Minor crown for Laune Ragners
MID KERRY MINOR FC FINAL
Laune Rangers 2-13 Glenbeigh/Glencar/ Cromane 0-5
LAUNE Rangers have retained their Mid Kerry Minor title following victory over Glenbeigh / Glencar / Cromane (GGC) in the final, which was played in Keel on Saturday.
The first half was played in difficult conditions, with a strong breeze favouring GGC and a heavy shower of hail making it difficult to play open football. Laune Rangers led by 0-2 to 0-1 after 15 minutes, as Dáire Cleary and Shane Doona scored for the Killorglin side – the latter score a fine effort from the right flank by Doona. Meanwhile, a well taken point by corner back Ethan Griffin was GGC’s solitary score in the opening quarter.
Tommy Quirke kicked an excellent point to level matters, and GGC took the lead with a Dara Casey pointed free from distance. Their lead did not last long, however, as Shane Doona replicated his earlier score with another super point in the 29th minute. Rangers regained the lead before the break, as Ronan O’Shea tapped the ball over for a point. Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers 0-4, Glenbeigh / Glencar / Cromane 0-3.
The sides re-emerged from the dressing rooms to completely different conditions for the second period, as the wind had almost completely died down and the sun was out.
Rangers took full advantage of the ease in the weather in the third quarter to put their stamp on this final. Mark O’Connor doubled Rangers’ lead with the opening point of the second half, but Dara Casey tapped over a free to reduce the deficit to the minimum again.
Shane Doona knocked over a point for Rangers before scoring the game’s first goal to give Rangers a little breathing room – Ronan O’Shea delivering a super pass to Doona who applied a cool finish.
Dáire Cleary added an excellent point from the narrowest of angles before Rangers’ second goal came in the 12th minute – Shane Doona again with a fantastic finish, with Roan Moriarty providing the defence splitting pass this time. GGC captain Oisín O’Connor scored his team’s opening point of the second half, but with 15 minutes to play, Laune Rangers now led by 2-7 to 0-5.
GGC did not score in the final quarter, but that was in a large part down to some excellent defending by the backs as Seán Arthurs, David Mangan & Conor Murphy in particular standing defiant.
At the other end, Rangers had kicked into gear and scored some great scores in the final minutes of the game. Shane Doona added a point to bring his tally to 2-4 for the day, while Dáire Cleary pointed a free and Roan Moriarty kicked a well deserved point for his efforts on the day.
Mark O’Connor (free) and Ronan O’Shea (2) added points in the final stages before the final whistle was blown. Full Time score: Laune Rangers 2-13, Glenbeigh / Glencar / Cromane 0-5.
The low scoring first half wasn’t the finest spectacle to watch, but it was understandable considering the abhorrent weather conditions. However, Rangers put on a fantastic showing in the third quarter that was worth the wait.
Séan Arthurs and Conor Murphy showed their Senior experience with a rock solid display at the back, while Roan Moriarty excelled in the middle of the field. Ronan O’Shea and Mark O’Connor both put in energetic and industrious displays, but the stand out performance was a unanimous choice.
Shane Doona’s tally of 2-4 were all super scores and he was the difference between the teams when it mattered.
Vice Chairman of the Mid Kerry Board Tim Coffey acted on behalf of competition sponsors Keane’s Supervalu Killorglin and presented Shane Doona with the Man of the Match Award.
Laune Rangers captain Daragh O’Connor was presented with the Derry O’Sullivan Memorial Shield by Mid Kerry Board Chairman Mike Sayers.
LAUNE RANGERS: Jack Evans, Seán Cleary, Seán Arthurs, Evan Madden, Daragh O’Connor (capt), David Mangan, Eoin Clifford, Conor Murphy, Roan Moriarty (0-1), Ronan O’Shea (0-3), Matthew Leslie, Shane Doona (2-4), Mark O’Connor (0-2, 1f), Dáire Cleary (0-3, 2f), Gearóid Hassett Subs: Eoin O’Sullivan for Leslie, James Hurley for S Cleary, Oisín Daly for Madden, Rory O’Connor for Clifford, Gabriel Griffin for D Cleary
GLENBEIGH/GLENCAR/CROMANE:- Daniel Kelly, Brice Dourieu, Kieran O’Sullivan, Ethan Griffin (0-1), Sean T Sheehan, Oisín O’Connor (capt, 0-1), Conor Sugrue, Dara Casey (0-2f), Liam Smith, Liam Roche, Tommy Quirke (0-1), Cathal Crosby, Gearóid Griffin, Darragh McKeefrey, Jack Clifford Subs: Éanna Healy for Jack Clifford, Jason Clifford for Griffin