SKELLIG RANGERS

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP 1St ROUND Skellig Rangers 0-10 Listry 0-9 Skellig Rangers travelled to Glenbeigh on a cold wet day in the opening game of the championship. Skellig Rangers opened the scoring with a 30 yards free by Daragh O Sullivan, Listry responded with a free by Anthony Sweeney leaving it level with 5 minutes played. 3 points in succession by Listry Anthony Sweeney with 2 one from play and one from a free and Ronan Buckley with a 45 left the score 0-4 to 0-1 with 10 minutes played. The game turned in the 13th minute when Skellig Rangers were reduced down to 14 men when Chris O’Driscoll was red carded. A very harsh red card as a man in the stand from Listry said a yellow or black at worse. Skellig got there second score of the game in the 20th minute with another free by Daragh O Sullivan. Listry again tapped over a free by Anthony Sweeney leaving it 0-5 to 0-2 with 7 minutes left before the half time break. Skellig Rangers Bernard Walsh and Ciaran Keating showed great leadership and kept encouraging the players on. Another free by Daragh and Ciaran Keating closed the gap to a single point with 29 minutes played. Just before the half time whistle Shamus Baker made a thundering run up the field and passed the ball off to Michael O Sullivan who scored a superb point with his weaker leg. Skellig went in at half time with great momentum leaving the half time score 0-5 to 0-5. Skellig swapped up things in second half putting Ronan O Shea and John Cap Murphy midfield which proved to work wonders. Skellig Rangers half back line turned over the ball after they lost the throw in and Martin O Sullivan played a magnificent ball into Daragh Sullivan who belted the ball over the bar from 30 yards out with his weaker leg putting Skellig 1 point up. Listry again relied on the ever so accurate Anthony Sweeney to keep the game in the balance with a 25 yard free. Skellig we’re defending in numbers with Shamus O’Sullivan and Stephen O’Sullivan putting in big hits to turn over the ball on numerous occasions. A fantastic point from 45 yards out by Ciaran Keating put Skellig Rangers 1 up with 5 minutes played. Listrys Gary O’Sullivan made a bursting run in from sideline and put the ball over the bar leaving it a level game again. Daragh O Sullivan scored a 40 yard free again for Skellig to put them one up with 13 minutes played. The game was up and down the field all day in an exciting last 15 minutes Listry once again leveled the game when corner foward Derry Ahern scored a point from play. Daragh O Sullivan put skellig one point up with another 30 yard free leaving it 9-8 with 5 minutes remaining. Diarmaid Keating caused Listry trouble all day taking on there backs on numerous occasions and he was awarded with a fine point from play to leave it 10-08 with 3 minutes remaining. Listry broke through the skellig defence in the last 2 minutes there was a goal written all over it only when Gerard Lovie jumped like a hare and threw his body on the line with an unbelievable turn over. Skellig Rangers Diarmaid Keating was awarded his second yellow card and skellig were down to 13 men.The ref played 6 minutes added time wherever he got it. Listry tapped over a free in the 35th minute leaving it a point game. Skellig Rangers won the last kick out when Ronan O Shea leaped up high into the clouds to secure the ball and the ref blew the full time whistle leaving the full time score Skellig Rangers 0-10 Listry 0-9 Skellig Rangers showed great heart and passion when they were reduced to 14 men not one man dropped there head and this is what won them the game.