Templenoe 3-11, Laune Rangers 1-13.
Templenoe hosted Laune Rangers in the opening round the county senior football league on St Patrick’s day. Two late goals from Sean Sheehan and Stephen O’Sullivan pulled this game out of the fire for Templenoe, just when it started to look like Laune Rangers would take a full share of the spoils.
It was an entertaining game of football, played in showery conditions. The visitors drew first blood with a point from play from Fiachra Crowley. However, Templenoe boosted by the news Mike Crowley agreed to take on another stint at the Manger role following a long search to fill that position, hit back with a vengeance to score 1-04 without reply. With Kerry panelist Gavin Crowley and Sean Sheehan dominating the aerial battle at midfield, the hosts wasted no time in displaying their credentials. John Moriarty and Aidan Crowley were quickest to react to a dropped short free, with the latter getting the final touch in a goal mouth scramble, for Templenoe’s first green flag of the day. Gavin Crowley, Daniel Crowley and Aidan Crowley (2) added points to put Templenoe in a strong position by the end of the first quarter, all be it aided by the breeze. Matthew Leslie gave the Rangers a brief respite with a pointed free, before Templenoe landed two more points on the trot courtesy of Daniel Crowley and a long-range effort from Gavin Crowley. Lane Rangers substitute John Burke made an immediate impression when introduced with two well taken scores shortly before the break, while in between Fiachra Clifford converted a placed ball to help keep the visitors well in this contest.
Half Time Score: Templenoe 1-06, Laune Rangers 0-05.
At the restart, John Rice popped up from defence to fire over a fine score to consolidate Templenoe’s lead. But then it was Laune Rangers turn to shine and shine they did. Eoghan Hassett who was also sprung from the bench set the wheels in motion, with their first score of the second half, before Daire Cleary got his name on the score sheet. Then the Templenoe defence were cut open with Eoghan Hassett unleashing his shot on the run to the top corner for a marvellous goal for Laune Rangers. It was game on now with the score at 1-07 apiece and plenty of time (21 minutes) remaining. Templenoe were rattled but not floored and responded with a much needed pointed free from Aidan Crowley. It was ebb and flow from here on, with Eoghan Hassett (2) trading scores with Sean Sheehan and Aidan Crowley. Two successive points from John Burke put the Killorglin side in front for only the second time in the game to make the score 1-10 to 1-11 54 minutes in and the game was on a knife edge. Daniel Crowley and David Mangan swapped scores and then came the first of Templenoe’s two late goals after high ball in from a Gavin Cowley sideline was finished to the net by a brave Sean Sheehan against the advances of two Laune Rangers defenders. Two minutes into injury time, Stephen O’Sullivan used his soccer skills to good effort to put the icing on the cake for Templenoe’s goal number 3. The visitors pulled one point back through Shane Doona and they tried hard for another goal, but the Templenoe defence despite losing Kieran O’ Neill to a black card stood firm.
Final Score: Templenoe 3-11, Laune Rangers 1-13.
Scorers:
Templenoe: Aidan Crowley 1-04 (2f), Sean Sheehan 1-01, Stephen O’Sullivan 1-00, Daniel Crowley 0-03, Gavin Crowley 0-02, John Rice 0-01.
Laune Rangers: Eoghan Hassett 1-03, John Burke 0-04, Fiachra Clifford 0-02 (1f), Daire Clifford 0-01, David Mangan 0-01, Matthew Leslie 0-01, Shane Doona 0-01.
Teams:
Templenoe: Mark Looney, Michael Hallissey, Kieran O’Neill, John Rice, Kieran McCarthy, Joseph Sheehan, Ciaran Crowley, Sean Sheehan, Gavin Crowley, Martin Reilly, Colin Crowley, John Moriarty, Stephen O’Sullivan, Aidan Crowley, Daniel Crowley.
Subs used: Hugh Granville.
Laune Rangers: Jason Browne, Sean Arthurs, Sean Cleary, Evan Madden, Rory O’Connor, David Mangan, Patrick Carey, Shane Daly, Jack O’Connor, Stephen Sealy, Fiachra Clifford, Calum Moriarty, Daire Cleary, Matthew Leslie, Gearoid Hassett.
Subs used: John Burke, Eoghan Hassett, Shane Doona.
