Templenoe can shade battle with Rangers
COUNTY IFC SEMI-FINAL
Templenoe v Laune Rangers
Saturday, September 23 Fitzgerald Stadium at 3pm Referee: Brendan Griffin
THIS is both clubs second year in the Intermediate ranks however they are here in vastly different circumstances. Templenoe have risen from the depths of Kerry football much like Ardfert a decade ago and only for their neighbours Kenmare Shamrocks in last year’s Intermediate decider could well have replicated the St Brendans side’s double of Junior and Intermediate Championship successes back-to-back.
When Templenoe were winning the Junior in 2015, Laune Rangers were losing their revered senior status in Kerry and the side who the winners on Saturday will face in the decider, An Gaeltacht, felled them at the first hurdle in the Intermediate last year.
The Killorglin side have some improving form thus far in their campaign, a win against Milltown/Castlemaine in a Mid Kerry derby the first day following by a win away to Glenflesk in the Quarter-Finals have brought them here. However they will have to try and overcome a Templenoe side still considered to be in their prime. A win away to Waterville for Templenoe in the First Round was followed by a nervous but ultimately successful win over All-Ireland Junior Club Champions Glenbeigh/Glencar in the Quarter-Finals as the long wait for both for this encounter going back to April is now at an end.
Templenoe didn’t quite impress in Division One this year the way they did in their first year in the top flight but relegation was avoided as Laune Rangers were the ‘best of the rest’ in the Division Three promotion battle. There is a sense Rangers are finding their feet after some tough years but this looks like being a step too far for them this year. Fitzgerald Stadium should lend it itself to an open encounter and with the Kenmare District side seeing more of the venue in recent years than their opponents it makes them the favourites in advance.
Verdict: Templenoe