SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 3-15; Waterville 0-4.
We has a good win in this Co. League round 1 back game played in heavy rain in Connolly Park last Saturday evening (2ndMay) with a 20 points winning margin at the end.
Missing nine first choice players for a variety of reasons Waterville were always likely to struggle in such circumstances. Allied to that we had one eye on this Saturday’s 2014 Co. League Final against Crokes and were in preparation mode for that encounter.
Two first half goals by Kieran Donaghy and David Mannix left us ahead at half time by 2-6 to 0-3.
Emptying the bench during the second half, we went on to add a further 1-9 – our goal coming in the 49th minute when Shane O’Callaghan punched Star’s cross to the net.
Again, a very tight defence kept that Waterville scoreline in check. Both Barry Shanahan and Shane Guthrie lorded the centre and up front seven players got on the score sheet with Shane Carroll putting over some great points.
Michael O’Donnell, coming on as a second half sub, was playing his first Senior game of the season (just back after injury) and it was also good to see another Minor, Colin Griffin, making his Senior debut.
Team: Jonathan Conway, Ronan Shanahan, John Dennis, Denis McElligott, Ciarán O’Connell, Fearghal MacNamara, Barry Walsh, Barry Shanahan, Shane Guthrie, Daniel Bohan (Capt), Michael Collins (0-1), Shane Carroll (0-7 one free, one 45), David Mannix (1-3 – 2 frees), Kieran Donaghy (1-0), Shane O’Callaghan (1-0).
Subs used: Fiachna Mangan (38m) (0-2), David O’Dullivan (38m), Brían Mangan (41m), Michael O’Donnell (41m) (0-2), Darragh Long (47m), Colin Griffin (50m).
The 2014 Co. League final, which is also this season’s round 4 game, against Dr. Crokes goes ahead in Connolly Park on this Saturday evening (9th May) at 7pm.
SF CO. LEAGUE (DIV 5): Our B team welcome Knocknagoshel to Connolly Park on this Sunday afternoon (10th May) for a round 4 tie of the Co. League. Throw in 2pm.
HURLING: Our Hurlers have been quietly training for the past few weeks and now we are about to get the competitive season under way, albeit, in a limited fashion this year – limited because only two teams, ourselves and St. Pats (East Kerry), have entered the South Kerry JH League. So we are scheduled to play one another at home (Wed 13th May at 7.15pm) and away (Wed 20th May at 7.30pm) with the Final a week later (27th May)
ROCKIE NIGHT AT THE DOGS: Our ‘Night at the Dogs’ Committee, under the stewardship of Liam Lynch, are hard at work in preparation for one of our major fundraisers which takes place at Tralee Greyhound Stadium on Friday, 22nd May.
Many Club Volunteers are out and about at present selling Nominator Tickets, the proceeds of which will go towards our pitch development which in ongoing at present.
THE SUNDAY GAME: Club Secretary, Elma Nix informs us that the Club will be rolling out the red carpet and welcoming Marty Morrissey & the RTÉ Radio 1 Sunday Sports team to the “Street of Champions” on next Sunday (10th May) to launch the stations Sunday Game coverage for 2015.
The programme will include live broadcasts with an all star line up of GAA analysts & presenters from both the Austin Stacks Club & from Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny between 4pm – 5.30pm. Guests at the Austin Stacks Club will include Marty Morrissey, Tomás Ó Sé, Joe Brolly, Pádraig Joyce, Pat Spillane and others as they discuss the upcoming Football Championship season.
The Club welcomes one and all to Connolly Park for the launch – it’s a proud boast in ‘the Rock’ that Austin Stacks GAA club has the unique distinction of having more Senior All Ireland medals (89 at the last count) than any other GAA Club in Ireland. A most appropriate venue indeed.
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.
GREETINGS: And mention of Ian Carroll reminds us to wish him, from everyone in the Club and all frequenters of the Bar, a very happy 30th birthday which he celebrated in style last Sunday (3rd May).
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse every Monday and Thursday Nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last Monday’s (27th April) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 15, 17, 22 and 27.
The €20 Prizes went to Noreen Power, c/o The Ladies; Mary O’Dowd, c/o Carmel O’Neill; Derry Sugrue, c/o Denis O’Connor; Jack McKivergan, c/o John Breen; and Fionn O’Regan, c/o Brendan O’Regan.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Pat Reynolds, Ballyvelly (former Kerins O’Rahilly’s Footballer); Fr. Mattie Murphy, Kimmage Manor (Dublin) and late of Bandon and Tralee; Anne Fleming, Old Golf Links and late of Los Angeles; John P. O’Connor, Clogherbrien and late of Ballyheigue; Michael Sweeney, St. Martin’s Park; Johnny O’Connor, Connolly Park and late of Blennerville; and Kitty Leen (nee Reidy), Kilquane, Ballymacelligott (mother of former Kerry Footballer and current Ballymac GAA Official, Bridget Leen).