‘If we have the ball, David Clifford doesn’t have it’: Laune Rangers triumph over Fossa in a thriller
TOUGH TO TAKE: Laune Rangers recovered from a six-point deficit at half-time and a scorching by David Clifford to secure a spot in the Kerry Petroleum intermediate championship final. Picture: Don MacMonagle
The first quarter served a reminder of precisely what sort of contest Fitzgerald Stadium had in store. Fossa had the best two players in the county. Laune Rangers had the better team. Those were the terms. The team triumphed.
Ten points from the sensational Eoghan Hassett, son of Adrian, helped halt the bleed that was David Clifford’s razor-sharp daggers. The two-time Footballer of the Year finished with 3-8, 3-5 of which came in the opening half. That early total came from a perfect eight shots. With two minutes played, he smashed a goal past Jason Browne with his first touch after a terrific long ball by Emmet O’Shea. Two of the three frees were from close to the sideline.
He flicked a second goal and won a penalty for his third, rifling a left-footed shot into the top corner. Oisín Daly was given the unenviable task of tracking the Kerry star with Calum Moriarty striving to sweep in front of him.
And still, with 13 minutes played they were level 1-3 apiece. Tom Whittleton finished a sweeping move that started with Eoghan Hassett and involved Daire Cleary and Gearoid Hassett. Laune Rangers gave their shooters consistent supply and choked off Fossa’s in the second half. The Killorglin outfit had seven different scorers to Fossa’s three. They trailed 3-8 to 1-8 at half-time having played against the strong breeze but restricted Clifford to three frees after the turnaround.
“We are trying on the other side, we know we have good ball players up front,” explained manager Liam Hassett post-match.
“If we have the ball, David Clifford doesn’t have it. We rode our luck too. In fairness to the boys, they tried to get someone back there but even with someone back, there is no guarantee you’ll keep him out. We knew he was going to be a threat. We knew Paudie would be a threat too.
“In fairness to Oisin Birmingham, he is a young lad did who did his Leaving Cert last year. Great fella, great athlete, you know Paudie would impact the game, but you are hoping the other battles can be won around the field. If we didn’t win they’d be saying, why are we so open at the back.”
This Kerry Petroleum intermediate championship semi-final had every component required for a classic: Elite talent, four goals, six more goal chances, one penalty, a late rally that fell short and a sideline skirmish that saw Fossa selector Ken O’Sullivan and Hassett both booked at the break.
“I don’t know what went on there, ‘tis fine,” smiled Hassett.
“Nothing like a bit of passion on the sideline.
“I was always good for a yellow card on the field, that is my first yellow on the sideline.”
The drama was never-ending. In the 50-minute, John Burke came off the bench to link up with Patrick Daly and goal only for referee Eoghan Ó Muircheartaigh to consult his umpires and give a free out. Shortly after joint-captain Fiacha Clifford produced the equaliser and rose a determined fist to the Killarney stand. Paudie Clifford came agonisingly close twice to a green flag of his own, his first effort saved for a 45 and his second a fist that crossed back off the crossbar.
In the end, David Clifford had a free with just over a minute of extra-time remaining and three points in it. He elected to tap over and press the kickout. Laune Rangers denied them any more opportunities. They will face Billy Lee’s Austin Stacks in the decider after they overcame Glenbeigh/Glencar in the first semi-final.
“Whoever is in a final, but definitely Stacks, will bring a hype and a bit of noise to it,” said Hassett. “Likewise, our town have been looking for this for a long few years. They will get out their blue and white colours, it should be a great occasion and hopefully, it is a great game.”
D. Clifford 3-8, (1-0 pen, 0-6 free), E. O’Shea 0-2, H. Buckley 0-1.
E. Hassett 0-10 (0-5 frees), T. Whittleton 1-1, J. Tyther 0-4 (3 frees), C. Moriarty 0-1, O. Birmingham 0-1, F. Clifford 0-1, M. Leslie 0-1.
S. O’Sullivan; C. McCarthy, R. Colleran, B. Myers; D. O’Keeffe, K. O’Sullivan, P. Sheehan; C. O’Shea, D. O’Connell; H. Buckley, M. Rennie, E. Talbot; P. Clifford, D. Clifford, E. O’Shea.
D Ryan for Buckley (42), R. Doyle for O’Keeffe (45), F. Coffey for Talbot (55).
J. Browne; S. Clifford, O. Daly; S. Cleary; C. Moriarty, E. Clifford, O. Birmingham; E. O’Sullivan, T. Whittleton; S. Sealy, G. Hassett, F. Clifford; E. Hassett, D. Cleary, J. Tyther.
J. Burke for O’Sullivan (37), M. Leslie for Tyther (51), P. Carey for Clifford (58), R. O’Connor for F. Clifford (60).
E Muircheartaigh (Dingle).
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