SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 3-16; Ballymac 2-8.
We qualified for our first Town Championship Final for the first time since 2015 with an eleven points win in Ballymac on yesterday afternoon (12th Aug).
Three first half goals was a bit too much for the home side to come back from even though they did almost match us on the scoreboard during the second half (0-10 to 2-3). Our three goals came in the 4th , 11th and 30th minutes with our three inside forwards on target – Mikey Collins, Ferdia O’Brien and Shane O’Callaghan.
Those three also got a point each during the opening 30 minutes, as well as a point each from Greg Horan, Pa McCarthy and Darragh O’Brien (free). This gave us a ten points lead at the break (3-6 to 0-5).
Ballymac gave us a very good work-out during the second half . Like the first half six different scorers got on the score sheet – Darragh O’Brien with three (two frees), his brother Ferdia and Joseph O’Connor with two each from play and one each from Shane O’Callaghan and two of our second half substitutes, Fergal Ryan and Dale Counihan. So another good all-round display from the 21 players who participated.
Pa Fitzgibbon started the second half in goals but, unfortunately had to come off after eight minutes with a blood injury. We wish Pa a speedy recovery. It was also good to see Ronan Shanahan back in action again in preparation for things to come.
Team: Robbie Murphy, John Dennis, Barry Walsh, Denis Costello, Pa McCarthy (0-1), Ciarán O’Reilly, Ciarán O’Connell. Shane Guthrie (Capt), Joseph O’Connor (0-2), Greg Horan (0-1), Darragh O’Brien (0-4 – 3 frees), Shane Carroll, Ferdia O’Brien (1-3), Shane O’Callaghan (1-2), Michael Collins (1-1).
Subs used: Ronan Shanahan (ht), Pa Fitzgibbon (ht), Fergal Ryan (33m) (0-1), David Fitzmaurice (51m), Paul Galvin (51m), Dale Counihan (58m) (0-1).
Next Sunday (19th Aug) we are due to play Castleisland Desmonds in Connolly Park in the last round of the Co. League. Throw in is at 1pm to avoid a clash with the All Ireland SH Final (Galway .v. Limerick) which starts at 3.30pm. We then have a two weeks break before we take on Kenmare District in the opening round of the Co. Championship. That game is fixed for Connolly Park on Saturday, 1st September at 5.30 pm.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Our Minors are due to play Shannon Rangers in Connolly Park on this Tuesday evening (14th Aug) in the quarter final of the Co. Championship. Throw in 6.30pm with extra time if required.
Then on Friday evening (17th Aug) we are due to play Na Gaeil in Killeen in the Town League Final. Throw in at 6.30pm.
HURLING: Duagh 1-15; Austin Stacks 1-12.
When the two sides met in the earlier round of the competition in Connolly Park we had a good ten points win (3-14 to 2-7) but Duagh reversed that result on last Wednesday evening (8th Aug) on their home turf with a well-deserved three points victory in the final round of the South Kerry League. The result means that both teams have ended up on top of the table with six points each, which means that the sides will now have to meet again in the League Final.
You could say that Duagh won this game in the opening four minutes of the contest when they went into a 1-1 to no score lead. We trailed the home side for all of the first half and went in at the break five points in arrears (1-7 to 0-5).
The closest we came to our opponents was eight minutes into the second half when we came within a point of the home side (1-8 to 1-9). That came when Johnny Downey (who really gave a Man of the Match performance all through) won possession and found Paul Daly and Paul’s perfect delivery into the square was connected beautifully by Danny McGuire to guide the sliothar to the net for the score of the game. Credit to Duagh, however, who responded well with three unanswered points, and even though we never gave in – outscoring the opposition by four points to two in the final quarter – we just couldn’t get over that poor opening four minutes of the game.
It was great to see Denny O’Regan back in action again after a long absence, Denny, together with his brothers David and Jonathan, was part of the great Rock teams of the naughties and indeed, before that, the late nineties. And maybe we shouldn’t say it, but it was Denny’s brother, David, who was the main man in the formation of the Duagh Hurling Club back in the noughties. And it was also good to see Kieran McCaughley at the game. Unfortunately Cox is, for the time being at any rate, domiciled in the Capital City and his absence is greatly missed.
We now await a date, time and venue for the South Kerry League Final against Duagh.
Team: John Connelly, Kevin O’Leary, Ciarán Breen, Tadhg Meehan (Capt), Johnny Downey, Andrew Foley, Andrew Morrissey, Cillian O’Riordan (0-2), Paul Daly (0-6 – three frees), Ronan Gilsenan, Colm Ó Giollagáin (0-3 – one free), Daniel Teahan (0-1), Thomas Meehan, Danny McGuire (1-0), Peter O’Regan.
Subs used: William Brick (36m), Denny O’Regan (47m), Daniel McCarthy (52m).
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 Jim O’Sullivan on the death of his sister-in-law, Mary O’Sullivan, The Tankard, Kilfenora.
LOTTO: Last week’s (6th August) Jackpot, worth €8,900, was not won. The numbers drawn were 2, 3, 17, 32. The €20 winners were: Gearóid McCann, c/o The Club; Harry Hynes, c/o The Bar; Susan Healy and Mary Roche, both c/o Carmel O’Neill; and Breda O’Callaghan, c/o Rock Street Post Office.
Tickets are on regular sale at the Rock Street Post Office and at the Stacks Clubhouse, as well as from our other regular sellers.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Una Finn (nee O’Sullivan), Cloondara, Oakpark; Tom Quirke, Casement’s Avenue (brother of former Club Footballer, Michael); Helen Murphy, Lioscarraig Drive, Caherslee and formerly Fenit; Diarmuid MacMahon, Rathfarnham and formerly Tralee; Agnes Devins (nee O’Brien), Waterford City and formerly Doon (Aunt of Club supporter, Declan O’Brien); and Mary O’Sullivan, The Tankard, Kilfenora and formerly Bonane, Kenmare (see Cards);
