LAUNE RANGERS

LOTTO: Lotto Results for Sunday 11th March 2018. There was no winner of the €4,800 jackpot. The numbers drawn were 13, 17, 18, 20. The Consolation Prizes were won by the following: €100 Delores Johnson–standing order; €50 Diarmuid O’Sullivan–standing order; €25 Selina O’Connor–sold by Joan O’Shea; €25 Dave Long–sold by Margaret Browne. Next week’s Lotto Jackpot will be €5,000. SENIOR MEN

The County Senior Football League got underway on Sunday afternoon, with Laune Rangers hosting Annascaul at JP O’Sullivan Park. A goal early in the first half for the visiting side proved the difference at the final whistle, as a depleted Laune Rangers side took the field without a number of key players including John Tyther who failed a late fitness test to join Ronan Sayers & Neil O’Brien on the sideline. Annascaul pointed a free through Alan Falvey in the opening minutes, before Colm O’Shea (free) and David Costelloe pointed to give Rangers the lead. However, a 10th minute goal by Annascaul full forward Brian Kennedy regained the lead for the visitors. Alan Falvey and John O’Shea exchanged points before Fionn Coakley pointed a well taken score for Annascaul to give the away side a 1-3 to 0-3 lead after 15 minutes. Points by John O’Shea, Shane Mangan and Cian O’Shea levelled the scores during the second quarter, but an Alan Falvey free put Annascaul into the lead before the break. The visitors could havE had a more imposing lead at the turnaround but for two excellent saves by Rangers goalkeeper Jason Browne. Half Time:- Laune Rangers 0-6, Annascaul 1-4. Laune Rangers made two substitutions during the break, with Dáire Cleary coming on for his second appearance for the Seniors and Sean Arthurs making his Senior debut. Annascaul outscored Rangers by 0-3 to 0-1 in the third quarter — Alan Falvey (2, 1 free) & Andrew Finn for the visitors and David Costelloe for Rangers — to see Annascaul lead by 1-7 to 0-7 with 15 minutes to play. Daragh O’Connor was handed his Senior debut early in the second half to join fellow Minors Cleary & Arthurs on the field. A James Scanlon point was soon cancelled out by debutant Daragh O’Connor, before a stunning effort by David Costelloe rattled the crossbar to deny him an equalizing goal. Chris Riordan pointed for Rangers, but Eamon Hickson and Brian Kennedy gave Annascaul the insurance points in injury time. Another late goal chance for David Costelloe was denied by Tommy Pierce in the Annascaul goal, before Costelloe pointed the last score of the game. Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers 0-10, Annascaul 1-10.

It was a disappointing start to the County League for Rangers, as they had to make do without a number of key players. Annascaul, for their part, were excellent on the day. The Hickson brothers were their usual dependable selves, as Alan Falvey took his scores well and Cathal Ferriter was dangerous throughout. Rangers won’t have to look far for silver lining in this particular dark cloud. With 9 starting players under the age of 25 and three youngsters coming off the bench, it was the youngest Rangers outfit to take the field in years. Johnny Carey & Kieran Crowley — the only two over 30s on the team — provided much needed experience, while Sean Arthurs settled into the pressures Senior defending with ease. The game gave more Senior experience to Dáire Cleary, while Daragh O’Connor also looked very comfortable in his first taste of Senior football. Best for Rangers was Jack O’Connor, who filled in at midfield on the late withdrawal of John Tyther.

FIXTURE: Laune Rangers will play Glenbeigh/Glencar in the Mid Kerry League in Glenbeigh on St Patricks Day at 11:30am. SENIOR LADIES

The County Senior Ladies League got underway on Sunday morning, with a home game versus Killarney Legion played in Cloon. Laune Rangers began brightly, and were ahead by 2-5 to 0-1 at the midway stage of the first half, as Alanna O’Sullivan (1-1), Ciara O’Brien (1-0) and Nicole Moriarty (0-3) all scored with goalkeeper Claire Fealey, Laura Brennan and Ava Griffin solid at the back. Kayleigh McGlashan, Rachael Evans and Ciara O’Brien provided an excellent link between defence and attack. Alanna O’Sullivan (2) and Nicole Moriarty added further scores for Rangers before Legion came back into the game — the visitors scoring 4 points before the break, with Emma Cronin notching another for Rangers. Half Time Score: Laune Rangers 2-9, Legion 0-5. By the halfway point of the second half, Legion were right back into the game, as they scored two goals soon after the resumption of play. They also added a point, but this was cancelled out by a Ciara O’Brien point following a good team move. Points were again traded between the sides with Nessa Healy scoring for Rangers, before a third Legion goal put just a point between the sides with five minutes to play. Legion now had all the momentum and pointed twice in quick succession to take their first lead of the game with time running out. However, Rachael Evans got her name on the scoresheet (deservedly following a big effort in midfield) to tie the game up with what proved to be the final kick of the game. Laune Rangers 2-12, Legion 3-9 MINOR:

