CORPORATE LUNCH 2017: Our thanks to Adrienne McLoughlin for the following comprehensive Report…
2017 marks the year Austin Stacks Hurling & Football Club celebrates its centenary, and on Friday 24th February the club held one of its main events of the year – a corporate lunch – which was held at Ballygarry House Hotel. 430 patrons enjoyed a champagne reception and lunch, the event continuing in true Rockie style ‘til late into the night.
There was excellent entertainment throughout the meal, with MC for the day, Darragh Maloney (RTE Sports Presenter/Commentator) co-ordinating proceedings. Events got underway with a video of Austin Stacks 100th birthday, a celebration of the history of our club which can be accessed on the club website on the following link: www.stacks100.ie.
Club Chairman, Liam Lynch spoke about club development – past, present and future and this was followed by a panel discussion based on the All-Ireland Football Final between Dublin and Kerry of 1978 and that infamous and legendary goal by Mikey Sheehy catching Paddy Cullen off his line.
We were treated to a video of that event, with special guests Paddy Cullen and Robbie Kelliher of Dublin joining proceedings to discuss what happened that day.
A video was also shown of a recent re-enactment by these players (kitted out in their Kerry/Dublin gear – some sight!) in Croke Park of that famous football incident. The question lingers whether a free should have been awarded at all, one for the annals of football history!
Other football legends from those years present were Jimmy Kerrigan, Colman Corrigan, Denny Allen, Ogie Moran, Eoin Liston, Ger O’Keeffe, Ger Power, Tony O’Keeffe, Dr. Con Murphy, as well as many present day Kerry footballers, with Diarmuid O’Sé, Kerry County Board Vice-Chairman.The meal followed before which Fr. Padraig Walsh, Parish Priest of St. Brendans remembered past and present members of Austin Stacks Club.
Darragh Maloney then introduced a panel discussion with Darragh O’Se, Ogie Moran, Denny Allen and Kieran Donaghy comparing their football experiences down the years and how the game has changed. A few stories were also shared with the appreciative audience.
All present had the opportunity of participating in the raffle, many excellent sponsored prizes were on offer (golf outing to Druids Glen; signed jersey; Munster vs Toulouse rugby tickets etc.), with this writer being one of the lucky winners on the day. Dr. Con Murphy of Cork presented Mikey Sheehy with the no. 14 Kerry Jersey.
The Corporate Lunch was a very well organised and enjoyable function for all present, congratulations and well done to Liam Lynch and his team, J.P. Brick, Frank Stephenson, Ger O’Keeffe, Mairead Fernane, Bernie Mannix and many others. Thanks to Ballygarry House Hotel for their excellent facilities and professionalism.
We in Austin Stacks Hurling & Football Club look forward to many more events both on and off the pitch in Connolly Park and on “The Street of Champions” during our centenary year. Rockies Abu!
RORY KIRBY PROJECT: In Adrienne’s Report above you will see reference to a Website (www.stacks100,ie) which is a must for any Rockie to visit.
It’s the product of Rory Kirby and is a collection of audio and video pieces celebrating some of the main achievements of the past 100 years. This is just the start of what will be the release of similar material over the coming months.
The current website includes a full video of the 1994 Co. Final as well as Rory’s excellent production entitled ‘Rockumentary’ – a celebration of the events of 2014 in which we won the County and Munster SF Championships. It’s a brilliant production. Well done Rory.
CENTENARY MEMBERSHIP DEAL: We are asking existing members, players, former players, supporters, parents of juvenile players both boys & girls clubs, business owners and friends of Austin Stacks (living abroad or at home) to consider becoming a Member of the Club and also entry to the Austin Stacks Weekly lotto.
The total cost for this dual package is by direct debit €10 a month. 2017 Direct Debit Mandate membership/lotto forms are now available from all Executive Officers or can be posted out to anyone who wishes to join – email Secretary.austinstacks.kerry@gaa.ie or text your name & address to Club Secretary on 086 1053300. Please sign up and play your part in guaranteeing the financial future of our great club.
GAELTACHT SCHOLARSHIPS: are funded by GAA Coistí (Munster, Kerry & District Boards) to give some financial help to young students who wish to spend time in Corcha Dhuibhne, West Kerry over the summer months.
If you wish your child to avail of the scoláireacht, apply immediately by texting your child’s name to Club Secretary on 086 1053300. All applicants must be registered members of Austin Stacks GAA or Austin Stacks Ladies Club. Closing date for receipt of applications March 31st.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Our Seniors have reached the Town League Final for the 4th year in a row, winning all our four round games. We will play either Ballymac or Kerins O’Rahillys in that final.
That Ballymac/Rahillys game, which did not go ahead last weekend due to the bad weather, has now been fixed for next Sunday (5th March) with the Final now put back to the following weekend (w/e 12th March).
MINOR FOOTBALL: Na Gaeil 0-8; Austin Stacks 4-12.
