Austin Stacks GAA Club News

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ONLINE REGISTRATION: The online registration site for the new GAA Membership Card and grma rewards programme is now live. Austin Stacks Club Members who are over 18 years can register for the programme at www.gaa.ie/grma. Registered Members will receive their official GAA Membership Card personalised with their name, club and GAA membership number.

The grma rewards programme will also provide registered GAA Members with access to exclusive discounts, special offers and the opportunity to earn points for going to games. Points can be redeemed by individual members or pooled for redemption by GAA clubs. Members need their GAA membership number to register on gaa.ie/grma.

Please text Club Secretary Elma Nix on 086 1053300 to request your membership number and she will text the number back to you.

JOBSMATCH 2017: Summer, Part Time & Full Time Employment Opportunities

With huge success for the last 2 years we are now taking CV’s for Summer, part time and full time employment.

Please consider this golden opportunity where you will receive all the tools to update your CV and direct help with interview techniques from the Jobmatch Mentors. Feedback from employers continues to be very positive. Please email jobmatch@austinstacks.ie.

SENIOR FOOTBALL: Dr. Crokes 0-10; Austin Stacks 0-4.

Perhaps the kindest way to describe our performance in this first round game (quarter final) of this season’s Club Championship, played  in Lewis Road on yesterday afternoon (23rd April), would be to say we had an off-day.

It was certainly our lowest score (0-4) in Senior football since 1990 and Tim Slattery informs us that the last time we scored less was in a Co. League game away back almost 41 years ago – on the 23rd May 1976 – when we were at the receiving end against Castleisland Desmonds (3-5 to 0-1), with Jackie Power scoring the lone point for the Rock that day.

Anyhow, back to yesterday when our first score came after 14 minutes (Pa McCarthy) by which time Crokes had five on the board. A second followed in quick succession when Kieran Donaghy put Jack Morgan through. And just approaching half time it was Pa McCarthy again who pointed, to leave us trailing by four at the break (0-7 to 0-3).

The second half was a total write-off with Crokes scoring just three more points (34m, 47m, and 59m) and as the 62ndminute approached we had scored nothing. Then, literally, in the last second of the game  Mikey Collins saved our blushes somewhat when he put over a free.

Both Star and Jack Morgan were making their first appearances of the season and neither could be faulted for lack of effort.  Neither could our defence be blamed as this must also be one the lowest scores by Crokes in a long time and that was down to a very good display by our back six. David Hennessy had to make one outstanding save late on to keep the margin down to six points.

Team: David Hennessy, Ronan Shanahan, Fearghal MacNamara, Barry Walsh, Jack O’Shea, Pa McCarthy (0-2), Jack Morgan (0-1), Michael O’Donnell, Greg Horan, Fiachna Mangan, Shane O’Callaghan (Capt), Seán Dukes, David Mannix, Kieran Donaghy, Darragh O’Brien.

Subs used: Shane Carroll (23m), Michael Collins (42m) (0-1 free), Alan Duggan (42m), Shane Guthrie (50m), Darragh Scanlon (57m), Denis Costello (60m).

We now await details of who and when we play in the Co. Championship relegation game. Depending on who we draw, this game could be fixed for the coming week-end.

HURLING: St. Brendans 3-18; Austin Stacks 0-12.

We travelled to Ardfert on last Wednesday evening (19th April) for round 2 of the North Kerry IH League and after a good start (the sides were level on 0-3 each at the end of the first quarter) the home side finished the stronger – leading at the break by 2-8 to 0-5. Paul Daly with three points (one from a free and one from a sixty five) and one each from play by Ronan Gilsenan and Danny Maguire were our scorers.

The Ardfert boys kept up the pressure in the second half – out-scoring us again by 1-10 to 0-7.

Paul Daly was on fire again during this second period putting over six brilliant points – all from long-distance frees – with Paul Hennessy scoring our only point from play in this half. Paul and Danny Maguire had swapped places for the last quarter.

Team: Paul Hennessy (0-1), Ian Moynihan, Michael O’Leary, David Walsh, Johnny Downey, Killian O’Riordan, Andrew Morrissey, Robert Byrne, Kieran McCaughley, Eamon Browne, Danny Maguire (0-1), Paul Daly (0-9 – seven frees, one sixty five), Tadhg Meehan, Seán Hartnett, Ronan Gilsenan (0-1).

Sub: Terry Desmond (ht).

In the 3rd and final round we are away to Ladys Walk. At the moment the game is fixed for next Saturday  (29th April) at 6.30pm. Keep in touch with the Club website in case of any change.

MINOR FOOTBALL: Dingle 2-10; Austin Stacks 3-7.

Our Minors came within a whisker of losing their season’s unbeaten record in Dingle on last Tuesday evening (18th April) but a brilliant long-ranged point by David Fitzmaurice in the 63rd minute saw this penultimate round of the Co. League end in a draw in dramatic fashion.

Played in perfect conditions no more than two points separated the sides at any stage during the first half, at the end of which we led by 1-4 to 1-2.

Gearóid Fitzgerald opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with the home side equalizing a minute later. A beautiful point, into the breeze, from a well-taken forty five by Ciarán O’Reilly put us back in the lead after seven minutes. Four minutes later Dingle were back in the lead when a dipping ball deceived Robbie (and very seldom has this happened) and dropped into the net, Two good points from Michael Slattery and a Harry O’Callaghan free leveled matters again after 16 minutes (0-4 to 1-1).

Only two more scores came in the second quarter – a 25th minute point for Dingle and two minutes later a perfect pass from Ciaran O’Reilly found Michael Slattery and his low shot found the net to give us that two points lead at half time.

