SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 3-10; Dingle 0-10.
Three first half goals set us on the road to victory in this round 6 game of the Co. League played in ideal conditions in Connolly Park on last Saturday evening (13th June).
Both sides had wides early on before Dingle opened the scoring in the 5th minute to be followed a minute later by our opener from Darragh O’Brien.
Then in the 9th minute came the first of our goals and it came from David O’Sullivan who began as a late substitute for Mikey Collins who had picked up an injury in the warm-up, although Shane O’Callaghan may have got a touch as it entered the net.
Dingle added two more points in quick succession but as the game entered the second quarter we got our 2nd our goal and this time there was no doubt that it was Shane O’Callaghan’s, after receiving a perfect pass from a Pa McCarthy free.
Dingle kept in touch with another pointed free which was followed shortly after by a Fiachna Mangan effort. Before half time Dingle added two more but in between we really put the game out of reach with a third goal by Alan Duggan after good work by Darragh O’Brien, to leave us five points clear at the break (3-2 to 0-6).
We kept up the pace in the 2nd half adding a further eight points to four for the visitors. David Mannix contributed three (one free) with two each from Shane O’Callaghan and Darragh O’Brien and a lovely effort by second half substitute Seán Ryan.
Again our defence was superb with very impressive displays from Ciarán O’Connell and Shane Guthrie but the player that really caught the eye was Club Minor, Jack O’Shea who was making his Senior debut.
The win puts us on 3rd spot now as the League enters the second half of the season with our next outing on the weekend after next, away to Kerins O’Rahilly in round 7.
Team: Paddy Fitzgibbon, Denis O’Neill, Ronan Shanahan (Capt), Ciarán O’Connell, Pa McCarthy, Shane Guthrie, Jack O’Shea, Brían Mangan, Alan Duggan (1-0), Fiachna Mangan (0-1) , David O’Sullivan (1-0), Shane Carroll, David Mannix (0-3 – 1 free), Shane O’Callaghan (1-2), Darragh O’Brien (0-3).
Subs used: Seán Ryan (31m) (0-1), Eoin Colgan (58m), Colin Griffin (58m).
WELL DONE: to both the Kerry Junior and Senior Footballers on their victories in Thurles last Sunday, and congrats to Kieran Donaghy who led out the Seniors for their first Championship outing. The last Rock man to lead out a Kerry SF team in the Munster Championship was Darren Aherne when he captained the team against Limerick in May 1995.
CO. LEAGUE DIV 5: Austin Stacks 0-9; Asdee 2-11.
Our B team opened proceedings in Connolly Park on last Saturday evening with a round 6 game in Div 5. We were well in the game as half time approached (trailing by a goal at that stage) but a defensive error in the 30th minute gifted the visitors a second goal who led at half time by 2-4 to 0-5.
We began well with two good points from Sean Dukes inside the 6th minute. Asdee had drawn level within two minutes but a lovely effort from an acute angle by Louis Ryle in the 18th minute put us back in the lead.
Three minute later Asdee equalized again. And then in the 23rd minute they were through again but a brilliant save by Seán Purcell kept the score intact. However the visitors did get through for their first goal in the 26th minute which was followed a minute later by a neat point by Kyle Fitzgibbon. Another point followed for Asdee and then came their second goal which we referred to earlier. Kyle finished the half with a pointed free after Calvin Foley was fouled.
The North Kerry boys continued to dominate matters in the second half, outscoring us by 0-7 to 0-4. Our scores came from Kyle with two more (one free) and one each from Seamus Bastible and Seán Dukes.
We were unfortunate to lose the services of team captain, Dale Counihan to a 17th minute injury. Shane Walsh, who began impressively, also picked up a first half injury and played through the pain barrier for the rest of the game.
Team: Seán Purcell, Brian O’Sullivan, Seamus Bastible (0-1), John Murphy, Paul Galvin, Cathal O’Reilly, Seán Fitzmaurice, Calvin Foley, Shane Walsh, Dale Counihan (Capt), Louis Ryle (0-1), Kyle Fitzgibbon (0-4 – two frees), Breandán Caball, Seán Dukes (0-3), Alan Griffin.
Sub: Shane Greensmyth (ht).
Our B Team’s next outing will involve a long trip south to Lauragh to play Tuosist in round 7 on the weekend after next.
SENIOR HURLING: Austin Stacks 0-8; Ballyheigue 2-13.
Our Co. League (Div 3) campaign got underway last Wednesday evening (10th June) in glorious summer sunshine when we welcomed Ballyheigue to Connolly Park. Hampered by a number of injuries and other absentees we had to give-way to a better team on the day.