On a very windy, but dry, Wednesday afternoon (22nd Feb) in Killeen our Minors recorded their second win (our postponed round one game) in this season’s Town League. We were lucky to have won the toss and played with the aid of that almost gale-force wind in the first half, which we took full advantage of. We led at half time by 2-9 to 0-1.
Na Gaeil did play a lovely brand of attacking football and could have been ahead after two minutes but for a brilliant save by Robbie Murphy.
It took us a little while to settle but once centre-back, Donagh McMahon opened the scoring in the 5th minute there was no stopping us after that. In the next five minutes we had added a further 2-3, with Gearóid Sheehan putting over our second point and a goal and a point each from Donagh McKivergan and Joe Looby after some brilliant support play from people like Shane Kelliher, James Quigley, Michael Linnane, Shane Walsh, Harry O’Callaghan and Alan Dore.
Our remaining five points of the half came, all bar one, from Donagh McKivergan again, with Odhran Liston putting over the last of the half.
It wasn’t all plain sailing in that first half however, as our defence was under severe pressure at times from an attack-minded Na Gaeil side but, as well as those already mentioned, men like Tomás Sheehy, Cian Talbot and Conor Lowe defended superbly and were assisted at times by our half forward line who also came back to defend.
Na Gaeil were playing with the aid of that gale in the second half and after twenty minutes had out-scored us by 0-6 to 0-3 – all our three points coming from Donagh McKivergan pointed frees. However our next two scores (two brilliant goals) really put the game to bed and they came from two of our substitutes. The first came from Garry Clifford (in the 50th minute), who was just a minute on the pitch at that stage and who was making his Minor debut, and the second came from David Couchman (less than a minute later), fresh from his exploits with Tralee CBS in the Corn Uí Mhuirí.
Garry Clifford’s goal, just one minute into his debut game, could be the fastest goal scored by a debutant. So far we haven’t found anyone else. His uncle Garrett had to wait for his second game to score his first goal at Minor level (April 1994). Garry, of course, is son of Michael (Chips) and grandson of the late Garry, two outstanding footballers in their day.Team: Robbie Murphy, Shane Kelliher, Tomás Sheehy, James Quigley, Cian Talbot, Donagh McMahon (0-1), Conor Lowe, Michael Linnane, Shane Walsh (Capt), Gearóid Sheehan (0-1), Harry O’Callaghan, Odhran Liston (0-1), Joe Looby (1-1), Donagh McKivergan (1-8 – 4 frees), Alan Dore.
Subs used: David Couchman (44m) (1-0), Dean Scanlon (44m), Garry Clifford (49m) (1-0), Simon Draghici (52m).So that’s two down and three to go. The first of those three games – the round 3 game away to John Mitchels – is fixed for this Wednesday night (1st March) at 7.30pm. The postponed round 4 game, at home to Ardfert, has yet to be refixed as we write, and the 5th and final round, away to O’Rahillys, is still fixed for its original date (Friday, 17th March).
In the meantime we were due to open our Co. League campaign on next Saturday (4th March) with a home game against Laune Rangers but we now have a request in from the Killorglin Club looking for a postponement which is likely to add further chaos to the fixtures schedule.
CORN UÍ MHUIRÍ; Tough luck on Tralee CBS in last Saturday’s Corn Uí Mhuirí Munster Final. We now wish the winners – St. Brendan’s Seminary, Killarney – the best of luck in the remainder of the competition.
CLUB REPRESENTATION: It has been a busy week also for a number of other Club representatives. Hard luck on Club Hurler, Breandán Caball whose College’s team (Marino Institute of Education) just lost out in the Maher Cup Final.
Likewise Kerry were pipped at the post by Monaghan in round 3 of the NFL, but no fault to Ronan Shanahan who had a brilliant game at wing-back, playing his first full 70 minutes for the county at Senior level.
One man that had something to celebrate was Seán McMahon (brother of Club Secretary, Elma Nix). Seán –a Club Rockie Member – is also a member of his adopted Club – Cuala – and their Hurlers got through to the All Ireland SH Club Final with a semi final win over Slaughtneil. Seán, a mentor with Cuala’s MF team, had also the honour of presenting the ‘Man of the Match’ Award after that game.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 continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last week’s (20th Feb) Jackpot, worth €5,100, was not won. The numbers drawn were 4, 7, 9, 11. The €20 winners were: John Walsh and Martin Collins, both c/o Club Rockies; Kieran Keane and Liam Ryan, both c/o Carmel O’Neill; and Michelle Walmsley, c/o Richard Healy.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Máire (Mary) Moriarty (nee Casey), Hillview Drive, Caherslee and late of Renanirree (Cork) – one of the Club’s regular Bingo players and mother of former Juvenile Footballer – the late John Moriarty and grandmother of current U14 player, Donnacha Fox); James (Jim) Hogan, Coolruane, Lixnaw (brother of Damien, brother-in-law of Mairéad and Uncle of former Club footballers, Sinéad, Michael and TJ); and Patricia Hoey (nee Cartlidge), Connolly Park and late of Brookville (Tipperary).
