SENIOR FOOTBALL: John Mitchels 0-10; Austin Stacks 0-13. For the sixth year in a row our Seniors won their first outing of the season in round 2 of the Town League played in Mitchels home venue on Sunday afternoon (3rd Feb).
The game was evenly balanced in the opening stages with both sides level on three points each after ten minutes – all our three inside forwards getting on the score sheet – Fergal Ryan with the opening point after two minutes, followed by Gearóid Fitzgerald in the 5th and Shane O’Callaghan on target four minutes later.
The strongish cross-field wind didn’t favour any side in particular but we hit a purple patch in a five minute spell (11th to 16th minutes) putting over four unanswered points. The first of these came from a long-ranged effort from team captain on the day, Conor Jordan (Conor, along with his midfield partner, Wayne Guthrie dominated the centre throughout the hour). The other three points were put over by Shane O’Callaghan – two from frees and one a beautiful left-footed effort from play.
With both sets of defences dominating, the remaining fourteen minutes of the half yielded just one point for either side – ours coming in the 29th minute from Darragh Scanlon when he was put through with a perfect pass from Fiachna Mangan. This left us ahead by double scores at the break (0-8 to 0-4).
We moved even further ahead in the early stages of the second half and led by 11 points to 4 after the opening 12 minutes.
The first of these came in the 34th minute when a quickly-taken free by Darragh Scanlon found Ronan Shanahan and Ronan’s brilliant run up-field eventually found Fergal Ryan who put over his second of the day.
The other two were scored by Shane O’Callaghan and David Fitzmaurice who also had an excellent game all through.
But whether we rested on our laurels or ran out of steam we just scored two more points during the rest of the half while Mitchels, as they usually do, upped a gear, putting over a further six during this period. Our two remaining points came from Wayne Guthrie in the 57thminute and Fergal Ryan (who had the first point of the game in the 2nd minute) scoring the last point of the game in the 62nd minute.
So a satisfying enough performance which will have pleased Wayne Quillinan and his colleagues (John O’Sullivan, Damien Ryall, Eoin Colgan, Jonathan Conway, Tommy Naughton and Fionán Hallinan) for the time being at least.
Team: Robbie Murphy, Shane Walsh, Barry Shanahan, John Dennis, Jack O’Shea, Ronan Shanahan, Ciarán O’Connell, Wayne Guthrie (0-1), Conor Jordan (Capt) (0-1), Darragh Scanlon (0-1), Fiachna Mangan, David Fitzmaurice (0-1), Shane O’Callaghan (0-5 – two frees), Gearóid Fitzgerald (0-1), Fergal Ryan (0-3).
Subs: Barry Galvin (39m), Paul Barrett (45m).
Round 3 of the League, against Kerins O’Rahillys, has been refixed for next Saturday afternoon (9th Feb) at 3pm in Connolly Park. Please note change of date and venue.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL: We mentioned in last week’s Notes that we had to go back to 2008 to find the Junior Town League going ahead before the Co. League. Well we still have to go back to 2008 as it’s unlikely to happen this year. The Town Board informs us that participating Clubs are not in a position to field teams so early in the season. So we await further notification
MINOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 5-13; Na Gaeil 2-7.
Our Town League campaign got off to a winning start in Connolly Park on Sunday afternoon (3rd Feb) with a win against an under-strength Na Gaeil side.
We are away to Kerins O’Rahillys in round 2 on next Sunday (10th Feb) at 3pm. Then the Co. League commences on the following Saturday (16th Feb) with an away trip to Killorglin. .
SENIOR SCÓR QUIZ: Brian Caball informs us that The Kerry Scór quiz final is expected to take place on Friday March 8th in the Centre of Excellence (an tIonad Barr Feabhais), Currow. All Clubs in Kerry are entitled to send a four (wo)man team to this table quiz and the winning team will go directly to the All-Ireland final which will take place at “The Travellers’ Friend” Theatre/Hotel, Castlebar, County Mayo, on Saturday February 16th. Just one step to an All-Ireland.
FUNDRAISER; Club Fundraising Clothes Recycling: collection date this Sat Feb 9th from 2pm to 4pm. Anyone wishing to drop bags off to the clubhouse earlier can contact: 085 223 58 57. We will accept – Mens, Womens & Childrens Clothing; Household Textiles ie Curtains & Towels; Soft toys; Shoes; Handbags; Belts; (cannot accept duvets or pillows). All items must be clean & dry.
WELL DONE: again to the Connolly Park residents who had their annual Festive Special in the Clubhouse last Sunday week. And as always it’s so hard to compete with the Connolly Park folk as they have something new every year and this year was no exception.
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 (28th Jan) Jackpot, worth €10,350, was not won. The numbers drawn were 17, 23, 29, 31. The €20 winners were: Matthew O’Dowd and Denis C. O’Neill, both c/o Carmel O’Neill; Daniel Roche, c/o Rock Street Post Office; Trevor Houlihan, c/o The Club; and Eamon Heaslip, c/o Club Rockies.
LottoTickets are on regular sale at the Rock Street Post Office and at the Stacks Clubhouse, as well as from our other regular outlets.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Marie McCormack, Mitchel’s Rd.; and Anne Margaret Lyons, Cahill’s Park.
