CLUB AGM: All registered Club Members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Austin Stacks Hurling and Football Club on Sunday 6th January, 2019 at 12.00 p.m. Details of the outgoing Executive Committee (excluding Nominees and Co-options) can be found on our club website. Nominations are invited for all positions on the incoming Executive Committee. Nominations and Motions for discussion should be emailed to secretary.austinstacks.kerry@gaa.ie to be received on or before 5 pm on next Monday, 17th December, 2018 (it can also be accepted by post – see club website for details). Nominations received after this time shall be deemed to be invalid.
CENTENARY BOOK: Copies of the Austin Stacks Centenary Book are now exclusively on sale at Paudie Commane’s Book Shop, Rock St. Tralee for the very special discounted price of just €15!! that’s a fantastic 40% off original retail price. Copies also available to order online at this great price – books can be posted worldwide – an ideal Christmas gift for the GAA fan in your life.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 5-14 (29); Laune Rangers 3-13 (22).
In this Central League Final, played on an ideal pitch at the John Mitchel’s Complex on yesterday afternoon (9th Dec) (game started at 12.10 and finished at 2pm on the dot, after going to extra time) we eventually came out winners with seven points to spare after a humdinger and topsy-turvy game against our old rivals, Laune Rangers. This was the fourth time the sides met this season with both teams now having won two games each.
However, for long periods during this encounter it looked as if the Killorglin boys might triumph once more. As we have said our winning margin was seven points but on three separate occasions during the game we found ourselves in arrears by that very margin – after 21m (1-2 to 1-9), at half time (1-5 to 2-9) and after 40m (2-6 to 3-10) But a brilliant display during the 4th quarter of normal time saw us draw level in the 61st minute for the first time in the game (3-10 each) and take the lead for the first time two minutes later (both points scored by Seán Quilter). With six minutes of additional time played Rangers got through for an equalizing point to bring the game to extra time.
Rangers were ahead again at half time in extra time (3-13 to 3-12) but that was as good as it got for the Mid Kerry boys as we totally dominated the second period of additional time, holding the opposition scoreless during this period while adding a further 2-2 to our tally from four different players – the two points by Dylan Casey and Seán Quilter (bringing his total for the game to seven) and the two goals by Shane Bastible and Dean Scanlon.
This was an overall brilliant performance by all fifteen who started and the five substitutes who were introduced during the 88 minutes of playing time. Our defence dealt superbly with a very dangerous Rangers front line. Three of our back line also got on the score sheet – as well as Dylan, Eoghan Carroll and Daniel O’Rourke were also on target. Michael O’Gara and Seán Quilter were superb in the centre with Seán unerring from play (4) and frees (3). Up front all our six starting forwards mounted attack after attack and combined well with the four scorers – Jordan Kissane (0-1), Dean Scanlan and Shane Bastible with a goal and a point each and another Man of the Match performance from Michael Slattery. If Mohamed Salah could score a hat-trick of goals down on the south coast of England (in Bournemouth) on Saturday then Slatts was not going to be outdone down on the south west coast of Ireland 24 hours later – his three goals coming at vital times during the game – 11m, 36m and the 50th minute.
With an eye to the future and the coming season which is just around the corner Darragh Long and his colleagues gave Minor debuts to four players – Joey Nagle, Shane Bastible, Armin Heinrich and Ruairí O’Connell – and all four had superb outings.
Well done again to the whole squad and our superb backroom team on the day of Darragh Long, Mikey Collins, Ger Mannix and Paudie McQuinn.
Team: Ben Quilter, Jack McGrath, Eoghan Carroll (0-1), Joey Nagle, Dara Barry Walsh, Dylan Casey (Capt) (0-1), Daniel O’Rourke (0-1), Michael O’Gara, Seán Quilter (0-7 – three frees), David Couchman, Dean Scanlon (1-1), Shane Bastible (1-1), Tom O’Farrell, Michael Slattery (3-1), Jordan Kissane (0-1).
Subs used: Joe Looby (23m), Armin Heinrich (42m), Ruairí O’Connell (52m), Gearóid Fitzgerald and Adam Curran (start of extra time).
HURLERS: Our Hurlers are having their Christmas Party and Medal Presentation Night in the Clubhouse on next Friday night (14th Dec). The Players Player of the Year will also be announced on the night.
GREAT VICTORY: Some newspapers were hailing it as ‘the greatest Club story ever told’ but it certainly was a ‘David and Goliath’ story – Mullinalaghta’s win over Kilmacud Crokes in yesterday’s Leinster SF Club Final. Well done to the Longford boys.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS: to the Club’s oldest former Administrator and current Vice President, Seán Murphy who celebrates his 97thbirthday on this coming Friday (14th Dec). Seán was one of the many Rock supporters who contributed generously to our recent Church Gate collection as he attended the 8am Sunday Mass at the Dominican Church.
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 Dec) Jackpot, worth €9,900, was not won. The numbers drawn were 5, 13, 15, 19. The €20 winners were: Canice Walsh and Liam Lynch, both c/o Club Rockies; Peggy King, Wicklow Town; Pádraig O’Leary, c/o Carmel O’Neill; and Mary Fitzgerald, c/o Rock Street Post Office.
The Christmas Voucher, kindly sponsored by Terry Healy Butchers, was won by Dot Naughton, c/o Carmel O’Neill. This week’s Jackpot will be worth €10,000.
LottoTickets 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 – Tom Kenny, The Bronx, New York and formerly Balloonagh Cottages (former Juvenile Hurler of the late 1940s and an avid Club supporter all his life); Kathleen Hennessy (nee O’Leary), Hawley Park and formerly Mitchels Road; Bridie O’Sullivan (nee Henry), Killarney and formerly Mayo (mother of former Dr. Crokes and Kerry Co. Board Chairman, Patrick O’Sullivan); Derek Rogers, Caherleheen; and Jim Butler, Balloonagh Estate and formerly Innishannon.
