NA DAOINE ÓGA: The place to have been on Sunday morning last was sunny Caherslee where a fine feast of fabulous football was enjoyed by all. Thanks to our ‘Star’, Kieran Donaghy, for taking time out from his busy schedule to meet everyone in Caherslee, to pose for numerous photos (and to smile in every one of them) and to present the cups.
A large and very appreciative crowd thoroughly enjoyed the fare. A Chiaráin, your club is so proud of you and we wish you continued success in your future sporting endeavours. Ardfhear, a ‘Star’! On Sunday next, we’ll have our final football banquet of ‘16! Once again, Adrienne McLoughlin took some great photos of the action and these can be seen onwww.austinstacks.ie. What an asset she is to The Rock!
The Garry Fernane Cup was presented to winning captain Barry Nagle by Mairead Fernane and Kieran Donaghy. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
Kieran Donaghy with young players in Caherslee. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
PEIL FAOI 6: Yes, we’ve another ‘big’ Sunday coming up…the finals of the Jimmy Barry Cup competition will take place! Indeed, the day of the Jimmy Barry Cup final is always a great day! We’ll have marches, music, medals and a mini-meal (party/cóisir bheag) as part of our grand finale .
PEIL FAOI 8: The sunshine, the large crowd and the ebullient presence of the mighty Kieran Donaghy, but most of all the great skill, sportsmanship and honesty of effort of the 42 players, lit up the occasion of the Under 8 finals of the Kevin Barry and ‘Bracker’ O’Regan Cups at Caherslee on Sunday morning last.
The ‘Black and Ambers’ beat the ‘Super Rockies’ in a great game and skipper Brian Shanahan was a proud boy when presented with the Kevin Barry Cup by ‘Star’.
The ‘Bracker’ O’Regan Cup final ended in a thrilling draw and the captains, Jake Carmody and Rory Lynch, will lead ‘The Rock’ and ‘Super Rockies’ into battle again next Sunday. Roll on the replay…ní bheidh cluiche go dtí é! Well done, all! The Rock is as secure as ever!
PEIL FAOI 10: (i) All systems go with our busy Under 10s! Last weekend had the completion of our internal leagues with trophies being presented in memory of two great Rockies…Gary Fernane and John ‘Galla’ Galvin. Gan dabht ar domhan, and inspired by these two great legends, 4 teams provided a tremendous exhibition! The teams that were captained by Barry Nagle and David Slattery emerged victorious.
The Garry Fernane Cup was presented to Barry by Mairéad Fernane and Kieran Donaghy. The John Galvin Memorial Cup was presented by Aileen Galvin and Kieran Donaghy to David. Many thanks to both the Fernane and Galvin families for their attendance last Sunday and for their ongoing support of The Rockies!!
(ii) More action next Sunday! We’ll have the culmination of our football year with the second running of the JOHN LYNCH MEMORIAL Under 10 Tournament. The event has doubled in size from its initial staging. 16 teams from 8 clubs will take to the fields in Connolly Park ag 11am maidin Dé Domhnaigh.
A great morning’s entertainment has been planned. Kilmacud Crokes will represent The Capital, St Finbarr’s and Glanmire are coming from ‘The Real Capital’ and Listowel, Milltown-Castlemaine, Churchill and Ardfert will join The Rockies in representing The Kingdom. 8 pitches will be on the go simultaneously and 8 senior Kerry referees will make sure that everything is done by the book!!
If you are looking for a morning of fun, of enjoyment and of football at its purest, come down to Connolly Park on Sunday…you won’t be disappointed! Beidh glór phreabadh an leathair agus liúireach lúcháireach na n-imreoirí le cloisteáil; agus beidh peil gan sárú le feiceáil!
PEIL FAOI 11: The annual Na Piarsaigh Club Under 11 Tournament took place in Cork over the weekend. A strong Stack Club team travelled, hoping to win the O’Leary Trophy. Our first game against Kilshannig came almost as soon as we arrived and the squad took time to get going. However, a 6-point half time deficit was overturned, resulting in a win.
Second up were the hosts, Na Piarsaigh. Again, our team started slowly, was ahead by half time, dominated the second half and won comfortably. The final league match against Bishopstown saw our most complete performance of the league format.
Victory was again the result. The results of the league games meant that we faced Bishopstown again in the final…wow! Baile an Easpaig started strongly and raced into an early lead but our midfielders, Aaron Nolan and Colm Browne, gained control and, with centre-back Jack Murphy and centre-forward Damien Hogan excelling, we took a comfortable lead to half time.
Captain Jamie O’Shea was brilliant throughout and gave a Man-of-the-Match performance. Bishopstown had a period of dominance then but our defence, led by Marc Carmody, by Roan Grattan and by Tiernan O’Carroll at full-back, held firm sa bhearna bhaoil.
Several times we broke out of defence and got a few vital scores; James Riordan got the all-important last goal to seal a sweet win. The final margin of victory was 0-4. Others to excel were Ghazi Al Zikrit in his first year playing Gaelic football, Niall Brosnan, our most improved player, and Jack Slattery, playing despite an ankle injury.
Our deadly forward line was completed by Jamie Horgan who was unstoppable at full-forward and the very talented and skilful duo of Michael Tansley and Liam Moroney. Last, but not least, was our great goalie Shane Cotter who made a few great saves when they mattered and whose kick outs were accurate throughout. Well done, all! Mo cheol sibh!
SCÓR NA nÓG: Tralee District Scór na nÓg competitions have been fixed for Thursday 28th in Connolly Park. Best wishes to our participants.
PEIL FAOI 15: We qualified for the finals of the Super Touch competition with a win over the Kerins-O’Rahilly Club. The finals were fixed for this Thursday in Caherslee.
PEIL FAOI 16: Comhghairdeachas! On Sunday last, i gCillín, our Under 16s had a fine victory, finishing our season v Na Gaeil in the Bordcheantar Thrá Lí Divison 2 Football Final. Our boys scored nine goals; the brilliant Michael Slattery netted three and lifted the cup after the last whistle was blown. Final score- AdeS: 9-11; Na Gaeil: 4-14. This completes the Under 16 football season and gives all players more time to concentrate on their ever-important studies. ‘Well done’ to all involved and best wishes to all the boys at minor and Under 16 levels next season. The future looks bright!
ROCK CONNECTION: The Rock had a representative in the Comhaltas ‘Tour of Ireland’ Concert last week in ‘Siamsa Tíre’!! 350 people enjoyed 3 hours of high quality traditional music by Ireland’s best. Among the group was a young talented musician and composer who attended many Rock Club summer camps while on holidays with his family in St Brendan’s Park. Ciarán Mac Gearailt is ainm dó. His dad is Eoin and his seanathair was the late John. All three were chosen for various ‘Tour of Ireland’ groups. Eoin and John were great supporters of our club Irish Nights in Connolly Park and elsewhere many years ago.
COMHGHAIRDEACHAS: ‘Well done’ to our hurlers on their championship final win.
