AUSTIN STACKS NOTES OF 29/04/2014.

SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-11; Milltown/Castlemaine 1-8.

In the first round of the Senior Club Championship played in ideal conditions in Connolly Park on last Sunday afternoon (27th April)  both sides could not be separated after 82 minutes of some tough, intensive football and must meet again after the game was still level after extra time.

In a relatively low-scoring encounter nine minutes had elapsed before David Mannix had the first score of the game. Two more points from Denis McElligott and Shane Carroll (free) left us ahead by three points to no score with five minutes of the first half remaining.But then Milltown put over three quick points (2 from frees) with a Shane O’Callaghan point for us in between to leave us ahead at the break by 0-4 to 0-3.

William Kirby was introduced at half time and he made an immediate impact, winning the throw-in and feeding Shane Carroll who passed to Shane O’Callaghan, who was fouled and Carroll converted the resultant free. Then two minutes later Milltown put over from a free.But the score that put Milltown in the driving seat for the first time came in the 39th minute. After some relentless pressure the ball broke in our goalmouth, and, following a defensive error, landed in the net.

The visitors were now two points in the lead for the first time but we kept up the pressure and with four points to two for Milltown sent the game to extra time with the sides level (0-9 to 1-6) after the hour.
Our four points came from Barry Shanahan (40m), Shane Carroll (free) (48m), Denis McElligott (49m) and Mikey Collins (58m).

Both sides had two points each in the first half of extra time  – ours coming from the two Shanes – Carroll (61m) and O’Callaghan (62m) and Pa McCarthy was most unlucky to see his well-taken penalty come back off the post on the stroke of half time.

The second half of extra time produced no more scores, so now we must travel to  Milltown for the replay which has been fixed for this Saturday evening (3rd May) at 7pm. It was good to see Kieran Donaghy making his first appearance of the season but unfortunately, after only nine minutes on the pitch, he had to come off with a shoulder injury which will sideline him again for a number of weeks. We all wish you a speedy recovery Star.

Team: Jonathan Conway, Ronan Shanahan, Fearghal MacNamara, John Dennis, Pa McCarthy, Daniel Bohan, Conor Jordan, Barry Shanahan (Capt) (0-1),  Wayne Guthrie, Greg Horan, Denis McElligott (0-2), Fiachna Mangan, David Mannix (0-1), Shane Carroll (0-4 – 3 frees), Shane O’Callaghan (0-2).

Subs used: William Kirby (ht), Seamus Bastible (33m), Kieran Donaghy (42m), Mikey Collins (51m)  (0-1), Darragh O’Brien (54m).

Subs used in extra time: Ciarán O’Connell (ht), David Mannix (72m), Greg Horan (75m).

HURLING: Kenmare 1-16; Austin Stacks 2-13.
After a traumatic month which, in normal circumstances,  no young people should have had to experience, our Hurlers finally travelled to Kenmare last evening (28th April) for their first game of the season and did themselves proud in coming away with a draw in round 1 of the JH South Kerry League.
It  was a poignant evening with many tears during the minutes tribute before the game for our beloved colleague, Trevor.

The game itself was very competitive all through, with the sides level at half time (0-8 each)  and, in the end, a draw was a fair result.

Scorers: Paul Daly (2-7), Danny Maguire and John McCarthy (0-2 each), and Peter O’Regan and Ronan Gilsenan (0-1 each).

Our three remaining fixtures in the League are as follows:- R2 at home to Duagh (Wed 14th May); R3 at home to Kilgarvan (Mon 19th May); and R4 away to St. Pats (East Kerry) (Wed 28th May).

MINOR FOOTBALL: This win, in the final round of the Town League played against Na Gaeil in Killeen on Wednesdayevening last (23rd April), qualified us for the final of the competition against Kerins O’Rahillys – a repeat of last season’s encounter which was only concluded just three months ago and which we won.
There were some notable performances by our lads all over the pitch in the Killeen game, with Seán Fitzmaurice scoring a hat trick of goals and eleven players in total getting on the score sheet, including three of our defenders.
Team: Danny Kinsella, Darragh Scanlon (0-1), Niall Carroll-Cane, Anthony Moynihan, Jack Kenny  (Capt) (0-1), Jack O’Shea (1-1), Cathal O’Reilly, Michael O’Donnell, Calvin Foley (0-2), Timmy Murphy (0-2), Seán Dukes (1-3), Craig Corcoran (0-1), Seán Fitzmaurice (3-2), Ciarán Flanagan (2-2 – 1 free), Sam Nealon.
Subs: Shane O’Neill (ht) (0-1 free), Jessie O’Sullivan (38m) (1-0).
The final has been fixed for next Friday evening (2nd May) with the venue and starting time to be announced.

SUNDAY LUNCH: Dave Baitson (former Head chef at Ballingary House Hotel and now of Tralee Bay Wetlands) is continuing to serve Sunday lunches in the Clubhouse from 12 to 4pm. Bookings on 066 7126942.  And the feedback (is there a pun there?) from those who have savoured the menu indicates that the fare is superb and the price unbeatable.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS: In the space of eight days three super Rockies have celebrated or will celebrate birthdays. Michael Chucky O’Connell was 85 last Sunday (27th April). Joe Flaherty will be 86 on this Thursday (1st May) while JJ Murphy will be a young 81 on next Sunday (4th May).  Happy birthday to all three from everyone in the Club.

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.
All at the Bingo extend sincere sympathy to Alice Naughton and Doreen Sugrue, mother and sister of the late Tom Naughton (see Sympathy)

CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse every Monday and Thursday nights at 9.30pm.

LOTTO: Last Monday’s (28th  April) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 17, 21, 22 and 31.
The €20 prizes went to Pat Kissane and John O’Riordan, both c/o The Club; Tadgh Carroll, c/o Carmel O’Neill; Billy Ryle, c/o Club Rockies and Anne Murphy, c/o The Ladies.

SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of Mary Reidy (nee Foran), Connolly Park and late of Glenderry and Caherulla, Ballyheigue; Tom Naughton, St. Brendans Park (brother of former Club Footballers, Anne Slattery and  the late John Joe, and a former Juvenile player with the Club himself); Bríd Brosnan, Milk Market Lane and late of Banoge, Lispole; and Paddy Brophy, O’Rahilly’s Villas (a Co. Championship medal winner with Kerins O’Rahillys in 1957)  who died during the past week.