SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 1-13; St. Michaels/Foilmore 2-6.
The rain came at Austin Stack Park just before the throw-in for this first round of the Co. Championship on last Saturday evening (23rd May) and even though it did have a bearing on the play, nonetheless, both sides played some entertaining football in a closely fought contest with no more than four points separating the sides at any one time during the game.
Certainly Bally/Foilmore belied their Co. League standing and could still be a force in next weekend’s round 2 qualifier where they have a home tie against Kilcummin.
They led only once in the game and that was after just 30 seconds with the opening point of the contest. Just over a minute later Shane O’Callaghan opened our account and David Mannix put us ahead two minutes later. But in the 6th minute the visitors were back on level terms again.
Then in the 8th minute Shane Carroll’s well-taken 45 came off the crossbar into the path of Shane O’Callaghan and he steered the ball to the net. Five minutes elapsed before the next score came and it was a pointed free by David Mannix. From the kick-out a long ball into our goalmouth was finished to the net by the visitors.
However we quickly recovered from this and added three more points in the next five minutes, two from David Mannix frees and one from play by wing-back, Pa McCarthy,
But the South Kerry boys were back on level terms by the 26th minute with first a point and then a goal very similar to their first.
Another David Mannix pointed free just before the break left us leading by the bare minimum at half time (1-7 to 2-3).
We dominated the opening period of the second half and after 17 minutes had extended our lead with four more points – three by David Mannix (two frees) and one from play by Pa McCarthy.
But St. Michaels kept pressing and with two more pointed frees and one from play, plus one from play also by Shane O’Callaghan, there was still only a goal of a difference as full time approached. However on the stroke of 60m Pa McCarthy, with his 3rd point of the game, made it safe for us and we now progress to round 3 of the competition.
While not firing on all cylinders there was however good displays from others (not already mentioned), including Kieran Donaghy, Fearghal MacNamara, Denis McElligott and Mikey Collins, with Ronan Shanahan (along with David Mannix and Pa McCarthy) giving a Man of the Match performance.
Good to see four new players making their Senior Championship debuts – Paddy Fitzgibbon, Seán Ryan, Jack Morgan and David O’Sullivan.
Team: Jonathan Conway, Ronan Shanahan, John Dennis, Denis McElligott, Pa McCarthy (0-3), Fearghal MacNamara (Capt), Ciarán O’Connell, Kieran Donaghy, Conor Jordan, Fiachna Mangan, Michael Collins, Shane Carroll, David Mannix (0-8 – 6 frees), Shane O’Callaghan (1-2), Darragh O’Brien.
Subs used: Patrick Fitzgibbon (ht), Brían Mangan (38m), Seán Ryan (40m), Jack Morgan (47m), Darragh Long (53m), David O’Sullivan (59m).
We have a break now on the coming weekend but it’s back to Co. League duty on the weekend of the 6th/7th June when we make the 16km trip out the road to Milltown to play the local side in round 5 of the competition.
HURLING: Austin Stacks 5-18; St. Pats (East Kerry) 2-6.
With the opposition missing a number of first choice players we had an easy win in this round 2 game of the South Kerry JH League played at a cold but dry Fossa on last Wednesday evening (20th May). Playing 13 a side we were ahead by 1-6 to no score after nine minutes. Pats were back in the game two minutes later with a goal and a point. But between then and half time we had added a further 2-4 to two points for the opposition to leave us ahead at the break by 3-10 to 1-3.
Team Mentors, Mike O’Halloran and Michael O’Leary emptied the bench during the second half when we added a further 2-8 to 1-3 with the winning margin ensuring a home venue for us in the final.
Almost all of the 18 who played (13starters and 5 subs) could be considered for a Man of the Match award, but what was most pleasing, apart from the result, was the intensity and skill levels shown by our lads on the evening.
Eight of the 18 got on the score sheet, including wing-back, Andrew Morrissey with two super efforts, one in each half. Chief scorer was Colm Ó Giollagáin with 2-2 (Colm was making his Club debut), followed by John McCarthy, with his 2-1 coming in the second half. Michael O’Leary fired over six brilliant points in the first half with team captain, Danny Maguire adding 1-2. Both Shane Fitzgerald and Ronan Gilsenan scored two each and the last score of the game coming from 2nd half substitute, Jason Poole. In fact all our twenty three scores came from play.
Team: John Connelly, No Right Back, Peter O’Regan, Seán King, Kevin O’Leary, Paul Daly, Andrew Morrissey (0-2), Shane Fitzgerald (0-2), Paudie Bradley, Colm Ó Giollagáin (2-2), Danny Maguire (Capt) (1-2), Michael O’Leary (0-6), No Right Full Forward, Terry Desmond, Ronan Gilsenan (0-2).
Subs: Kieran McCaughley (19m), John McCarthy (ht) (2-1), Jason Poole (37m) (0-1), John Bradley (43m), Stephen Pierce (48m).
The final of the competition, against the same opposition, is due to go ahead in Connolly Park on this Wednesday evening (27th May) at 7.30pm.
ROCKIE NIGHT AT THE DOGS: There was a great turn-out at the Tralee Greyhound Stadium last Friday (22nd May) for our ‘Night at the Dogs’ Fundraiser.
With the 2014 winning trophies on display and a dry, if cold, night the eleven races went off like clock-work, providing some great finishes.
The night also included the ever popular on-track races for our Club Juveniles as well as the bouncy castle and face painting for the kids.
Thanks again to everyone who supported the event with their generous contributions and sponsorship and to all our own members for their help leading up to the event and on the night itself. A special thanks to Liam Lynch and his Committee whose organizational ability is second to none. A special thanks also to Club Hurler, and Radio Kerry broadcaster, Andrew Morrissey who hosted the event on track with his usual excellence (even, Andrew, if your Premiership forecasting skills leave a little bit to be desired, well on this occasion at any rate).
BEST OF LUCK: to all our players who are in the closing stages of preparation for the forthcoming exams which commence shortly
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 (18th May) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 11, 21, 24 and 25.
The €20 Prizes went to Josephine Casey, c/o Charlie Healy; Ian O’Carroll and Paddy McKenna, both c/o The Club; Kevin Barry, c/o Club Rockies; and Jackie Power, c/o The Ladies.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Michael Morris, St. Brendan’s Park; Edith Curran (nee Fitzpatrick), Caherslee and late of Co. Laois; Joan Barry, Cloundara, Oakpark (wife of the late Jimmy, former Club Chairman and footballer; mother of former Club Footballers, Joan, Mary, Paddy and David and grandmother of current Club Footballers Seán, Dave and Niall Fitzmaurice); Margaret O’Connell (nee Somers), Deerpark, Lixnaw and late of Leith East (sister-in-law of Club Member, John O’Connell); Jimmy O’Dowd, Ballinorig; and Marie Foley Moriarty, O’Rahillys Villas
