FÉILE WEEKEND
Our thanks to Maurice McNamara for the following report: – The Austin Stacks Club came together on Féile weekend – we determined that we would treat our guests the same as we would want to be treated when we go away, and the way that the gang from Connolly Park banded together and helped Maurice in the club bar over the weekend was simply above and beyond what was expected.
Take a bow all, the lads who shifted furniture, changed barrels, and were themselves but the show was stolen by their wives – the club are so proud of Bernie Somers, Annette Carmody, Mary Hurley, Marion Clifford and Bernie Mannix – an outstanding and prize winning performance from first to last whistle – we will always be grateful for the way you treated our guests.
Others that deserve thanks too are Mike Lynch who performed flawlessly as our Féile Co-Ordinator, our pitch committee who had both pitches at their best, to Lorraine & Terry who looked after the ‘Feile Club Gear’ for both teams (was there a better dressed team in Féile?).
Thanks to our Féile Club Sponsors – Barry’s Bakery, John F. Flynn & Terry’s Butchers, to those of you who stepped in and acted as linesmen & umpires, to Dave & Rory who had worked on our Féile Welcome Video.
But on a busy weekend it can be the small acts of kindness that are most appreciated – thank you to those who assisted the lady who fell ill in the club on Friday night, to Morgan O’Connell who made the Club Presentations on Saturday night, to Colm who welcomed our guests so warmly & finally last but not least to Mary Fitz of Barry’s Bakery who dropped in a tray of Vanilla Silces into the Club kitchen so discreetly on Saturday night
Yes small gestures combined with one big club effort made for an unforgettable weekend. Well done Austin Stacks GAA Club.
SENIOR FOOTBALL
Austin Stacks 1-16
Milltown-Castlemaine 0-12.
The score-line might suggest otherwise but this game, played in ideal conditions in Connolly Park on last Saturday evening (2nd July), was there for the taking by both sides right up to the 50th minute at any rate. At that stage only three points separated the sides (0-13 to 0-10) after we led by five (0-10 to 0-5) at the interval.
Milltown had two points on the board inside the 3rd minute. But once we went ahead in the 12th minute with points from Darragh O’Brien, Pa McCarthy and David Mannix (free) we were never headed again. Between then and half time we added a further seven points to three for the visitors. David Mannix (with three – two from frees), Fiachna Mangan, Daniel Bohan, Shane O’Callaghan and David O’Sullivan were our scorers.
Milltown did have a very good start to the second half and by the 7th minute had reduced the deficit to two (0-11 to 0-9). Our only point in that period came 31 seconds after the resumption when Seán Ryan put Shane O’Callaghan through for a lovely score.
However after that brief period of Milltown dominance we took control again and in the next 13 minutes added another five points to just one for the opposition. David Mannix with two more pointed frees and one each from play by David O’Sullivan, Seán Ryan and a lovely effort from Jack Morgan were our scorers.
But the score that put the game beyond the reach of the visitors came in the 51st minute when Darragh O’Brien got the last tough to Jack Morgan’s cross to finish to the net for the only goal of the game.
Milltown kept pressing however and finished with two more pointed frees.
This was a very good display by our lads after that slight blip back in Dingle a few weeks ago, with very pleasing performances by the whole squad. Many commented afterwards on Seán Ryan’s performance at corner back, a position he used to play in his U16 and Minor days. But Seán is so versatile he could play in any position.
The result sees both teams swap places on the League Table with we moving up to 6th spot and Milltown dropping down to 7th. We do of course have that one game in hand, against Kerins O’Rahillys.
Team: Darragh O’Brien, Barry Walsh, Conor Jordan, Seán Ryan (0-1), Pa McCarthy 0-1), Barry Shanahan, Fiachna Mangan (0-1) , Brían Mangan, Shane Guthrie. Daniel Bohan (0-1), Shane O’Callaghan (Capt) (0-2), Michael Collins, David Mannix (0-6 – five frees), David O’Sullivan (0-2), Darragh O’Brien (1-1).
