SENIOR FOOTBALL: South Kerry 1-15 (18); Austin Stacks 4- 7 (19).
We have reached the quarter final stage of the Co. Championship for the 9th time in the last ten seasons (the only year we missed out was in 2015) with the narrowest of victories in a dry, sunny but breezy Cahersiveen on yesterday afternoon (9th Sept).
Our opening score came after just two minutes when a quickly taken free by Darragh O’Brien, after a foul on Wayne Guthrie, found the on-running Pa McCarthy who split the posts. Our second point came four minutes later when Darragh’s direct free on this occasion sailed over the bar.
Just before that South Kerry were in on goal but a super block-down by Ronan Shanahan saved the day. However, the southerners made amends in the 8th minute when they rattled the net from close range for their opening score. They followed this in the 10th minute with a point from play.
Then in the 15th minute came our first goal of the game when a high ball into Kieran Donaghy was tapped down into the path of Shane O’Callaghan and Calla made no mistake with rasper of a shot. Two quick points from play had the South Kerry boys back in the lead again after 16 minutes.
We, however, had a brilliant second quarter scoring five unanswered points between the 17th and 24th minutes to extend our lead to four points – all those five points came from play and from five different players – Greg Horan, Michael O’Donnell, Star, Pa McCarthy and Darragh O’Brien.
The final score of the half came in the 29th minute for the opposition to leave us with a three points lead at the break (1-7 to 1-4).
If somebody had put on a bet at half that the Rock would score no point in the second half they would have won a fortune – because that’s exactly what happened.
Or if they said that South Kerry would score eleven times during that second half to just three scores for the Rock and would still come out losers they wouldn’t be believed either. But again that’s exactly what happened.
South Kerry put over 11 points during that second half while our tally was three goals – Shane Callaghan in the 33rd minute, Kieran Donaghy in the 37thminute and full back, Conor Jordan with the most vital goal of the game, from our point of view, in the 55th minute.
That goal left us four points clear at that stage but we had to endure the last five minutes of normal time and an additional six minutes of extra time during which South Kerry piled on the pressure, scoring three more points during those 11 minutes.
But in fairness to our lads they withheld that pressure to come away with a well-deserved victory in the end.
It was good to see two men back in action again after an absence – David Mannix missed the last eight games while Jack Morgan was even out for a longer period and both played exceptionally well when introduced during the second half.
Team: Robbie Murphy, Dylan Casey, Conor Jordan (1-0), Ronan Shanahan, Pa McCarthy (0-2), Jack O’Shea, Ciarán O’Reilly, Michael O’Donnell (0-1), Joseph O’Connor, Greg Horan (0-1), Darragh O’Brien (0-2 – one free), Wayne Guthrie, Ferdia O’Brien, Kieran Donaghy (1-1), Shane O’Callaghan (2-0).
Subs used: Jack Morgan (33m), David Mannix (42m), Shane Carroll (45m), Fiachna Mangan (59m), Shane Guthrie (63m).
With round 3 due to take place on the coming week-end we, along with the other three R2A winners (East Kerry, Legion and Kerins O’Rahillys) have a break until the quarter finals which are provisionally fixed for the last weekend of September.
And let us take this opportunity to congratulate our near neighbours on their great come-back on Sunday to defeat the reigning Champions, Dr. Crokes.
B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-18; Rathmore 2-7.
Hail our super heroes – winners of the McElligott Cup (County JF Championship) – played in a damp Castleisland on last Friday evening (7th Sept) – the first time we took part in this competition.
This was as entertaining a game of football as we have witnessed all season. The first half was ‘nip and tuck’ and even though we opened the scoring in the second minute with a well-taken point from play by Alan Duggan it was the Rathmore boys who dominated play in the opening ten minutes after which they led by 1-3 to 0-2 – with our second point also coming from Alan Duggan from play.
But we were now coming more into the game and in the space of the next six minutes we had drawn level with four unanswered points from four different players. Alan Duggan was on target again, this time from a free after William Kirby was fouled going through, and the other three points came from play by Theo Diggin, Fergal Ryan and Donagh McKivergan.
The East Kerry boys had a slight edge over us for the rest of the half – putting over four more points to three for us. Fergal Ryan scored two and Alan Duggan the other after being put through by Donagh McKivergan with a quickly taken free.
This left us trailing by one point at the break (1-7 to 0-9) after playing into a strong enough wind in that first half accompanied by continuous rain.
On the resumption Gearóid McCann won the throw-in and Donagh McKivergan raced forward to put over after just 12 seconds to level the game for the second time.
Then four minutes later William Kirby put us back in the lead for the first time since our opening score of the game and this was followed in the 37th minute by a pointed free by Donagh McKivergan after Brandon Patterson was fouled.
But the score that really put us on the road to victory came just over a minute later. It started with a brilliant run by Darragh Scanlon and when the ball broke in the square it was that brilliant veteran, William Kirby who coolly steered the ball to the net – what a super hero this man is – playing in his 24th season with the Club.
Four more points followed – all from play – from four different players – Theo Diggin, Dale Counihan, Fergal Ryan and Alan Duggan – before another super hero really put the game to bed with our second goal of the game in the 48th minute – none other than Dale Counihan.