Laune Rangers picked up their first win of the season against Kilgarvan/Tousist on Saturday in the County Minor League Division 1 at JP O’Sullivan Park. Playing into a stiff breeze in the first half, Laune Rangers got off to a solid start and were three points to the good after six minutes — Dáire Cleary, Daragh O’Connor and Kevin Fitzpatrick notching the scores. However, the visitors grew into the game and made full use of the breeze at their backs, scoring five points and a well taken goal during the first quarter. A solitary Dáire Cleary free was added for Rangers in the same period to see Kilgarvan/Tousist lead by 1-5 to 0-4 after 15 minutes. The visitors increased their lead to six points by the 20th minute as Shane Doona added a point for Rangers, before Laune Rangers got back into the game with their first goal — James Hurley with some great work out of defence, linking up with Mark O’Connor who in turn fed the ball across the square to Ronan O’Shea to tap it in to the net. Kilgarvan/Tousist wasted no time in striking the net again themselves with another cool finish, while Laune Rangers outscored the South Kerry side by 0-3 to 0-2 in the remainder in the half (Dáire Cleary, Shane Doona & Eoin Clifford for Rangers) to see the sides head for the dressing rooms at the break with the Half Time Score: Laune Rangers 1-9, Kilgarvan/Tousist 2-10.

The visitors kicked the first point of the second half, but Rangers reduced the gap to two points with their second goal — Dáire Cleary’s shot ricocheting off the opposition goalkeeper only for Eoin Clifford to tap in the rebound. Cleary cancelled out a pointed free for the visitors with a point of his own from play. Kilgarvan/Tousist scored their third goal in the 42nd minute and added a point soon after to lead by 3-13 to 2-10 with fifteen minutes to play. Although they were six points behind, Rangers still had the breeze at their backs and refused to let their heads drop. Dáire Cleary and Shane Doona (free) pointed before the home side scored their third goal — Ronan O’Shea applying a cool finish. Following another point for the visitors, Rangers scored their fourth goal from the penalty spot — substitute Gearóid Hassett hauled down in the square and Dáire Cleary dispatching the spot kick to the net to give Laune Rangers the lead. Daragh O’Connor & Ronan O’Shea added points to leave a goal between the sides, but Kilgarvan/Tousist were unable to get the ball to the opposite end of the field due to the work rate of the Rangers middle eight. A great interception by Rory O’Connor won possession back before the home side worked forward and found Shane Doona who finished off a fine performance with a fifth goal for Rangers to ensure the win. Final Score:- Laune Rangers 5-14, Kilgarvan/ Tousist 3-14. 2017 All Ireland Minor winner Donal O’Sullivan was simply immense for Kilgarvan/Tousist and showed form that would give any Senior defender in the county nightmares. However, Rangers showed great team spirit and outscored the visitors by 2-4 to 0-1 in the final quarter. Sean Arthurs, & James Hurley provided physicality at the back, while Dáire Cleary, Ronan O’Shea and Shane Doona were lethal at the front (combining for 4-10). However, the O’Connor brothers Rory & Daragh linked up well time and again with big brother Daragh in particular standing out for Rangers.

MINOR FIXTURE: Laune Rangers travel to Lewis Road to play Dr Crokes in the County Minor League Division One. The game will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, March 19th at 4pm. UNDER 14 GIRLS: Laune Rangers U14 Girls kicked off their 2018 season with a challenge game against Beaufort on Sunday 11th in the Dragons Den. Mild temperatures and a fine spring day were welcome by all. Rangers started the game strongly and built up a big lead that Beaufort couldn’t pull back. Last year’s u12’s, who were now stepping up to the bigger pitch, played their hearts out and combined well with the more experienced U14’s. From midfield up, the Ranger girls attacked all day, with no less than 8 of the girls getting on the score sheet. Laune Rangers: Lucy Cahill, Leona Scannell, Jade Costello, Grace Garland , Eabha Dolan, Shauna Broderick, Siofra Foley, Isabella Sheehan, Laura Leslie, Sara Leslie, Orla O’Brien, Sophia Doherty, Aoife Cleary, Edel Griffin, Ella Foley, Aine Nash, Grainne Jones. MEMBERSHIP: Laune Rangers membership for 2018 is now open. Membership can be paid to either of our registrars Larry Laide, Pat O’Shea & Selina O’Connor (Ladies Registrar). The registrars will be available at all of our Nursery training sessions once they return, and registration will be taken at our home games from the beginning of the season. AWARDS NIGHT: Laune Rangers hosted its annual Awards night for underage players on Friday, March 9th in the CYMS Hall. Medals were presented to all teams that won competitions in 2017 — Boys U12, U14, U16 & Minor; Girls U12s, U14s & U15.