Glenbeigh/ Glencar regain Mid Kerry title as Rangers wait goes on

Glenbeigh / Glencar 0-17 Laune Rangers 1-12

AN entertaining affair last Sunday as Laune Rangers came very close to ending their twelve-year wait for a Mid Kerry title.

However, in the end Glenbeigh / Glencar’s more experienced heads held true in the club winning their fourth district honour this decade. They might not have wanted to wait until the final minute of normal time to go ahead for the first time, but with Darran O’Sullivan and Tommy Cahill able to find their way to scores that swung the contest in their favour, they showed great perseverance to see off the home side’s youthful energy.

Anyone that thought Rangers’ win over holders Beaufort in the semi-final was a matter of good fortune certainly got plenty to make them think again with how they dictated the contest in the first period.

Three points in the opening four minutes, the third coming from Peter Crowley got them going as even though Glenbeigh / Glencar were level by the eighth minute another run of successive scores by the hosts, this time a total of four points had them in a very strong position approaching the final 10 minutes of the half at 0-7 to 0-3.

Fiachra Clifford and Daire Cleary were really catching the eye with their ability to trouble the Glenbeigh / Glencar defence and it was no surprise they were the players involved in Laune Rangers’ goal.

With Cahill having left a point between the sides approaching the 29th minute, matters appeared finely poised as a fast break down field saw Cleary find Clifford for a perfect pass as the Kerry Under 20 finished well for a goal that had the hosts 1-8 to 0-7 to the good.

Glenbeigh / Glencar’s response was strong however, Kieran Courtney and Darran O’Sullivan registering points before the half-time whistle, the latter possibly in need a view from ‘Hawkeye’, but the half-time score was now 1-8 to 0-9.

Clifford and Costelloe gave them Laune Rangers their fourpoint lead back after the break, but Glenbeigh / Glencar’s first point of the second period in the 35th minute was a setback more than Jack Brosnan raising a white flag.

Peter Crowley tried to stop the wing-back’s foray forward but injured himself in the process and though he continued until the final minute of normal time, Crowley had little effect on the rest of the contest.

Scoreboard wise the goal was still separating the sides, but more belief appeared to be gathering in the visiting ranks. At the three-quarter mark it was 1-11 to 0-11, but three minutes later came a schmozzle that had certainly aided the eventual victors.

Laune Rangers captain Johnny Carey had a big hit on Cahill, which drew Glenbeigh / Glencar’s ire. A coming together resulted which saw players from both sides involved and when matters calmed down, no action was taken by referee Eddie Walsh despite matters getting rather heated.

A free from Darran O’Sullivan in the 52nd minute made it a twopoint game as Laune Rangers defender Seán Arthurs had to make a big clearance soon after as a fine free from Shane Daly in the 54th minute proved to the hosts last score.

O’Sullivan was coming to the fore when it mattered however as a brace of points with a Daniel Griffin effort sandwiched in between had the game level at 0-15 to 1-12 after 58 minutes.

Rangers were very much in survival mode at this point as a goalmouth scramble appeared to have been averted only for a free to be awarded against them for which Cahill slotted over for the lead for Glenbeigh / Glencar for the very first time.

His sixth point made sure of it in the third minute of injury time as their opponents failed to get a significant chance to salvage matters before the final whistle.

Of Glenbeigh / Glencar’s four titles this decade this is the third one that they have beaten Laune Rangers in the final as they prepare for life under new management now with Aidan O’Shea stepping away from the role.

We might have got a glimpse of a more promising future for Laune Rangers, however, with some of their underage success starting to move up to senior level. Experiences like last Sunday will smarten a lot of their younger contingent on what is needed to win at this level.

GLENBEIGH/GLENCAR: Donal O’Neill; Seán Roche, Ciaran Doyle, Oisín O’Connor; Jack Brosnan (0-1), Pa Kilkenny, Seán O’Sullivan; Colin McGuillicuddy (0-1), Fergal Griffin (0-1); Adrian O’Connor, Caoilm Teahan, Tommy Cahill (0-6, 2f), Kieran Courtney (0-1), Daniel Griffin (0-2), Darran O’Sullivan (0-5, 1f) Subs: Dara Casey for Adrian O’Connor, Shane Riordan for Roche, Jason McKenna for Stephen O’Sullivan and Caoilte Purcell

for Fergal Griffin

LAUNE RANGERS: Jason Browne; Seán Arthurs, Jonathon Carey, Cormac Johnston; Patrick Carey, Peter Crowley (0-1), Michael O’Sullivan; Jack O’Connor, John Tyther (0-1); Fiachra Clifford (1-5, 4f), Kieran Donna, Conor Murphy; Daire Cleary, Colm O’Shea (0-3, 2f), David Costelloe (0-1) Subs: Shane Daly (0-1, 1f) for O’Shea, Darragh O’Connor for Doona, Pierce Tyther for Crowley and Patrick Daly for Murphy

REFEREE: Eddie Walsh (Rathmore)