Rangers rack up big score in Round 1
Burren Rangers captain Jimmie Carroll.
Bagenalstown Gaels welcomed Burren Rangers to McGrath Park on Sunday evening, with the visitors getting a comprehensive win in the opening round of the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Carlow Intermediate Hurling Championship.
Rangers, wearing what might be the nicest kit in all of Carlow, got out in front early and never looked back, with two goals in either half off three assists from Lorcn Doyle and 1-11 from top scorer Dylan Townsend.
The two number tens swapped scores in the early goings, with Townsend landing a free before Rory Doyle drew the hosts level.
Rangers went on tear after that, however, scoring 1-5 without reply over the next quarter of an hour. Lorcan Doyle and Billy Nolan landed a score apiece before Townsend pointed another free, a 65 and one from play to leave his side five up midway through the half.
Referee James Tobin blew up for a water break in the hot, July sun, and seconds after the restart came a goal for Rangers when Doyle played in Cathal Healy who rippled the home net.
Rory Doyle moved the scoreboard for Bagenalstown Gaels three times (two frees) over the next ten minutes, but Rangers cancelled his scores every time through Healy, Townsend (free) and Martin Carroll.
Doyle then got his second goal assist for the visitors when he set up Carroll, who drilled the ball beyond Steven Lillis just before the break. Billy Fitzpatrick ended the half with a score for Gaels, but the hosts found themselves trailing by 2-9 to 0-5 at the interval.
The second half was barely two minutes old when referee James Tobin reduced the home side to 14 men when he flashed a red card at Thomas Maher before Rangers slotted five unanswered scores, three from Townsend and two beauties from Healy.
Patrick Kelly pointed a couple of frees for the hosts, but they were wiped out by Healy and Doyle just before the second water break. Rangers were also reduced to 14 men in the process, however, with Billy Shanahan dismissed just ten minutes after coming off the bench.
Fitzpatrick and Alan Whelan (free) pointed for Gaels, but Rangers again responded with another Townsend free and a brilliant strike from James Nolan.
Lorcan Doyle had a hand in Rangers’ third goal when he played in Robbie Ward, who shipped the ball out to Townsend to raise a green flag.
Kelly landed one final score for the hosts before Rangers closed out the game, with two from play from Townsend and one from Doyle, who also completed a hat-trick of assists when he set up Ward again. The corner forward took the shot on himself this time and rippled the Bagenalstown net to complete an outstanding 23-point victory for Rangers.
Bagenalstown Gaels are away this coming Sunday to a Mount Leinster Rangers side who kick-started their campaign with by scoring seven goals on their way to a 27-point win.
Naomh Moling were the side on the wrong end of that result and it is they who provide the opposition for Burren Rangers' next game in two weeks' time.
D Townsend 1-11 (0-5f, 0-1’65), C Healy 1-4, M Carroll 1-1, R Ward 1-0, L Doyle 0-3, B Noland and J Nolan 0-1 each.
R Doyle 0-4 (3f), P Kelly 0-3 (3f), B Fitzpatrick 0-2, A Whelan 0-1 (f).
Steven Lillis; Frank Cushen, Liam Cummins, Sam Griffith; Eoghan Dowling, Thomas Maher, Conor Lennon; Patrick Kelly, Paddy Abbey; Rory Doyle, James Doyle, Billy Fitzpatrick; Thomas McDonnell, Darren Hickey, Neil Martin.
Billy Shanaha for M Carroll (35), Lochlann McGagh and James Nolan for Bolger and B Nolan (both 41), Chris Buckley for Healy (inj, 46).
Joe Waters; Aaron Gordon, Cormac McElligott, Kieran Donald; Conor Bolger, Billy Molloy, Jimmie Carroll; Martin Carroll, Roin Doyle; Dylan Townsend, Lorcan Doyle, Cathal Healy; Robbie Ward, Billy Nolan, Daniel Bolger.
Alan Whelan and Shane Cody for Hickey and Cummins (both HT), Andrew Kane and Gary Monaghan for McDonnell and Abbey (both 39).
James Tobin.
