County Senior Football League
Division 3B, Round 2
Venue: Paddy Burke Memorial Park, Milltown
Referee: Padraig O’Sullivan (Firies)
Report by Dara O’Connor
Milltown/Castlemaine 1-15 Laune Rangers 5-05
Milltown/Castlemaine welcomed near neighbours and Mid Kerry rivals Laune Rangers to Paddy Burke Memorial Park in Milltown this afternoon for Round 2 of the County Senior Football League Division 3B. Both sides started off the competition on a winning note the week previous with Milltown/Castlemaine winning against St Senan’s and Laune Rangers defeated North Kerry opposition also in the form of Duagh so the occasion was set up nicely for what promised to be a good contest between two clubs who need no introduction to one another.
The home sided started the brighter and early scores from Jonathan O’Sullivan and Cathal Moriarty, all from play gave Laune Rangers plenty to ponder as they were slow out of the blocks and struggled to match Milltown/Castlemaine’s intensity and hunger. Laune Rangers settled however and as the scoreline suggests found the back of the net on no fewer than five occasions throughout the afternoon which gave them a very solid foundation to eventually go on and win the game. Their first score came in the 12th minute from Roan Moriarty who pointed from close range. Soon after Gearoid Hassett was brought to the ground inside the small square and Padraig O’Sullivan showed no hesitation in awarding a penalty which John Tyther stepped up and slotted underneath the outstretched arm of Cormac Leane. Almost immediately, another green flag followed when a short kickout from the hosts was intercepted and Shane Daly squared for Fiachra Clifford who had the simplest of tasks in firing home. Laune Rangers had in the space of a couple minutes opened up a 2-1 to 0-3 lead and seemingly turned the game on its head. It left Milltown/Castlemaine stunned but they knuckled down and gradually reeled their neighbours in. Two Jonathan O’Sullivan frees and a superb Cathal Moriarty goal after a ball was turned over by a combination of Stephen/David Roche when Laune Rangers were coming out of defence seen Milltown/Castlemaine race back into the lead at 1-5 to 2-1 by the 25thminute. Further points, including one for the cameras by roaming Corner-Back Gavin McKenna off his left boot and a score from the hardworking David Roche seen Milltown/Castlemaine stretch their lead to three by the 29th minute at 1-7 to 2-1. The visitors seemed to find their scores (particularly goals) easier to come by and a third green flag was raised on the 30th minute as Fiachra Clifford latched onto a loose ball close to the M/C goal right after John Tyther has been dispossessed and he knocked it into the net in soccer style to draw the sides level at 3-1 to 1-7. It was the hosts however who once again showed their mettle and responded well to go into the half-time interval two ahead at 1-9 to 3-1 after Jerome Flynn and Dylan O’Neil both had fine scores from play. HT Score: M/C 1-9 Laune Rangers 3-1.
In contrast to the opening half, it was Laune Rangers who emerged the more energetic from the half-time break and two Fiachra Clifford frees seen matters all tied up once more at 3-3to 1-9. Three Jonathan O’Sullivan frees between the 39th and 44th minutes after fouls had been committed on O’Sullivan, David Roche and Cathal Moriarty stretched the hosts lead back out to three at 1-12 to 3-03 and in a commanding position as they headed for the water break on the 45thminute. It could have been a larger advantage but Corner-Back Gavin McKenna who went on another long run seen a terrific effort come back off the post after David Roche had put him through on goal and Roche himself also seen a pointed effort come back off the upright so a bit of misfortune prevented the lead from being extended further at this point. It was to prove telling as the final quarter was where Laune Rangers did most their damage. A second penalty arrived for Laune Rangers in the 54th minute when Cormac Leane took down an on-rushing forward who had rounded him and was about to slot home. Leane was given a black card for the infringement and John Tyther stuck the resulting spot kick away into the right corner beyond stand-in goalkeeper Sean Hogan to make it level pegging at 4-3 to 1-12. With Milltown/Castlemaine now down to 14 men it was always going to be difficult to navigate a path to victory and so it proved. Despite this obstacle, they did get the next score when Jonathan O’Sullivan pointed from 14 yards after Pa Wren had been fouled. The lead didn’t last long and within a minute Fiachra Clifford had levelled matters again at 4-4 to 1-13 approaching the final minutes of normal time. Crucially for the visiting side, they took the lead for the first time since the 13th minute with three minutes of normal time remaining as substitute Darragh O’Connor was fouled 14 yards out and John Tyther had an easy free to make it 4-5 to 1-13. The score that ultimately swung the result in Laune Rangers direction came in the 58th minute from Stephen Sealy as he palmed home to the back of the Milltown/Castlemaine net after Peter Crowley had burst through the defence to set Sealy up. They now led 5-5 to 1-13 and it was hard to see a way back for the hosts with the clock against them. Milltown/Castlemaine never gave up and did succeed in reducing the arrears to two points as Jonathan O’Sullivan landed two points from frees but try as they might, they could not get any closer and Laune Rangers ran out two point victors on a score of: Laune Rangers 5-05 Milltown/Castlemaine 1-15.
Milltown/Castlemaine Team and Scorers:
C Leane, G McKenna (0-1), P Wren, C O’Connor, J Hayes, D Bacalso, K Carroll, B Delaney, D Dennehy, S Roche, D Roche (Capt, 0-1), J Flynn (0-1), D O’Neil (0-1), J O’Sullivan (0-9), C Moriarty (1-2).
Subs Used:
S Hogan, T McCarthy