STRICTLY COME DANCING: It’s just a few days away now – the Austin Stacks GAA ‘Dancing Through the Decades’ night-out which takes place in the Festival Dome on this Saturday (Aug 26th) – and we are still asking all members, senior players, friends of the club, juvenile parents to please support our annual fundraiser by purchasing at least 1 ticket.
Cost €20. Even if not attending yourself please purchase and gift to a family member, neighbour or friend and play your part in making this our biggest & best Strictly yet! All funds raised will go towards the continuing development of club facilities in Connolly Park.
CHARITY CYCLE: Austin Stacks GAA Club was pleased to be part of Cycle Against Suicide Tralee Spin Off on this week.
Eighty cyclists together with registration volunteers and support teams gathered in the club on Friday and Sat morning prior to their departure to Ballyheigue as part of their cycle. The cyclists led the Rose of Tralee parade on Sat night.
It was great to be involved in such a worthy cause. Our thanks to Mairead Fernane who coordinated the event.
WELL DONE: to the Kerry Minors (including our own Dylan Casey, Ciarán O’Reilly and Michael Slattery) on their brilliant win in Croke Park last Sunday.
The win puts them in line to win a 4th All Ireland MF title in a row – a feat that has never been achieved in the history of the competition (inaugurated in 1929).
Only three counties have won three titles in a row – Kerry (1931-33), Dublin (1954-56), Cork (1967-69) and Kerry again in the past three seasons (2014-16).
However, the Kerry Seniors (including our own Kieran Donaghy and Ronan Shanahan), will have to do it all over again after their drawn semi final against Mayo.
It was Kerry’s 11th All Ireland semi final draw since that first one in 1919, and their 4th against Mayo. So the best of luck to Kerry in the replay which goes ahead in Croke Park on this coming Saturday (26th Aug) at 3pm.
GUESS THE SCORE: Club Footballer, John Dennis was the winner in the Club Bar draw for ‘Guess the Score’ in the Kerry-Mayo game. As no one had the correct score, John’s name came out of the Hat and he wins a pair of tickets for next Saturday’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ in the Festival Dome.
REMEMBERING: We remember at this time, 25 years ago (Saturday, 22nd Aug 1992), the sudden death, at the age of 24, of David O’Lehan, a valued member of the Club’s SF team at that time. Since 1988 David had become a regular on our senior team, playing normally in the half forward line.
He won a Co. League medal in 1990 when the team won the Division 1 title for a record 8th time. David’s last game with the Club was on the 19th April 1992 when he lined out in a Co. League game in Strand Road.
We defeated Kerins O’Rahillys on that day by 4-7 to 0-10 and, for the record, this was the team that lined out: Michael Hussey, Kieran Browne, Liam Liddy, Pat Slattery, Eamon O’Brien, Jerry Fitzmaurice, Denis Sayers, Martin McKivergan (0-1), Joe Smith, Pa Laide (0-2), Liam Kearns (1-1), David O’Lehan, Owen Moynihan (Capt) (1-2), Brian O’Sullivan, Darren Aherne (2-1).
Subs used: John Barry, Ger O’Keeffe, John Harrington.
B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-15; Kerins O’Rahillys 0-6.
This Town League semi final, played at a dry but breezy Connolly Park on last Friday evening (18th Aug), had been nip and tuck for the first 25 minutes. At that stage we led by just one point (0-5 to 0-4). Two pointed frees by Alan Duggan and three from play by Theo Diggin, Seán Dukes and Fergal Ryan made up that total.
In the closing five minutes of the half we went on to add three more while holding the opposition scoreless. Those three scores came from another Alan Duggan free, and Colin Griffin and Seamus Bastible both from play. This left us ahead by double scores at the break (0-8 to 0-4).
We are not privy to what the management team on the night (Jonathan Magnier, Eamon O’Reilly and Kieran Kelliher, ably assisted by Micko Horan) said during the half time break but whatever it was our team came out all fired up for the second half.
Inside three minutes they had put this game to bed, scoring almost as much in those three minutes as it took them to score during the whole thirty minutes of the first half. Alan Duggan won the throw-in and put Seamus Bastible throught for the game’s first goal after just 27 seconds.