So good was our performance in the second half that we just conceded one score in those closing 30 minutes – a goal in the 52nd minute. Our closing two points of the game came from Fergal Ryan to cap a fine performance by the wing forward who ended up chief scorer with six points in total – all from play. In fact all but two of our 2 goals and 18 points came from play.
So a near perfect performance by all twenty one who lined out on this Friday. Seamus Bastible couldn’t be faulted for Rathmore’s two well-taken goals in the 8th and 52nd minutes.
Apart from his kick-outs being near perfect he was well protected by his three front men – the two Shanes (Kelliher and Walsh) and Paul Galvin and Barry Shanahan who moved into the number 3 spot in the second half. How many times did those four men make perfect turnovers throughout the hour and set up attack after attack.
Our two wing backs, team captain, Andrew Morrissey and Eoghan Galvin didn’t put a foot wrong. What an inspirational captain Andrew is – both on and off the field.
His pre-game team talks, for example, would rouse any team to perform at its best. Gearóid McCann and Darragh Scanlon dominated the centre all through and the five starting forwards were outstanding as can be seen from the stats below. Michael Linnane didn’t get on the score-sheet on this occasion but it was Michael’s hat-trick of goals in the semi final that contributed significantly to us getting to the final.
All our six subs could easily have made the starting 15 with Dale Counihan on fire when introduced early in the second half – scoring 1-1 in the process. And all of the extended panel who were unlucky not to have performed in the final on this occasion played their part during the season in helping this weekend’s victory.
And very few teams will win anything without the help of our back room staff. Paddy Barry, Eamon O’Reilly, Kieran Kelliher and Brian Morgan took on the management of our Junior team this year and this victory was the culmination of what these men have achieved.
Team: Seamus Bastible, Shane Kelliher, Shane Walsh, Paul Galvin, Andrew Morrissey (Capt), Barry Shanahan, Eoghan Galvin, Gearóid McCann, Darragh Scanlon, Theo Diggin (0-2), Alan Duggan (0-5 – one free), Fergal Ryan (0-6), Donagh McKivergan (0-3 – one free), William Kirby (1-1, Michael Linnane.
Subs used: John Dennis (ht), Brandon Patterson (ht), Dale Counihan (35m) (1-1), Paddy Fitzgibbon (55m), James Quigley (55m), John Murphy (56m).
CONGRATULATIONS: And mention of William Kirby in the previous item, let us congratulate his family business (Kirby’s Brogue Inn at the bottom of the Rock) on winning the Munster section for the Best Pub & Restaurant Award 2018 and wish them the best of luck as they seek All Ireland glory shortly.
MINOR FOOTBALL: East Kerry 3-9; Austin Stacks 2-3.
On an overcast, drizzly evening (Wed, 5th Sept) in Castleisland East Kerry had a double scores win in the semi final of the Co. Championship. We got off to a good start, playing into a stiffish enough breeze, and went into an early lead when Michael Slattery pointed from a free after Michael O’Gara was fouled. A minute later Slatts was most unlucky when his shot on goal was brilliantly saved by the East Kerry keeper (Marc Kelliher, Glenflesk), who by the end of the game had received the Man of the Match Award.
Then in the 6th minute, in one of their first attacks of the game, East Kerry capitalized on a defensive error to get through for the first of their three goals. They added three points in quick succession before Michael Slattery added two for us from play. But five minutes from half time East Kerry got through for their second goal and for the first time it began to look that it wasn’t going to be our night. They led at half time by 2-3 to 0-3.
That was still our score after 28 minutes of the second half while the opposition had added a further 1-6 during this period. Late goals by Gearóid Fitzgerald and Michael O’Gara gave some bit of respectability to the score board but it was not enough to prevent East Kerry from reaching their 3rd final in a row where they will now meet St. Kierans
Team: Ben Quilter, Niall Fitzmaurice, David Burke, Eoghan Carroll, Dara Barry Walsh, Dylan Casey, Adam Curran, Michael O’Gara (1-0), Seán Quilter, Dean Scanlon, Gearóid Sheehan, Conor Myers, Seán Carmody, Gearóid Fitzgerald (1-0), Michael Slattery (0-3 – one free).
Subs used: Jordan Kissane (29m). David Couchman (ht), Daniel O’Rourke (ht),Joe Looby (45m), Luke Chester (54m), Pádraic Linnane (54m).
HURLING: The semi final of the South Kerry Junior Hurling Championship between ourselves and St. Pats (East Kerry) has been fixed for next Saturday week (22nd Sept) in Fossa with the throw-in at 5pm (extra time if necessary). The final, against Duagh, is fixed for the following Saturday (29th Sept).
WELL DONE: to all involved in another brilliant running of the Annual Denis O’Connor/U13 Lee Strand Tournament last week-end. See Juvenile Notes for details.
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.
LOTTO: Last week’s (3rd Sept) Jackpot, worth €9,100, was not won. The numbers drawn were 5, 14 22, 23. The €20 winners were: Avril O’Shea, Mike Hoare, Paudie Barrett and John Barry, all c/o The Club; and O’Sullivan, Lawlor & Co., c/o Colm Mangan.
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 – William (Billy) Griffin, St. Joseph’s Estate, Spa Rd. and formerly The Bog Road, Chute Hall; Colm Curneen, Glenageary (Dublin) and formerly Tralee; and Peggy Bowler, Monavalley.
