Laune Rangers claim county U-16 title in style

LAUNE Rangers were crowned County U-16 champions in Fitzgerald Stadium after a 11-point win in a superb final.

Cordal/Scart dominated the early stages and Sean Horan, who was magnificent in midfield, claimed a 20 minute hat-trick of goals of put them 3-2 to 0-6 ahead. Joe Sheehy and Sean’s twin Eddie (free) were also on the scoreboard but Laune Rangers were still well in the game and playing very impressive team football despite losing out in the middle third.

Darragh O’Connor had opened their account with Mark O’Connor, Roan Moriarty, and Shane Doona also firing over. Daire Cleary at centre forward was superb as a playmaker and picked off two points.

Late in the first half, their tactical changes began to pay off as Cleary swung over another free before Shane Doona set up target man Roan Moriarty for his first goal. Daire Cleary pointed another free and won a penalty expertly despatched by Moriarty, and Shane Doona added another within a minute for a dramatic turnaround.

Mark O’Donoghue hitthe last score of the half for Scart/Cordal. Despite their dominance for much of the half, it was Laune Rangers who led by 3-9 to 3-3 at the break.

Laune Rangers almost goaled again on the restart through Darragh O’Connor but Conor Mitchell saved well. Instead it was Scart/ Cordal who picked off three points through Eddie Horan (f), Shay Walsh (f) and Adam Fallon to narrow the gap. Ronan O’Shea and Roan Moriarty replied for Rangers With ten minutes left it was 3-11 to 3-6. Scart/Cordal cut the gap through Shay Walsh (2f) and Sean Horan, butLaune Rangers finished very strongly, especially midfielder Eoin O’Sullivan, and goals from Roan Moriarty and Gearoid Hassett sealed victory despite a brilliant late goal from Shay Walsh.

Scart/Cordal have a great team, and a lot of these names will come to prominence again, but Laune Rangers really looked like masters of their craft when they ignited, and the coaching by James Sheehan, John Sheehan, Pa Sheehan, and Tim Cronin really showed on the field.