Alan won possession again from the kick-out, found Colin Griffin who linked with team captain, Dale Counihan, who pointed. Within a minute Dale was in possession again and his pass was finished to the net by Fergal Ryan.
The Strand Road boys never recovered from this and even though they performed well for the rest of game they could not penetrate our defence, all of whom were superb on the night, including Danny Kinsella, who made an number of brilliant saves during the game. So good was our defence that Rahillys could only manage two more points during that second half.
We went on to score six more points between then and full time. Alan Duggan added two more from frees. Dale Counihan added two from play and the other two points also came from play by Fergal Ryan and Seán Dukes.
Team: Daniel Kinsella, John Murphy, Denis Costello, Paul Galvin, Colin Griffin (0-1), David Leonard, Andrew Morrissey, Shane Guthrie, Alan Duggan (0-5 frees), Seán Dukes (0-2), Seamus Bastible (1-1), Theo Diggin (0-1), Dale Counihan (0-3), Craig Corcoran, Fergal Ryan (1-2).
Subs used: Dylan Harnett (40m), Seán Tansley (42m), Micko Horan (54m).
So now we await the winners of the second semi final between John Mitchels and Na Gaeil which was due to be played on Monday evening last (21st Aug). The Final has been fixed for next Monday (28th Aug).
In the meantime we are due to travel to Rathbeg to play Rathmore in the Co. Championship semi final (The Molyneaux Cup) on this coming Friday (25th Aug). In the other semi final Kerins O’Rahillys have a home game against Dr. Crokes.
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 Jobsmatch Mentors. Feedback from employers continues to be very positive. Please email jobmatch@austinstacks.ie.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 1-9; Dingle 1-10.
When these sides met last April in the Co. League they could not be separated (the game back in Dingle ending in a draw). On last Monday evening (14th Aug) in Connolly Park in round 3 of the Central League it was heading for another draw but right on the 60th minute Dingle put over the winning point from a free, the first and only time that they led in the game.
We had a brilliant start with Joe Looby finding the net after just 26 seconds. This was followed by two points from play inside five minutes with Donagh McKivergan and David Fitzmaurice on target. At half time we had a four points lead (1-5 to 0-4) with further points from David Couchman, Gearóid Sheehan (free) and Joseph O’Connor.
Another David Couchman point six minutes after the resumption extended that lead but two minutes later Dingle struck for a goal to leave us ahead by just two points. Harry O’Callaghan then got on the score sheet in the 40th minute but three unanswered points by Dingle saw the sides level for the first time in the game after 47 minutes. Gearóid Sheehan then put us ahead again with two more points. But Dingle struck back again with two more in as many minutes to level matters again. And then came that winning point on the 60th minute.
We really should have won this game. We had many chances to do so during that second half but seemed reluctant to shoot for scores when in good positions. The other significant factor in that second half was our eight wides to just one by the opposition.
Team: Robbie Murphy, Shane Kelliher, Shane Walsh (Capt), James Quigley, Tomás Sheehy, Michael Linnane, Odhran Liston, Joseph O’Connor (0-1), David Fitzmaurice (0-1), Joe Looby (1-0), Gearóid Sheehan (0-3 – one free), David Couchman (0-2), Donagh McKivergan (0-1), Gearóid Fitzgerald, Harry O’Callaghan (0-1).
Sub used: Gary Clifford (37m).
The Co. League Final, against Dr. Crokes, goes ahead in Milltown on this Wednesday week (23rd Aug) at 6.30pm.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties and Functions. Enquiries about Club Bookings should be made by contacting Harry Hynes at 087 2467286.
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 (14th August) Jackpot, worth €6,350, was not won. The numbers drawn were 2, 5, 9, 29. The €20 winners were: Mary Walsh, c/o Brendan O’Regan; Tim Mangan, c/o The Ladies; Joe O’Connor and Edward Mahony, both c/o Carmel Quilter; and Ed & Yvonne O’Brien, c/o Club Rockies.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Paddy Casey, Liscahane and late of Leith; John (Jackie) Godley, Ballyfinoge, Rathanny; and Kevin Moriarty, Toronto and formerly of Ballylongford, Faha and Tralee.
