CLUB WEBSITE: Readers should note that the Club Website is the only place where you are guaranteed to get full Reports of games played during the previous week. Understandably, the local publications cannot always use our full Reports through lack of space on some occasions.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-9; Milltown/Castlemaine 0-9.
This Round 5 back game in the Co. League played in windy conditions in Connolly Park on last Sunday afternoon (8th June) was the third meeting between the sides in the space of six weeks and, after a dour dogged affair, ended all square, as did the first game.
We opened the scoring after three minutes when good work by Barry Shanahan ended with a Shane O’Callaghan point. We then spurned a number of guilt-edged chances, admittedly against a very strong breeze. On the other hand Milltown took full advantage of the elements and scored four points without reply by the 20th minute
However in the remaining minutes of the half we began to take control again with Wayne Guthrie and William Kirby winning good ball in the centre and our defenders attacking in droves and this yielded two good points from play by Mikey Collins (fed by Fearghal MacNamara) and Shane O’Callaghan (fed by Darragh Long) and a converted free by David Mannix following a foul on Mikey Collins.
A pointed free by Milltown in the 27th minute left them ahead by one at half time (0-5 to 0-4).
Austin Stacks David Mannix being closely tracked by Milltown/Castlemaine’s Damian Murphy. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
One of the few free-flowing movements in the game came straight from the throw-in. Milltown won the throw-in but the alert Fiachna Mangan intercepted their move forward, who found Darragh Long with a good pass, who transferred to Shane O’Callaghan and he placed David Mannix for a lovely point. It took another ten minutes for the next score to come, another David Mannix pointed free after Fiachna Mangan was fouled. Then in the 42nd minute Ciarán O’Connell, in one of his many trade-mark runs upfield saw his good shot go over off the inside of the post.
The game was continually being held up through injuries to players and by the odd fraca here and there and hence twelve minutes had elapsed before the next score came – a pointed free for the visitors, followed by another two minutes later to level the match for the 4th time in the game (0-7 each).
By the 56th minute the sides were still level after both sides converted placed balls – ours again by David Mannix following a foul on Shane O’Callaghan after he received following a good run by Club Minor Seán Ryan, who was just a minute on the pitch at that stage, and making his Senior debut as well.
When Milltown went ahead again almost three minutes into injury time it looked over for us but in one final attack we won a free and, under pressure and from distance, David Mannix put over a brilliant equalizer and, like our B game on Friday evening, the game ended level.
Paul Carroll for Milltown/Castlemaine can’t catch Austin Stacks Mikey Collins. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
As well as Seán Ryan, Eoghan McKivergan was also making his Senior debut and he did very well throughout the game, keeping his man scoreless for the 70 minutes (yes five minutes of additional time was played in each half). Darren Tiernan, who joined us at the start of the season from Cavan, also made his Senior debut (he has played games with the B team) when coming on to steady the ship towards the end of the game
The result leaves us still in third spot on the table with a game in hand, while it moves Milltown off the bottom of the table into 10th position, albeit on score difference.
Team: Jonathan Conway, Eoin McKivergan, Fearghal MacNamara, John Dennis, Conor Jordan, Barry Shanahan (Capt), Ciarán O’Connell (0-1), Wayne Guthrie, William Kirby, Greg Horan, Michael Collins (0-1), Fiachna Mangan, David Mannix (0-5 – 4 frees), Shane O’Callaghan (0-2), Darragh Long.
Subs: Darragh O’Brien (42m), Michael O’Donnell (48m), Seán Ryan (53m), Darren Tiernan (54m).
Our scheduled round 6 game, away to Dingle, goes ahead on next Saturday evening (14th June) at 7.30pm. We then still have our round 4 back game to play, at home to Rathmore, and this could well be fixed for the following weekend.
YOUNGEST PLAYER: We alluded in last week’s Notes that there may be younger SF County Championship debutants other than Michael O’Donnell and Mikey Sheehy. Well we didn’t have to look too far or indeed go back that far to find one. There he was playing a major part in last Sunday week’s win in Listowel – none other than Shane Carroll. Shane who was just 16 years and 299 days when he made his debut in Austin Stack Park on the 17th May 2008 in our 1st round win over Killarney Legion (0-14 to 1-9). Now the search is ongoing to discover if there was someone younger than Shane.
HURLING: Austin Stacks 1-18; St. Pats (East Kerry) 0-3.
Our Hurlers travelled to Fossa last Wednesday evening (4th June) and came away with a comprehensive win over the local side in the 4th and final round of the South Kerry League.
The game was really over at half time when we led by 1-12 to 0-2. Understandably, we eased up a little in the second half but still played sufficiently well to add a further six points to just one for the opposition. Our combination play was brilliant, so was our support play, as was our first touch, our workrate and our fielding – everything that will please Team Mentors Mark Power and Ger Scollard, as the season progresses.
All six forwards as well as our two midfield men got on the score sheet. Even goalkeeper Peter Doyle got two points from play. No, it wasn’t from his puck-outs. At half time Bella went to full forward while Michael O’Leary went into goals. Bella’s first point came just 25 seconds after the resumption and his second, eight minutes later, was even more spectacular as, under pressure, his lofted kick went straight over the bar.
