Laune Rangers finish strong to see off Milltown/Castlemaine in Mid Kerry Junior League
Laune Rangers 2-15, Milltown/Castlemaine 1-12
Laune Rangers produced a superb second-half performance to overcome Milltown/Castlemaine in Round 3 of the Mid Kerry Junior League on Tuesday evening in Killorglin.
Trailing by five points at half-time, the home side rallied to outscore their opponents by 2-11 to 0-3 in a dominant second half to seal a deserved 2-15 to 1-12 victory.
Milltown/Castlemaine had the better of the early stages, striking 1-4 without reply between the 3rd and 8th minutes, with their goal coming in the 6th minute. Laune Rangers responded through a well-taken goal by Colm O’Shea, who finished calmly after a clever pass from his brother Cian.
Despite further points from Rian O’Sullivan and Cian O’Shea, Milltown/Castlemaine remained in control and led by five at the break, although they could have been further ahead but for a point blank save from Conor Buckley late in the period.
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers 1-4, Milltown/Castlemaine 1-9.
The second half saw a complete turnaround. Cian O’Shea converted a free before Colm O’Shea pointed from play, and by the 10th minute of the half, the margin was down to three.
Although Milltown/Castlemaine responded with a couple of points, Rian O’Sullivan added another point for Rangers before Colm O’Shea tapped over a free to cancel out a Milltown/Castlemaine point – the opposition’s final score of the game – to see the visitors lead 1-12 to 1-8 with fifteen minutes remaining.
An excellent two-pointer from play by Cian O’Shea halved the deficit and a well taken score by Morgan O’Sullivan halved it again to leave the minimum between the sides before a second Laune Rangers goal gave the home side a lead they would hold for the rest of the game – Eoin Evans finishing from close range after Cian O’Shea delivered a perfectly weighted pass across the square.
Seán Diggin and Colm O’Shea pointed in quick succession to double the Laune Rangers lead. Cian O’Shea capped a fine display with a late point, bringing his personal tally to 0-6, while Rian O’Sullivan’s third score rounded off a dominant second-half showing.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers 2-15, Milltown/Castlemaine 1-12.
Laune Rangers:- Conor Buckley, Eoin Lynch, James Treacy, Seán O’Donnell, Eoghan Joy, Liam Croke, Gavin O’Shea, Matthew Spillane (0-1), Cillian Buckley, Seán Diggin (0-1), Rian O’Sullivan (0-3), Andrew Owens, Cian O’Shea (0-6, 1f, 1tp), Colm O’Shea (1-3, 1f), Morgan O’Sullivan (0-1). Subs: Gavan Mangan, Eoin Evans (1-0), Cathal Moroney.