Gaeltacht big guns come up trumps

An Ghaeltacht 0-12 Laune Rangers 2-4

Down five points at the interval, an outstanding fight-back, yielding eight unanswered points, put Gaeltacht in the driving seat entering injury time in yesterday’s replay.

However, an alarming capacity to lose concentration almost cost them again as Killorglin’s Pa O’Sullivan was gifted a one-on-one chance with the keeper to snatch the title for Rangers.

He placed his effort, but the post interceded on Gaeltacht’s behalf. In the ensuing excitement, Marc Ó Sé appeared to pick the ball off the ground but referee Tom Lynch decreed otherwise.

Gaeltacht had survived, though they really should endeavour to do things less heroically, if only for the welfare of those managing and supporting them.

Much like the drawn game, they were slow out of the traps, finished on the ropes and built a platform for victory in the third quarter.

Trailing 2-2 to 0-3 at half time, Gaeltacht gambled on going for broke after half-time and though everyone played a part, their inter-county quintet led the resurgence from the front - Marc Ó Sé held Mike F. Russell scoreless, Tomás Ó Sé gave a man of the match performance from centre back, and Darragh Ó Sé dominated the midfield area - each contributed a point from play and their attacking colleagues Aodan MacGearailt and Dara Ó Cinnéide shared six more.

The dramatic rescue act was necessitated by a sluggish opening, in which Killorglin midfielder John Lynch waltzed through for a second minute goal, and another lapse seven minutes before half time when Gerry O’Brien was on hand to claim a second Rangers goal.

The manner of the goals suggested Gaeltacht were defensively vulnerable, but their comeback owed as much to a tightening up at the back as an offensive tour de force. Killorglin were held scoreless for 25 second-half minutes, and claimed only two points.

What a difference from the opening 30 minutes, as Killorglin corner-forward Brian Gannon, threatened to run riot.

He could have added a third first half goal, but for a moment’s hesitation, and manager John Evans clearly felt his side deserved a more comprehensive interval advantage. “We carved them open a few times,” he said afterwards, “and I feared we might regret not being further in front.”

Tomas Ó Sé was the pivotal figure throughout, curbing the threat of Billy O’Shea and raiding into enemy territory with menace from first whistle to last. Aodan MacGearailt had been one of the few Gaeltacht forwards making headway in the first half, and he continued to win, and hold, possession as their momentum grew.

Crucially, Dara Ó Cinnéide also began to impact from play and from frees, and when he shrugged off two challenges to land the equaliser (0-8 to 2-2) after 44 minutes, the young Killorglin men looked somewhat bewildered and beaten.

MacGearailt had a chance to put them out of their misery four minutes later, but Rangers keeper Tony Lyons denied him. By the 55th minute, Marc Ó Sé and MacGearailt had made it 0-11 to 2-2, and An Ghaeltacht felt their work was done.

Not so. Pa O’Sullivan pointed a free and then forced Gaeltacht keeper Pat Healy to palm a shot over the bar. Tomás Ó Sé put Gaeltacht two points ahead again before the late drama.

“Pa (O’Sullivan) probably should have buried the chance at the end,” Tomás Ó Sé admitted. “Any other day, he would have, but what helped us was the fact that we went out in the second half with a gung-ho attitude. We knew we had nothing to lose, and so there was no stiffness to our play. It was all or nothing.”

His brother and captain, Darragh, said Gaeltacht still have a way to go to match the slickness and cuteness of some club teams, but he believed they were improving all the time. “Everybody knows about our county players, but we got a huge effort today from the rest of the lads, who are there 12 months of the year.”

They meet Cork champions Castlehaven in Killorglin on November 9 in the Munster Club SFC, pledging a more determined effort than the one which followed their first county success two years ago.

An Ghaeltacht scorers: A. MacGearailt (0-3), D. Ó Cinnéide (0-3, 2 frees), M. Ó Sé, T. Ó Sé, D. Ó Sé, P. Ó Cuinn, T. Ó Conchuir, C. Ó Cruadhlaoich (0-1 each).

Laune Rangers scorers: J. Lynch (1-0), G. O’Brien (1-0), P. O’Sullivan (0-2, 1 frees), B. Gannon (0-2).

AN GHAELTACHT: P. Ó hEalaithe, F. Ó Sé, M. Ó Sé, S. MacSitigh; D. MacGearailt, T. Ó Sé, B. Breathnach; D. Ó Sé (capt), P. Ó Cuinn; T. Ó Conchúir, R. MacGearailt, A. MAcGearailt, C. O’Cruadhlaoich, D. Ó Cinnéide, C. Ó Dubhda.

Subs: R. Ó Flatharta for MacSitigh (27 mins); J.J. Cordubh for O’Cruadhlaoich (50); M. Ó Conchúir for F. Ó Sé (56), C. MacGearailt for Ó Cuinn (60).

LAUNE RANGERS: T. Lyons, A. Hassett, E. Ferris, N. Lynch; P. Costello, J. Sheehan, B. Fitzgerald; J. Lynch, L. Hassett; S. Foley, B. O’Shea, G. O’Brien; B. Gannon, P. O’Sullivan, M.F. Russell.

Subs: C. O’Connor for O’Brien (48 mins); B. O’Sullivan for O’Shea (51).

Referee: T. Lynch (Kerins O’Rahillys).