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Intermediate Championship:
Milltown/Castlemaine 0-10, Laune Rangers 1-13
Laune Rangers delivered a fantastic performance in Paddy Burke Memorial Park on Easter Sunday to defeat rivals Milltown/Castlemaine in Round 1 of the County Intermediate Championship. Laune Rangers were bolstered by the return of Peter Crowley, making his first appearance of 2017 in the royal blue.
Laune Rangers took an early lead as Jack O’Connor pointed his side ahead on their first attack, and Colm O’Shea kicked a super point from distance soon after. The visitors continued to press on for the remainder of the early stages with O’Shea (2 frees) & Connor Clarke (2) adding to Rangers tally with excellent scores, as two Cathal Moriarty frees provided the response for the hosts leaving Laune Rangers leading by 0-6 to 0-2 with a quarter played.
Cathal Moriarty pointed another free for the home side, before Laune Rangers scored four unanswered points to increase their lead – Shane McSweeney & John Sheehan deciding against goal attempts to take good points while Colm O’Shea (free) and Connor Clarke added to their individual tallies with excellent scores from distance.
Laune Rangers had a goal disallowed in injury time as David Costelloe’s hand was adjudged to have made contact with the ball on the ground before he tapped it into the net.
This gave the hosts some impetus and they tagged on two points later in injury time through David Roche and Jonathan O’Sullivan – Roche’s effort the sole score from play the home side could muster in the opening half as Rangers defence dominated. Milltown had one chance on goal in the half but Tony Lyons gave Cathal Moriarty no sight at goal from an acute angle and saved a bullet of a shot with help from Ronan Sayers. Half Time Score:- Milltown/Castlemaine 0-5, Laune Rangers 0-10.
Milltown/Castlemaine introduced Mike Burke & Donal Kelliher at Half Time in an effort to nullify John Sheehan & Shane McSweeney’s dominance at midfield. Rangers introduced Kerry Minor player Fiachra Clifford for his Senior debut at the interval also.
Laune Rangers got the perfect start to the half as Colm O’Shea dropped the ball into the edge of the square to Connor Clarke, breaking the ball to John Tyther who finished to the net for a goal. Clarke followed this up with his fourth point of the game to put Rangers nine ahead.
Colm O’Shea & Jonathan O’Sullivan traded frees before O’Sullivan & Moriarty added two more frees for the hosts to leave Laune Rangers leading by 1-12 to 0-8 with a quarter to play – the first O’Shea free coming from a foul on Kieran Crowley who was hauled down after a great run up from the back.
Laune Rangers closed up shop for the final quarter, with a mammoth defensive effort put in by all, including a superb performance at midfield from John Sheehan against his career-long rival Mike Burke. No further score would come until the 57th minute, and then it was Laune Rangers corner forward David Costelloe who pointed from an acute angle for a well deserved score for his efforts.
Cathal Moriarty added a free for Milltown/Castlemaine before Pa Wrenn scored his side’s final point – only their second from play in the game. After seven additional minutes at the end of the second half, the final whistle was blown to see Laune Rangers progress to the Quarter Final of the Intermediate Championship.
Full Time Score:- Milltown/Castlemaine 0-10, Laune Rangers 1-13.
Laune Rangers play the winner of Glenflesk vs Brosna in the Quarter Final of the Intermediate Championship.
Milltown/Castlemaine- kindly sponsored by Kelly’s Londis- Top Shop and Larkins Bar and Restaurant lined out as follows: Cormac Leane, Jono O’Connor, Damien Murphy, Stephen Roche, Gavin McKenna, Gavin Horan, Nigel Wrenn, David Roche (0-1), Pa Wrenn (0-1), Jeremiah Hayes, Shane Murphy, Seamus Dowd, Cathal Moriarty (0-5), Jonathan O’Sullivan (0-2), Jerome Flynn. Subs: Donal Kelliher, Mike Burke, Jack McCarthy (0-1), John Blennerhassett, Derek Twiss, Ciarán O’Connor.
Laune Rangers: Tony Lyons, Aidan Cox, Johnny Carey, Ronan Sayers, Neil O’Brien, Peter Crowley, Kieran Crowley, John Sheehan, Shane McSweeney, Colm O’Shea (0-5), Jack O’Connor (0-1), John Tyther (1-0), David Costelloe (0-1), Connor Clarke (0-4), Patrick Carey. Subs: Ryan Keane, Fiachra Clifford, Mike F Russell, Padraig Murphy, Michael O’Sullivan.
Our Lotto Jackpot Draw for €14,000 takes place in Knightlys Bar, Castlemaine – on Friday next, April 21st. Match 3 is €650. We will also have our 6 regular consolation prizes.
So why not purchase a ticket or two at any of the local businesses and try your luck. It could be you!
Under 16’s:
Well done to the Milltown/Castlemaine GAA U.16 team who had a good win over Glenbeigh/Glencar/Cromane -2.13 to 1.10, in the Central League.
Under 12’s:
Our Under 12’s are at home to John Mitchels on Sunday April 23rd at 6 pm.Please go along and support them.
Under 14’s:
Our Under 14’s are away to an Ghaeltacht on Wednesday April 26th with a 7 pm start. Head on back west and spot the team and mentors.
Under 10’s:
All the Under 10 players are looking forward to their annual Blitz in John Mitchels next Thursday -April 20th, at 2 pm. They will play three games against Ballymac, Glenflesk and John Mitchels. Please head along there and give the players and mentors your support.
Easter Egg Winners:
Congratulations to the 15 boys and girls who were the lucky winners in our Easter Egg raffle. We hope you enjoyed your delicious prize!
Skills Competition:
Congratulations to Conor Spillane, Declan O’ Connor and Shane O’ Connor who won the Mid Kerry Skills Competition during the week qualifying for the County Finals on the coming weeks. Well done boys and to your coaches and mentors.
Minors :
The game versus Glenbeigh Glencar Cromane will be replayed on Tuesday next at 7 pm.
The game was stopped on Wednesday evening last, due to a serious injury to Cromane player – Aaron Heffernan who is now recovering following surgery on his fractured leg. We wish you well Aaron and hope to see you back on the football field as soon as possible.
