SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-11; Glenbeigh/Glencar 0-6.
After going down, away to Kilcummin, in our first game, our Seniors came away from Glenbeigh on last Sunday after noon (12th Apr) with their first brace of Co. League points in game 2 (round 3) of the Competition.
We got off to a perfect start with Conor Jordan winning the throw in and then Fearghal MacNamara, William Kirby, and Darragh Long linking well to put Shane O’Callaghan through for the opening point of the game after 22 seconds. With the pitch a little soft after the overnight heavy rain scores were scarce enough for the rest of the half. By the 20th minute both sides had just two points on the board, our second coming from another Shane O’Callaghan effort in the 5th minute.
But we finished the half the stronger scoring three more points from play from Fiachna Mangan and two by Greg Horan. Good defensive displays by both sides also contributed to the low-scoring first half, with our kick-outs by Jonathan finding a colleague on six of the seven occasions. We led at half time by 0-5 to 0-2.
A good start to the second half by the home side saw them wipe out our lead in the space of seven minutes. Wayne Guthrie was just four minutes on the pitch when he sent over a perfect 45 for our first score of this half (in the 43rd minute). This was followed, two minutes later, by one from play by Seán Ryan and then Shane Carroll pointed two frees in quick succession to give us a four points cushion.
However it took a brilliant Jonathan Conway save in the 52nd minute to preserve that lead and this spurred us on to add two more from Mikey Collins and Wayne Guthrie before Glenbeigh got one back in added time to leave us with five points to spare at the end.
It was good to see Daniel Bohan making his first appearance since the game in Portlaoise (on 15th Feb) and he certainly steadied the ship when introduced for the last ten minutes.
Team: Jonathan Conway, Ronan Shanahan, Barry Shanahan,, Denis McElligott, Pa McCarthy, Fearghal MacNamara (Capt), Barry Walsh, Conor Jordan, William Kirby, Fiachna Mangan (0-1), Greg Horan (0-2), Shane Carroll (0-2 frees), Darragh Long, David O’Sullivan, Shane O’Callaghan (0-2).
Subs used: Seán Ryan (ht) (0-1), Michael Collins (35m) (0-1), Wayne Guthrie (39m) (0-2 – one 45), Daniel Bohan (50m), Brían Mangan (57m), Eoghan McKivergan (58m).
We have a two week break now to our next outing which will be an away game against either Ardfert or Laune Rangers (they meet next Sunday, 19th April) in the quarter final of the Club Championship. The game is fixed for Saturday week, 25th April at 6.30pm.
SF CO. LEAGUE DIV 5: Duagh 1-18; Austin Stacks 1-7
Our B team, short a number of first choice players due to the clash of fixtures, put up a good show in Duagh on Sunday last (11th April) in round 3 of the Co. League but had to give way to a better side on the day. Down at half time by 1-9 to 0-3 we put up a better show in the second half, scoring 1-4 with the home side adding 0-9.
Scorers: Seán Fitzmaurice (1-0); Danny Carroll (0-3 frees), Seamus Bastible (0-2), Eoin Colgan (0-1), Niall Carroll-Cane (0-1).
Our thanks to Brian Caball for the above details.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-6; Kerins O’Rahillys 1-6.
Two Town League titles in six days is a good start to the season – the first by our Seniors last Saturday week, and then on last Friday evening (10th April) our Minors followed suit when they won their final in Connolly Park.
This was definitely a game of two halves, from a weather point of view, with summer-like sunshine during the first half and heavy rain with a strong cold wind during the last 20 minutes of the game.
The first half yielded only four scores – three for us and one for Strand Road and that Strand Road score came after just 36 seconds from a pointed free. Our first score came in the 7th minute from a Ferdia O’Brien point. It took 15 minutes for the next score to come and it was a good one. Michael Linnane and Sean Fitzmaurice (on the pitch for only two minutes) were involved in the build-up with Calvin Foley sending a low shot to the net.
Calvin was involved again in the 26th minute when he put over a Ferdia O’Brien cross. At half time we led by 1-2 to 0-1. Our defence again did splendidly in this half with under 16 player, Padraig Looney really excelling.
Like the first half, Rahillys opened the scoring a minute after the resumption with a pointed free. We responded immediately with three good points in as many minutes. The first came when Sean Fitznaurice put Shane Walsh through, who punched over. Then Louis Ryle placed Seán Dukes who pointed and it was Sean again, a minute later, with a pointed free after Calvin was fouled..
Then in the 40th minute the rain came and the wind strengthened and within four minutes the visitors were back in the game with two points from play and a penalty goal in between. We were now just one point in front (1-5 to 1-4). But this team is improving with every game and inside two minutes we were in command again when team captain Jack O’Shea raced through for a great goal.
Still O’Rahillys kept pressing, which yielded two more points from frees, but a Seán Fitzmaurice pointed free, after a foul on Darren Bastible, put us three up again.
Then deep in added time Strand Road were awarded a second penalty by referee, Ger Lynch, and extra time, in fading daylight, looked a reality, but Daniel Kinsella became the hero of the hour with a superb save which was followed immediately by the final whistle.
Colm Mangan, on behalf of the Town Board, presented the James Hobbert Cup to the winning captain, Jack O’Shea to the delight of all Rockies present.
Team: Daniel Kinsella, Dylan Hennebery, Cathal O’Reilly, Pádraig Looney, Brandon Patterson, Darragh Scanlon, Louis Ryle, Philip Quilter, Jack O’Shea (Capt) (1-0), Michael Linnane, Darren Bastible, Seán Dukes (0-2 – 1 free), Cian Liston, Ferdia O’Brien (0-1), Calvin Foley (1-1).
Subs: Seán Fitzmaurice (19m) (0-1 free), Shane Walsh (25m) (0-1), Tomás Sheehy (50m).
Our next outing will be in the 5th and final round of the Co. League and this is due to go ahead in Connolly Park on next Friday evening (17th April) at 6.45pm against Dr. Crokes.
BEST OF LUCK: to the Kerry Minors (including our own Jack Morgan, Colin Griffin and Ferdia O’Brien) as they take on Clare in the first round of the Munster Championship in Austin Stack Park on this Wednesday evening (15th Apr) at 7pm.
BINGO: continues on this and every Saturday night commencing at 8.30pm.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. Phone Ian from 7pm at 066 7126942 for bookings.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse every Monday and Thursday Nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last Monday’s (6th April) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 13, 18, 26 and 30.
The €20 Prizes went to John Moriarty, c/o Charlie Healy; Ger O’Keeffe, c/o The Club; Willie McNamee, c/o Carmel Quilter; Siobhán Power, c/o The Ladies; and Teresa Ashe, c/o Brendan O’Regan.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is also offered to the families of the following who died during the past week – Kathleen O’Connor, Knockmoyle and late of Knocknagoshel; Ena O’Sullivan (nee Spring), Kevin Barry’s Villas; Mary (Mames) Dowling, Ballybunion (first cousin of Club President, Brendan); John (Jack) Moriarty, Clonlara (Co. Clare) and late of Garryruth; David (Sonny) Fitzgibbon, Rahoonane and late of Marian Park; and Eric Leahy, Pembroke Court.