We could only muster three points in the first half – two by Ronan Gilsenan (one free) and another from play by Colm Ó Giollagáin. The visitors, in the meantime, had notched up 1-9 in this first period. We could have been a lot closer were it not for a number of uncharacteristic wides – eight in total.
We did a lot better in the second half – holding the opposition to 1-4 and putting over five ourselves. Two each by Colm Ó Giollagáin and Seán Hartnett (the second from a well-taken last minute free) and one from play by Danny Maguire was our contribution. Danny was most unlucky not to have netted two goals at least – his first coming off the crossbar and his second excellently saved.
Our defenders again were superb with Seán King, in particular, outstanding. It was also good to see Andrew Foley back in action again – playing his first game since April 2013.
Team: Paul Daly, Kevin O’Leary, Seán King, Paudie Bradley, Ciarán Breen, Peter O’Regan, Andrew Morrissey, Ronan Gilsenan (0-2 – one free), Andrew Foley, Michael O’Leary, Danny Maguire (Capt) (0-1), Colm Ó Giollagáin (0-3), Ger Scollard, Ross Long, Tadhg Meehan.
Subs used: Sean Hartnett (20m) (0-2 – one free), Stephen Pierce (42m), John Connelly (48m).
Round 2, against St. Pats (East Kerry), is scheduled to go ahead in Fossa on this Wednesday evening (17th June), at 7.30pm. We have a bye in round 3 and then on 1st July we have a home game against Duagh in round 4. The 5th and final round is away to Causeway on Wednesday 8th July.
U21 FOOTBALL We have drawn St. Brendans away in the first round of the Co. Championship. The game is due to go ahead on next Wednesday week (24th June) with venue and time yet to be confirmed.
MINOR FOOTBALL; Our Minors will also be back on duty on next Monday ( 22nd June) with an away game in Gallarus against An Ghaeltacht, in round 1 of the Central League. Throw in 7pm. Round 2 is scheduled for the following Monday (29thJune) with another away game against Kerins O’Rahillys.
The week after that we have a home game against Feale Rangers in the 1st round of the County Championship (Wednesday, 8th July).
The remaining fixtures in the Central League are as follows: R3 Dingle at home 20th July; R4 Laune Rangers at home 27thJuly and the 5th and final round away to Milltown on 17th August. The semi final is fixed for the following Monday (24thAugust) with the final provisionally fixed for Saturday, 29th August.
CONGRATULATIONS: and best wishes to two Club Footballers who had occasion to celebrate recently – Tom McLoughlin and Zoe Keogh on the birth of their baby girl (Lauren Rose) – a grand-daughter for Damien and Adrienne; and St. John Hegarty and Jackie Fraher who were married recently.
ANNIVERSARY: We offer congratulations also to Fr. Pádraig Walsh PP. St. Brendan’s Parish, who celebrates the 25thanniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood on this coming weekend.
GREYHOUNDS: Austin Stacks have qualified for the final of the The Malton Hotel Kerry GAA Club Sweepstake Final on Friday night next in The Kingdom Greyhound Stadium Tralee. The Prize-fund for Clubs represented in the Final will be: 1st €1000, 2nd €600, 3rd €400, 4th €300, 5th €300, 6th €300. In all this year we have ten clubs paired with six dogs involved in the Final and all will win a prize-they are as follows:
Trap 1 Unique Wishes: St Pat’s Blennerville
Trap 2 Ramona Rumble : Kilgarvan & Killarney Legion
Trap 3 Secreto: Ballydonoghue & Dingle
Trap 4 The Other Benson: Austin Stacks & Keel
Trap 5 Senan’s Forever: Ballyheigue
Trap 6 Kerry Legend: Castlegregory & Rathmore.
The Meeting is covered live on RTE2 TV from 8 to 9pm
BINGO: continues on this and every Saturday night commencing at 8.30pm.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings phone 066 7126942 after 7pm any evening.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse every Monday and Thursday Nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last Monday’s (8th June) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 9, 12, 27 and 29.
The €20 Prizes went to Tony Casey, c/o Charlie Healy; Brian Collins, c/o Martin Collins; Brendan McMahon, c/o Club Rockies; Paul O’Connor, c/o Carmel O’Neill; and Josie O’Connor, c/o Galvin’s Shop.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Sheila Kerins (nee Condon), Rock Street; Marie Conway (nee Roche), Stacks Villas and late of St. John’s Park (wife of the late Joe Conway, former Club Footballer); Denis Murphy, London and late of St. Brendan’s Park (brother of former Club Footballer, Mary B. Murphy); Mary Barrett (nee Lynch), Meadowlands; Noreen Kissane (nee McGlynn), Spa Road; and Seán O’Neill, Model Farm Road, Cork and late of St. Brendan’s Park (cousin of Tim and Timex Slattery).
