HURLING: Austin Stacks 3-17; St. Pats (East Kerry) 1-9.

The final score might suggest an easy win but, certainly in the first half, that was far from the case in the final of the South Kerry JH League played at a cold, breezy and dry Connolly Park on last Wednesday evening (27th May).

We got off to a good start with Ronan Gilsenan pointing after just 30 seconds. By the 8th minute we led by 1-5 to 0-2 with Ronan on target again from a sixty five and further points from play by new man Seán Hartnett and Colm Ó Giollagáin (2) and it was Colm again who set up Shane  Fitzgerald for our first goal.

But in the space of two minutes Pats were back in the game with a goal and a point, and between then and half time it was almost score for score with our lads just shading it by four points to three. Colm was again on target for us with two more from play and one each from frees by Paul Daly and Ronan Gilsenan.

This left us three clear at the break (1-9 to 1-6) and it was all to play for in the second half.

A pointed free by the visitors just after the resumption narrowed the gap even further. However when we scored our second goal in the 35th minute we pressed on from there. That goal came when Kevin O’Leary’s clearance from his own defence found Ronan Gilsenan who passed to Seán Hartentt, who had moved to midfield at that stage, and his brilliant shot found the impressive Colm Ó Giollagáin who netted beautifully.

By the 51st minute we had added  a further five points – all from play – with Colm adding two (to bring his total for the evening to 1-6, after scoring 2-2 last week in his debut game) and one each from Michael O’Leary, Danny Maguire and Joe Brennan, who was not long on the pitch as a second half substitute.

We were now well in command (2-14 to 1-9) and when Pal Daly’s perfectly placed 65 landed in the goalmouth it was Seán Harnett who finished it to the net for our third goal. Three more points followed from Ronan (2) and Danny to leave us with a comprehensive win in the end.

Pat Delaney, Secretary of the South Kerry Hurling Board presented the JH Cup to team captain Danny Maguire – a trophy we have now won for the second time in three seasons.

It was good to see Seán Hartnett and Ciarán Breen making their debuts for the team and they looked very impressive all through.

Team: John McCarthy, Kevin O’Leary, Peter O’Regan, Seán King, Ciarán Breen, Paul Daly (0-1 – free), Andrew Morrissey, Shane Fitzgerald (1-0), Jason Poole, Michael O’Leary (0-1), Danny Maguire (0-2), Colm Ó Giollagáin (1-6), Ronan Gilsenan (0-5 – one sixty five; one free), Seán Hartnett (1-1), Terry Desmond.

Subs: Tadgh Meehan (23m), Joe Brennan (46m) (0-1).

CO. SH LEAGUE: While yet to be confirmed the following are our fixtures for the Co. SH League (Div 3) as published in the Co. Board’s Eolaire. We have four games in the group stage, all on Wednesday evenings. Round 1 .v. Kenmare (home) 10th June; Round 2 .v. St. Pats (away) 17th June; Round 3 we have a bye 24th June; Round 4 .v. Duagh (home) 1st July; and Round 5 .v. Causeway (away) 8th July.

Hopefully, the schedule will proceed as above but we have seen, in the past, Clubs withdrawing at the last minute. So we await final confirmation from the Co. Board on this.

SENIOR FOOTBALL: Rounds 5 and 6 of the Co. League away to Milltown and at home to Dingle are fixed for this weekend and the weekend after.

The Milltown game goes ahead on Sunday next, 7th June at 2pm while our home game against Dingle is likely to be fixed for Saturday week (13th June) due to Kerry’s Munster SF semi final game against Tipperary which is fixed for the following day in Thurles.

CO. LEAGUE (DIV 5); Our B team were due to travel to South Kerry this weekend for a round 5 Co. League tie against Reenard but have agreed to facilitate Reenard’s request for a postponement. The game has been rescheduled for the weekend of the 11th/12th July. We are due to have a home game against Asdee in round 6 on the weekend after next (13th/14th June).

NIGHT AT THE DOGS: The following were the winners in our recent Nominator Draw – 1st (€1,000) Lily Stack; 2nd Dillon Waste; 3rd Michael Stack; 4th Brian Tagney; 5th Murphy – Sheehy, Insurance: and 6th Jenny O’Sullivan. The €500 Buster Prize was won by Betty Lynch, Caherslee.

Thanks once again to everyone who contributed to our Fundraiser.

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 (25th May) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 7, 20, 23 and 26.

The €20 Prizes went to Jack McKivergan, c/o John Breen; Jennifer Fox, The Liston Family and Michael Kenny, all c/o Club Rockies; and Noreen Ashe, c/o The Bingo.

SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Mary O’Connor (nee O’Connor), Tullig, Killorglin and late of Castle Street; Harold Blennerhassett, Ballinorig and late of Glanageenty, Ballymacelligott; Tony Kelliher, Ballymullen; and Paddy Hawkins, Marian Park and late of Annsborough (Co. Down).