Subs used: Michael O’Donnell (ht), Barry Galvin (38m), John Dennis (39m), Wayne Guthrie (45m), Jack Morgan (45m) (0-1), Seán Dukes (54m).
We now have four important games in the space of the next five weeks. The first goes ahead in Austin Stack Park on next Saturday evening (9th July) when we line out against West Kerry in round 3 of the Co. Championship as part of a double header. Our game starts at 6.45pm and will be preceded by the Dingle .v. Milltown-Castlemaine game at 5pm.
Then on the following two weekends it’s back to Co. League duty with a home game against Castleisland Desmonds ( R8 w/e 16th July) and an away game against John Mitchels (R9 w/e 23rd July).
We have a break then on the w/e of 30thJuly and then on the following Saturday (6th August) we are due to play our postponed round 5 Co. League game against Kerins O’Rahillys.
It was good to see Colin Griffin back on the sideline again after his operation in Dublin last Tuesday. We all wish Colin a full and speedy recovery.
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
Saturday evening’s double header in Connolly Park saw three players performing in both the B game and the Senior game. Barry Galvin played in goals for the full hour with the B team.
And with eight minute gone in the second half of the Senior game he was introduced when goalkeeper Darragh O’Brien picked up a slight injury. Likewise Seán Dukes played the full second half in the B game and was introduced during the second half in theSenior game. And finally William Kirby came on during the second half in the B game and was on the line as one of Stephen Stack’s Mentors for the whole of the Senior game.
B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-9; Cromane 1-10.
After a very good opening we had a two points lead (0-4 to 0-2) as half time approached. But in the closing three minutes of the half this game was turned on its head with Cromane scoring 1-3 without reply. Two pointed frees by Alan Duggan and one each from play by Jessie O’Sullivan and James Sugrue were our scorers up to then. This left the Mid Kerry side four clear at the break (1-5 to 0-5).
And that was still the margin when referee, Denny O’Sullivan blew the final whistle after both sides had scored five each during that second period. Alan Duggan with three more pointed frees and one each from play by James Sugrue and Louis Ryle were our second half scorers.
The win was Cromane’s first victory in this season’s League and moves them off the bottom of the League Table. The result leaves us still on 10th spot.
Team: Barry Galvin, John Murphy, Eoghan McKivergan, Paul Galvin, Dylan Harnett, Seamus Bastible (Capt), Andrew Morrissey, Alan Duggan (0-5 frees), Shane Crowley, Dale Counihan, James Sugrue (0-2), Louis Ryle (0-1), Danny Carroll, Seán Fitzmaurice, Jessie O’Sullivan (0-1).
Subs used: Denis O’Neill (ht), Sean Dukes (ht), William Kirby (38m), Declan Clifford (45m), Oisín Fitzgerald (53), Niall Carroll Cane (53m).
The Town League commences on this Monday evening (4th July) with an away game against Na Gaeil at 7.30pm.
SENIOR HURLING: Duagh 1-6; Austin Stacks 3-10.
After receiving a walk-over from St. Pats in round 3 of the Co. League we travelled to Duagh on last Friday evening (1st July) to play our postponed round 2 game and came away with ten points to spare in a tough enough encounter.
We took full advantage of the strong wind which favoured us in the first half and led by 2-9 to 0-2 at half time.
After opening points from Peter Doyle and Johnny Downey our first goal came in the 5th minute. When Andrew Morrissey was fouled on his own half back line, Paul Daly’s high ball from the resultant free landed in the square and was doubled on beautifully to the net by Ronan Gilsenan. Duagh’s first score came two minutes later and then we went on to add three more, with Ronan again on target, followed by Rory Forbes and a Peter Doyle free.
Then in the 16th minute Rory put away our second goal and three minutes later Rory and Peter Doyle pointed in quick succession. This was followed by Duagh’s second point of the half in the 23rd minute and the remaining scores of the half came from two pointed frees by Bella.