Three Dingle points, and two for our boys, left us just one ahead ten minutes into the second half. Then in the 43rd minute a second Michael Slattery goal put us four up. But a minute later a Dingle free somehow found its way to the net and they added two more points by the 53rd minute to inch ahead by one point again (2-7 to 2-6).

But if there is one thing we have learned from this year’s Minor Team it’s their never-say-die attitude. And this was displayed again two minutes later. Donagh McMahon won the kick-out. He quickly found Joseph O’Connor,  who burst his way through the Dingle defence, and his perfect pass to Michael Slattery was placed beautifully by Michael into the corner of the net to clinch his hat-trick and give us a two point lead again .

However Dingle fought back in the closing minutes, putting over three unanswered points to give them a one point lead again as the clock ticked over the 60th minute. Then deep in added time the ice-cool David Fitzmaurice pointed from long range to level matters for the 5th and final time in the game.

Team: Robbie Murphy, Shane Kelliher, Dylan Casey, Tomás Sheehy, Odhran Liston, Ciarán O’Reilly (0-1 – forty five), Donagh McMahon (0-1), David Fitzmaurice (0-1), Shane Walsh (Capt), Conor Lowe, Michael Linnane, Donagh McKivergan (0-1), Gearóid Fitzgerald (0-1), Harry O’Callaghan (0-1 free), Michael Slattery (3-1).

Subs used: Joseph O’Connor (41m), Gearóid Sheehan (47m), James Quigley (47m), David Couchman (53m).

MINOR HAT TRICKS: So far this has been a year of hat-tricks for our Minors. Earlier in the season both Harry O’Callaghan and Gearóid Fitzgerald have achieved this – both in Town League games – Harry against Ballymac on the 5thFebruary and Gearóid against John Mitchels on the 15th March.

However, Michael Slattery’s hat-trick in Dingle on this Tuesday evening (18th April) was in the Co. League, and we have to go back to the millennium year of 2000 to find that last Co. League hat-trick. And it was scored by none other than Mikey Collins (still, to this present day, playing SF for the Club). Mikey scored that hat-trick in a Co. League semi final, played in Cromane (against Waterville-Dromid), on Sunday, 7th May 2000. And Michael Slattery was just 36 days old when Mikey achieved that feat.

MINOR FOOTBALL: Firies 0-4; Austin Stacks 2-15.

Having already booked their place in this season’s Co. League semi final, this last round game, played in summer-like conditions in Farranfore on last Friday evening (21st April), was used by Team Manager Wayne Quillinan and his fellow mentors (John O’Sullivan, Jonathan Conway, Eoin Colgan and Kieran O’Callaghan) to give as much game-time as possible to as many of the squad as possible.

Firies were missing their two Kerry Minors but they still looked dangerous when on the attack. And the fact that they were held to just two points in each half was down to a superb display by our defence. All six who started and the subs used during the hour provided a lesson to all in defensive play. In fact David Oba in goals had little or nothing to do. However David’s kick-outs were brilliant – finding a colleague nearly all the time. And if one player had to named above all others it would have to be Donagh McMahon who was outstanding.

Shane Walsh and David Fitzmaurice were up against two very good midfielders but came out well on top over the course of the game. All our six forwards got on the score sheet as well as second-half substitute, David Couchman. Our two goals came from Gearóid Fitzgerald – the first after a minute of play and the second half way through the second half. We led by 1-8 to 0-2 at half time and in the second half added a further 1-7 to 0-2.

It was great to see Pádraig Looney making his first start of the season after his long-term lay-off through injury. His last game was away back on 12th March last year. He has missed a total of 19 games since (11 last year and the first 8of this year) due to that injury. Podge got a well-deserved standing ovation from his playing colleagues and the supporters at the game when he was introduced in the 49th minute and his display in the closing 11 minutes of the game looked as if he had never been away.

Team: David Oba, Shane Kelliher, Dylan Casey, James Quigley, Donagh McMahon, Ciarán O’Reilly (0-2 – one forty five; one free), Odhran Liston, Shane Walsh (Capt) (0-1), David Fitzmaurice, Donagh McKivergan (0-1 free) , Michael Linnane (0-2), Conor Lowe (0-2), Gearóid Fitzgerald (2-1), Michael Slattery (0-1), Harry O’Callaghan (0-4 frees).

Subs used: Gearóid Sheehan (39m), Dara Barry-Walsh (46m), David Couchman (47m) (0-1), Pádraig Looney (49m), Joe Looby (50m), Dean Scanlon (52m).

The other results in this final round of games mean we will meet Firies again in the semi final with Dingle and Dr. Crokes meeting in the other semi.

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 (17th April) Jackpot, worth €5,500, was not won. The numbers drawn were 16, 17, 26, 30. The €20 winners were: Fionán Ryan, Joan Barry and Áine Keane, all c/o Club Rockies; Rosarie Horgan, c/o Rock St. P.O. and Pauline McCarthy, c/o Carmel O’Neill.

SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – JP O’Brien, Strand Street and late of Lohercannon and Boston; Noel Moriarty, New Marian Park and formerly Caherina Cottages; Mary Aherne (nee Murphy), St. John’s Park and formerly Ballylongford; Veronica Nahavandi (nee Ferriter), Glencairn, Caherslee; and Rita O’Regan, The Kerries (wife of Denis (Dee Butcher) and mother of former Club players, David, Denis, Fergal, Brendan and Jonathan, and grandmother of current Club footballer, Sarah).

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