PHIL BARRETT: All in the Club and the local community were saddened to learn of the death of Phil Barrett, Connolly Park at the weekend. Phil was a niece of the famous Barrett family – among them, Joe, Christy and Tommy and current day members include her nephew, John O’Riordan and her first cousins Eddie and Joe Joe Barrett.
A life-long supporter Phil was noted as well as a brilliant traditional dancer. She was up there with the best dancers of her or any generation – dancers like Patricia Hanafin, Jean Butler and Celine Hession – to name but a few. Some of Phil’s memories appear in page 62 of our Centenary Book.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is also offered to the families of the following who died during the past week – Patricia (Pat) Keane (nee Allen), Hillview Drive, Caherslee and formerly Caherleheen; Claire Lynch (nee McCabe), Cahermoneen and formerly Gortatlea and Lisnalong (Monaghan); Mary Kennedy (nee Cronin), Connolly Park (sister of former Club player and Club PRO, the late Brendan Cronin); Michael F. Barrett, Listowel and Causeway (brother of Pat Joe, one of our Card Players) and Donncha Cournane, Reenard, Cahersiveen and formerly Tralee (cousin of Tommy Naughton of our SF Management team).
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Kilcummin 1-16; Austin Stacks 0-11.
We led by three points to one after ten minutes of play in this opening round of the Co. League played in Kilcummin yesterday afternoon (11th March). Our three points came from David Mannix (free), Fergal Ryan and Jack O’Shea. But in a five minute spell (11th to 16th minute) the home side added five unanswered points to put them into the lead, a lead which they never relinquished after that. We got one more point between then and half time while the opposition added a further 1-3 in that period to leave them eight points clear at the break (1-9 to 0-4).
That was still the margin at the end of the game with both sides scoring seven points each in the second half. So a disappointing result as we begin our task to get back to division one by the end of the current campaign.
Team; David Hennessy, Colin Griffin, Conor Jordan, Denis Costello, Pa McCarthy, Jack O’Shea (0-1), Shane Walsh, Shane Guthrie (Capt), Michael O’Donnell, Greg Horan, Darragh O’Brien (0-1), Fergal Ryan (0-1), David Mannix (0-5 – four frees), Shane O’Callaghan, Ferdia O’Brien (0-1).
Subs used: Denis McElligott (20m), Mikey Collins (ht) (0-2). Barry Walsh (ht), David O’Sullivan (40m), Brandon Patterson (55m).
Our thanks to Tim Slattery and Colm Mangan for the provision of the stats for this game.
B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-17; Kilgarvan 1-8.
A very polished performance against a physically stronger team got us off to the perfect start for this season’s Co. League. Played in ideal conditions in Connolly Park on yesterday afternoon (11th March) we had seven points on the board, all from play, before the visitors put over their first point in the 18th minute. They scored just one more before the break while we added a further three, which left us eight clear at half time (0-10 to 0-2).
Kilgarvan had a better start to the second half – scoring four points in the first ten minutes, to one for us. But our boys upped their performance again, and in the next twenty minutes we held the opposition to just one more point, while we added a further six points to leave us ten clear (0-17 to 0-7) as the game went in to added time. In the closing minutes Kilgarvan got two consolation scores (1-1) but we had done more than enough at that stage to secure a comfortable win.
Brian Morgan and his fellow colleagues – Paddy Barry, Kieran Kelliher and Eamonn O’Reilly – will be pleased with the way the young players blended so well with those seasoned warriors. William Kirby was appearing for his 24thseason. Is there anyone with such a record (he made his debut on the 5th March 1995).
It was great to see Gearóid McCann back in action again and, along with William, he linked superbly with the inner forwards. It’s hard to believe that Gearóid’s last game was over five years ago (19th Oct 2012) – sidelined with a long-term injury. Team Captain, Andrew Morrissey, will rarely if ever put a pass astray and John Dennis gave a towering performance at full back.
So good was our back-line that Paddy Fitzgibbon had little to do in goals but his kick-outs almost always found a colleague. Micko Horan seems to be there forever and a day also and will always give 100% when called upon as will Dale Counihan who put over two brilliant first-half points.
It was no wonder then that seven of the younger generation got on the score sheet (see below). Ten in total got on the score sheet – the other three were Dale Counihan, as we mentioned, Theo Diggin and a one William Kirby.
Shane Kelliher picked up an injury early in the game and we wish Shane a speedy recovery.
Team: Pa Fitzgibbon, Shane Kelliher, John Dennis, Andrew Morrissey (Capt), Conor Lowe (0-1), Darragh Scanlon (0-1), Seán Ryan (0-2 – one free), Cathal O’Reilly (0-1), Gearóid McCann, Seán Dukes (0-3), Dale Counihan (0-2), Theo Diggin (0-1), Donagh McKivergan (0-4 – one free), David Fitzmaurice, Harry O’Callaghan (0-1).
Subs used: William Kirby (5m) (0-1), Joe Looby (57m), Micko Horan (57m).
WELL DONE: to former Club Footballer, Denis Sayers and his sister Helen who were the principal participants in a BBC TV programme which was broadcast last Friday morning (9th March). The programme was in connection with a relative of Denis and Helen (John Twiss – 1860-1895 ) who was falsely convicted in 1894 of a murder which he did not commit.
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.
All at the Cards offer their sympathies to Pat Joe Barrett on the recent death of his brother, Michael (see Sympathy)
LOTTO: Last week’s (5th March) Jackpot, worth €7,800, was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 2, 26, 27. The €20 winners were: Eamon Scanlan and John O’Callaghan, both c/o Club Rockies; Jonathan Conway and Kevin O’Leary, both c/o The Club; and Mary O’Connell, c/o John O’Riordan.
Tickets are on regular sale at the Rock Street Post Office and at the Stacks Clubhouse, as well as from our other regular sellers.
