In a hard-fought contest where scores were at a premium, we were made to battle for every inch against a physically imposing and relentless opposition defence. 

Their tough tackling and well-organised structure disrupted our rhythm from the outset, limiting us to just a handful of clear-cut chances in a cagey opening half.

We lined out without Donagh Buckley and Darragh O’Connor from the named starting XV with Jake Foley and TJ Heaphy taking their places - Darragh’s loss was keenly felt given his good form to date. 

We had the assistance of the strong breeze in that opening half with Jack opening the scoring in the first minute from a free and Tom Hoare and Conor O’Sullivan pointing from play with Laune replying in kind leaving the scores level as we approached the halfway point of the first half.

Gearóid Dillane, outstanding all game, won a breaking ball in the middle before parting to Barry John who found Darragh McEllligott on the overlap and his fisted pass inside to Daniel Bowler saw Daniel fire past the baideoir for a capital goal; minutes later, Jake burst through the middle and kicked a fine score off his left to leave the score at 1-04 to 0-03.

Patrick Daly from play and John Tyther from a free cut the deficit to two points and after Gearóid Clifford was wide, Laune cut through our defence to goal and once again take the lead. We had the final say however, when Barry John kicked the score of the game, dummying his way past one defender before raising an orange flag to leave us in the ascendancy at half time, 1-06 to 1-05.

We resumed with Con Barrett introduced for the second half and with Conor O’Sullivan now operating on the “40” and Jack on the edge of the square.

Jack pushed us two clear from a free before John Tyther had a two pointer and a free to restore the home side’s advantage, 1-08 to 1-07.

In the 10th minute, midfielder Shane Daly, already on a booking, saw red after a mistimed challenge earned him a second yellow card. But curiously, this wasn't the moment that defined the contest.

In the very next phase of play, we thought we had taken the lead with a well-worked move finished emphatically to the net  by Barry John only for the referee to rule the goal out for an alleged illegal hand pass in the build-up. It looked like a perfectly legitimate score, and the decision seemed harsh. 

That flashpoint aside, the game struggled to find rhythm. Turnovers from both sides disrupted any attacking momentum, and a stop-start flow driven by an abundance of frees made for frustrating viewing. Neither team managed to establish a foothold, and while both had chances, composure in the final third was lacking.

Our numerical advantage was beginning to tell however, and we had moved two ahead by the 21st minute following scores from Barry John and a free from Jack; however, Laune levelled before Jack again, pushed us ahead by one from a free. 

As the clock ticked down towards the final whistle, Laune managed to breach our  defense and crucially, edged themselves ahead by a single point. 

However, we dug deep, attacked through the middle and Conor O’Sullivan fired over to level the contest and gain us a deserved point. 

Team: Robert O’Connor, Ben Hanafin, Jake Foley ( 0-01), Darragh McElligott, Gearóid Dillane, Ryan Carroll, Daniel Bowler ( 1-0), Tom Hoare ( 0-01), Barry John Keane ( 0-03, 2pt), TJ Heaphy, Jack Savage (0-05), Padraig Griffin, Conor Hayes, Conor O’Sullivan (0-02), Gearóid Savage.

Subs used: Con Barrett 

Next week will see Killarney Legion visit Strand Road for Round 7.