Hassett helps Laune Rangers to end 17-year wait for Mid Kerry success

The Killorglin outfit showed the hunger needed to get the job done at last. 

The Michael O’Connor Memorial Cup is heading back to Killorglin.

Mid Kerry SFC Final: Laune Rangers 0-12 Keel 1-6 

A final-quarter cameo by Eoghan Hassett helped Laune Rangers end their 17-year wait to take the Michael O’Connor Memorial Cup back to Killorglin.

For Keel their wait continues, last winning the title back in 2009, in their first final meeting since 1985 against their local rivals, they started well but Laune Rangers finished the better.

Keel did take a 1-3 to 0-4 lead to the dressing room in a half which lasted over an hour due to a serious injury. From that stoppage in play Laune Rangers set the tempo and while Keel did take the advantage again inside the second half, Hassett coming off the bench was the difference.

A game dictated by possession in the early stages, Keel defended well and at the other end struck the opening two scores to take the early momentum. Rangers, at fault from a wayward pass to gift the opening score, saw Keel cut through again seconds later for the second score.

From another error coming from the Laune Rangers defence playing out from the back Keel struck the opening goal. A kick-out going over the sideline and Keel ran the phases well before Keith Evans rolled the ball low into the back of the Laune Rangers net.

John Tyther got the Kilorglin men on the board after 11 minutes and two goal chances came and went for Laune Rangers, by the quarter's end they trailed 1-2 to 0-1.

Play was halted after 21 minutes of the opening half when Lachlan Griffin suffered a serious leg injury, an ambulance was needed to take the Keel player off the field. After a lengthy stoppage Laune Rangers finished the half well as Seán Cleary and Tyther both waved the white flag, Laune Rangers behind 1-3 to 0-4 at the break.

In the second half Laune Rangers continued to keep up their momentum, Tyther with a brace of points to level matters by the 39th minute.

Keel snatched the lead back as Paul Costello kicked his second free to end a wait since the 17th minute of the opening half for Keel to score. By the quarter's end Keel remained ahead 1-4 to 0-6.

Costello did make it a two-point game but the final quarter belonged to Laune Rangers. Eoghan Hassett came off the bench to kick three points while Fiachra Clifford also waved the white flag, as Laune Rangers pulled ahead 0-10 to 1-5 after 55 minutes.

As the darkness was falling in Milltown, John Burke and Hassett found the mark as Laune Rangers further pulled away. 

17 years is a long time of a wait to land silverware and in the finish the Kilorglin men just had that extra bit of hunger to claim the silverware on offer.

Scorers for Laune Rangers: Eoghan Hassett (0-4), J Tyther (0-4, 3fs), F Clifford (0-2,1f), S Cleary, J Burke (0-1 each) 

Scorers for Keel: K Evans (1-0), P Costello (0-3fs), S Evans, G Murphy, S Corcoran (0-1 each) 

LAUNE RANGERS: P Ahern; R Diggin, S Arthurs, S Cleary; E Clifford, P Carey, D Mangan; R O’Connor, S Daly; F Clifford, J Tyther, S Sealy; D Cleary, E O’Sullivan, G Hassett.

Subs: E Hassett for E O’Sullivan (43), J Burke for R O’Connor (48), P Daly for D Cleary (52), C Moriarty (53), M Leslie for J Tyther (60+2) KEEL: S Cahillane; G Evans, G Prendiville, A Cahillane; D Ashe, S Corcoran, S Prendiville; T Ladden, L Evans; S Evans, K Evans, G Murphy; D Prendergast, T Buckley, P Costello.

Subs: F Griffin for L Griffin (23), E Murphy for G Murphy (56) 

REFEREE: T Corbett (Milltown/Castlemaine)