It was good to see Damien McCarthy, John Bradley and Jason Conway making their first appearances of the season. All eighteen played so well that it would be difficult to pick a Man of the Match, especially for this poor scribe. For his intensity and workrate Shane Fitzgerald might shade it but in fairness it could go to any of the lads.
Team: Peter Doyle (0-2), Kevin O’Leary, Peter O’Regan, Paudie Bradley, Andrew Morrissey, Jim McCarthy, Seán King, Shane Fitzgerald (0-1), Joe Brennan (0-2), Michael O’Leary (0-1), Danny Maguire (0-3), John McCarthy (0-2), Paul Daly (Capt) (1-4 – 2 free, one 65), Brian Meehan (0-2), Pádraig Lynch (0-1).
Subs: Damien McCarthy (43m), John Bradley (47m). Jason Conway (52m).
The win sees us level on points with Kenmare which necessitates a playoff between both sides, with the winners going through to the South Kerry League final and the losers playing Duagh in the semi final. No date has been fixed as we write.
SENIOR HURLING: The revised fixtures for Div 3 of the County SH League have come to hand. This became necessary following the withdrawl of Dr. Crokes and Kilgarvan from the competition.
In round 1 we have a home game against Kenmare on this Wednesday evening at 7.30. Our remaining three rounds are on consecutive Wednesday evenings, all at 7.30. Round 2 away to St. Pats (18th June); Round 3 at home to Duagh (25th June) and the
4th and final round away to Crotta on 2nd July.
Even though the Co. Board document doesn’t specify it is assumed that the same system will apply as last year, with the top team going through to the final and the 2nd and 3rd teams playing in a semi final.
JUNIOR B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 1-10; Rathmore 1-10.
Without playing a game in three weeks our B team travelled to Rathmore on Friday evening last (6th June) for only their second Co. League game of the season and were satisfied enough to come home with a share of the spoils.
We played against the very strong wind in the first half and, despite this, only trailed by a point at half time (0-8 to 1-4). Darragh Long lined out at full forward for his very first game of the season and after 13 minutes of play had given proof to the old saying ‘that form is temporary but class is permanent’. By that stage Darragh had put over two difficult frees in the 4th and 6th minutes and scored a brilliant individual goal in the 13th minute. In between Brían Mangan also scored a super long-distanced point to leave us ahead at that stage by 1-3 to 0-2.
Aided by the elements Rathmore then began to dominate and in the space of nine minutes (15th to the 24th) added six points without reply, to put them two ahead.
A brilliant run by Louis Ryle (introduced in the 19th minute) saw the 17 year old Minor put over two minutes later to leave the home side just one ahead as half time approached . But now another man who was making his first appearance of the season came into focus. Seán Purcell agreed to play in goals when none of our regular keepers were available and did the business superbly when making a brilliant save from a penalty a minute from the break.
Three minutes after the restart Brían Mangan was fed by Ciarán Flanagan and Brían leveled the game again. Then in the 38th minute a Rathmore attack saw the ball come off the post which was finished to the net. Scores were scarce between then and the 54th minute with the home side scoring two to just one for us from another Darragh Long free.
Rathmore were now ahead by four (1-10 to 1-6) with just six minutes remaining. But with Brían Mangan fetching some super balls at midfield we kept pressing, yielding points from play by Dale Counihan and Darren Tiernan and one from a Mikey Collins free to leave us one adrift as the game entered added time. But deep in injury time we were awarded a free and, from a difficult angle, veteran Mikey Collins sent over the equalizer for a well deserved draw.
Team: Seán Purcell, Paul Galvin, Jack O’Shea, Nicholas Gogarty, Tom McLoughlin, Cathal O’Reilly, Niall Carroll-Cane, Brían Mangan (0-2), Darren Tiernan (0-1), Dale Counihan (0-1), Eoin Colgan, Shane Crowley, Pádraig Lynch (Capt), Darragh Long (1- 3 – 3 frees), Ciarán Flanagan.
Subs: Louis Ryle (19m) (0-1), Michael Collins (ht) (0-2 frees), Seán Hurley (52m), Anthony Moynihan (52m).
We now have three more rounds to play, the first of which, away to John Mitchels, goes ahead on this Monday evening (9th June). See Club Website for details. We are also away in our remaining two games against Kilcummin and Legion on dates to be fixed.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. Phone Ian from 7pm at 066 7126942 for bookings.
BINGO: The Bingo session will continue on this and every Saturday night at 8.30pm in our Clubrooms.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse every Monday and Thursday nights at 9.30pm.
LOTTO: Last Monday week’s (2nd June) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 10, 21, 25 and 29.
The €20 prizes went to Bertie Flynn, c/o The Ladies; Noreen Ashe, c/o The Bingo; and Eamon Linnane, Brendan O’Regan and George Jordan, all c/o Club Rockies.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of Catherine Smith (nee O’Carroll), Green Lawn, Curragraigue; Paddy McCarthy, Mitchels Avenue and late of St. Brendans Park and Upper Caherina; Dee McQuinn, Bridge Street (relative of former Club Secretary, Catherine Ryan); Bridget Flanagan, Tobar Naofa, Dean’s Lane; Mary T. O’Sullivan, Connolly Park and late of Reenard and Cahersiveen; and Annie Fitzelle (nee Hegarty), Ballyduhig, Listowel and late of Clash (Tralee) and London who died during the past week.