Proof that the strong wind was definitely a factor came in the second half when the home side outscored us by 1-4 to 1-1. Our goal came in the 49th minute when Ronan put away his second and our point came from another converted free by Peter Doyle after Ian Moynihan was fouled
It was good to see Luke Donnelly back in the fold again after a long absence. Luke’s last game was over four years ago when he lined out in a North Kerry League game against O’Dorney on the 28th March 2012.
Team: John Connolly, Labhrás Long, Eoghan McKivergan, Kevin O’Leary, Andrew Foley (Capt), Paul Daly, Andrew Morrissey, Ciarán Breen, Ian Moynihan, Johnny Downey (0-1), Killian O’Riordan, Rory Forbes (1-2), Ronan Gilsenan (2-1), Seán Hartnett, Peter Doyle (0-6 – four frees).
Subs: Eamon Browne (41m), James Smullen (53m), Luke Donnelly (54m).
U21 FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-8; Dr. Crokes 1-13.
This Co. Championship Quarter Final played in ideal conditions in Connolly Park of last Thursday evening (30th June) could have gone either way but eventually the Killarney boys prevailed with two points to spare.
There was nothing to separate the sides after the first 22 minutes of play with both on four points each – two from play by Fergal Ryan and two pointed frees by Michael O’Donnell, who, 24 hours previously, was winning a Munster JF Championship medal with Kerry.
But a goal and a point in quick succession gave Crokes the edge as half time approached. We did get one more point before the break when a good run by Seán Dukes found Fergal Ryan who put over, to leave the visitors three ahead at the interval (1-5 to 0-5).
Crokes extended that lead further with two more points five minutes after the resumption. But within four minutes we were back on level terms with points from Louis Ryle and Michael O’Donnell (free) and an opportunist goal by Jessie O’Sullivan when he pounced on a defensive error.
Crokes restored their lead again with points in the 41st and 46th minutes but two minutes later we took the lead for the first time when Seán Fitzmaurice, with help from Oisín Fitzgerald, steered the ball to the net. Louis Ryle put us two ahead in the 52nd minute with his second of the game.
But we could not push on from there while in the closing minutes Crokes added four unanswered points to put them through to the semi final of the competition.
Team: Robbie Murphy, Darragh Scanlon, Barry Walsh, Brandon Patterson, Jack Morgan (Capt), Conor Jordan, Jessie O’Sullivan (1-0), Michael O’Donnell (0-3 frees), Philip Quilter, Fergal Ryan (0-3), Seán Ryan, Louis Ryle (0-2), Seán Dukes, Oisín Fitzgerald, Seán Fitzmaurice (1-0).
Subs used: Dylan Harnett (40m), Niall Carroll Cane (55m), Ciarán O’Reilly (57m).
MINOR FOOTBALL: Our Minors play Kenmare District in the opening round of the Co. Championship in Connolly Park on this Wednesday evening (6th July) at 7pm. Best of luck to Team Mentors Wayne Quillinan, John O’Sullivan, Eoin Colgan, Jonathan Conway and Kieran O’Callaghan and the whole squad.
WELL DONE: to Kerry’s three football teams who contested three Provincial Finals in the space of five days, winning all three. Our Juniors and Minors had good wins over Cork with our Seniors overcoming Tipperary. So congratulations to Michael O’Donnell, Ferdia O’Brien and Kieran Donaghy on winning their respective Munster Championship medals.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings, phone Maurice McNamara at 086 3747 642.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions will continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last week’s (27th June) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 3, 7, 10, 11.
The €20 Winners were: Fiona O’Shea and Eoin Colgan, both c/o The Club; Eamonn Gilbert and Gat Carey, both c/o Carmel Quilter; and Helen McSweeney, c/o Denis O’Connor.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Paul Brosnan, Urban Terrace, Boherbee and late of Castleisland and Nora Flynn (nee Heffernan), Kilderry, Milltown (sister-in-law of Paul Lucey, former Club Footballer and SF Team Mentor).
