wins, but it wasn’t to be as they came up short ag
ainst a strengthened Gneeveguilla B side.
With several regulars absent due to holidays and Gneeveguilla benefiting from the addition of first-team players—owing to their senior fixture not taking place—the home side started strongly. They racked up four points (three from play) in the opening five minutes before Cian O’Shea got Laune Rangers off the mark with a well-taken free.
Gneeveguilla set a high tempo and applied intense pressure on the Laune Rangers defence, forcing goalkeeper Conor Buckley into multiple key saves in the first half. Despite the pressure, Laune Rangers responded well. Colm O’Shea converted a free, and Jack Healy added an excellent 2 pointer from play. Buckley was called into action again soon after, pulling off another impressive save to keep his side in the game.
A well-worked team move, starting from full back James Treacy, led to another point from play by Colm O’Shea, who also slotted over another free soon after. Andrew Owens chipped in with a fine point from play, and Laune Rangers found themselves two points to the good.
However, Gneeveguilla finished the half strongly, notching a point and a crucial two-pointer to edge ahead by one at the break.
Half-Time: Gneeveguilla B 0-8, Laune Rangers B 0-7
Cian O’Shea opened the second half brightly for Laune Rangers with a point from play, but Gneeveguilla responded emphatically with a scoring burst of 1-5 without reply. While the visitors carved out several goal-scoring opportunities, they were denied time and again by the Gneeveguilla goalkeeper.
Cian O’Shea kept Laune Rangers in contention with a converted free, before both sides exchanged well-taken points from play—Colm O’Shea on target for Laune Rangers. Cian added another free before his brother Colm raised hopes with a goal, narrowing the deficit to seven points.
However, that was as close as Laune Rangers would get. Gneeveguilla added a further point, and while the Rangers tacked on another free, the hosts maintained a firm grip on the game.
Full-Time: Gneeveguilla B 1-19 (22), Laune Rangers B 1-12 (15).
A big thank you to Gneeveguilla GAA for their warm hospitality—it was a lovely gesture to invite players and management in for tea and sandwiches after the match
Panel: Conor Buckley, Devin Hogan, James Treacy, Sean O’Donnell, Cillian Foley, Rory O’Connor, Joe O’Neill, Rían O’Sullivan, Tom Garry, Jack Healy, Eoghan Joy, Cian O’Shea, Colm O’Shea, Morgan O’Sullivan, Andrew Owens, Adam Carey, Cillian Buckley, Cathal Moroney, Matt Spillane, Seanie Diggin, Eoin Evans.
Next weekend, the team welcome Dr Crokes B team to JP O’Sullivan Park, fixture information will be confirmed on social media and website.