Ballyroe Heights Hotel County Championship – Senior ‘A’ Semi-Final – Friday 7th Sept.
Laune Rangers: 1-10
Southern Gaels: 3-13
These teams are well used to playing each other at this stage, having met on numerous occasions prior to Friday evening’s Semi-Final encounter. Laune Rangers were looking to avenge their Club Championship defeat at the hands of the same opponents and make their first County Championship Final appearance while the girls from South Kerry were looking for the chance to add to their trophy count for the year.
It was to be the South Kerry team who went away victorious making for an exciting Final encounter with Sliabh Luachra, who had a comprehensive win over Sneem/Kenmare in the other Semi-Final.
Laune Rangers were dealt a blow prior to the game when All-Star Kerry keeper, Edel Murphy sustained an injury in the warm-up and was unable to play a part in the game.
Southern Gaels started the stronger registering the first score of the evening with a pointed free from Sarah O’Connor in the 1st minute of the half. O’Connor tacked on her second soon after which was quickly followed by a Linda Cronin effort in the 5th minute to let the score 0-03 to no score in Southern Gaels favour. Soon after, Stephanie Corkery opened the home-sides account in the 7th minute to narrow Southern Gaels lead somewhat.
Southern Gaels struck for the game’s first goal in the 10th minute of play when Anna Galvin found the back of the Laune Rangers net. A further Sarah O’Connor point in the 11th minute saw the visitors hold a 1-04 to 0-01 lead.
Laune Rangers began to wake up at this stage and a point from Patrice Dennehy after some good link work from the home-side was quickly followed by another Dennehy effort to close Southern Gaels advantage to four points.
Leanne Curran added her name to the score-sheet for the visitors with a point mid-way through the half before Sarah O’Connor popped up for Southern Gaels second goal of the evening in the 20th minute to leave the score 2-05 to 0-03 with 10 minutes of the first half to play.
Further Southern Gaels points from Linda Cronin and Deirdre Corridan saw them extend their lead some more and the visitors were in total control of the game.
In the 22nd minute, Sarah Houlihan linked well with Stephanie Corkery to see Amy Foley goal for Laune Rangers; the game stood at 2-07 to 1-03 in Southern Gaels favour.
Southern Gaels didn’t panic however and two further points from Leanne Curran and Deirdre Corridan saw the visitors hold a commanding lead at the short whistle. Half-time score: Laune Rangers 1-03 to 2-09 Southern Gaels.
It was the home-side who came out stronger in the second half with Patrice Dennehy opening the scoring. Norina O’Callaghan followed with a well taken point in the second minute. Dennehy added a third Laune Rangers point in the 4th minute of the half to close Southern Gaels advantage to six points.
It took until the 10th minute of the second half for Southern Gaels to score their first point of the half, coming from the boot of Deirdre Corridan from a free. Corridan pointed again in the minutes that followed to extend the visitors lead once more.
A 45′ from Laune Rangers’ Amy Foley sailed over the crossbar mid-way through the half, however this was cancelled out by a Leanne Curran point in the 19th minute. Linda Cronin extended her personal tally for the evening in the 20th minute when she slotted over another Southern Gaels point.
Laune Rangers finished strong with points from Sarah Houlihan, Muireann O’Shea and Patrice Dennehy but it was a case of too little, too late for the home-side who will no doubt rue the numerous scoring opportunities they squandered through-out the game.
In the final action of the game, Linda Cronin added Southern Gaels third goal to leave the score 3-13 to 1-10 at the full-time whistle.
TEAMS:
Laune Rangers: Ciara O’Connor, Lisa Dennehy, Anna-Maria O’Donoghue, Aoife Johnston, Sarah Jane Joy, Mary Ann Doherty, Maura O’Sullivan, Johanna O’Callaghan, Bernie Breen, Sarah Houlihan(Capt), Patrice Dennehy, Amy Foley, Muireann O’Shea, Norina O’Callaghan, Meadhbh Johnston. SUBS: Stephanie Corkery, Kathlynn Coffey, Alanna O’Regan, Majella Browne, Nikki Reidy, Kaylynn Lodder, Crystal Lodder, Sarah O’Connor, Edel Murphy.
Southern Gaels: Deirdre Murphy, Sinead (Carney) O’Sullivan, Caroline Kelly, Paula O’Sullivan, Sarah Kelly, Cecelia O’Sullivan(Capt), Dee O’Sullivan, Lorraine Casey, Deirdre Corridan, Megan O’Connell, Bernie Cronin, Anna Galvin, Sinead O’Sullivan, Sarah O’Connor, Erin O’Driscoll. SUBS: Noelle Galvin, Amy Fitzgerald, Bronagh O’Sullivan, Mary Fitzpatrick, Bridget Dennehy, Róisín Kissane, Leanne Curran, Maeve Daly, Julie O’Connell, Niamh Casey, Saoirse Kirby, Linda Cronin.
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