Austin Stacks GAA Club News

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PAUL LUCEY RUN FOR THE ROCK: Bank Holiday Monday May 6th – It is our ambition that every person associated with the club will participate in this occasion with our Run/Walk/Help initiative ie you Run it, you Walk it or you Help.

There will be no other club activities on this day. It is our ambition to make this a day of Club Unity that shows us in our best light.

SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 1-21; Dr. Crokes 1-15.

Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin

In ideal conditions in Austin Stack Park on Sunday afternoon (28th April) we won our 4th Club Championship title and our first since 2016 after another brilliant display by all our 20 players who lined out during the 69m of play (32m in the first half, 37m during the second period).

Crokes were also the opposition on that September Saturday in 2016 in Fitzgerald Stadium when we had only one point to spare at the end but on this occasion we finished the game with a margin of six points.

It didn’t look like that half way through the first half when the current champions had a lead of five points (1-4 to 0-2). Both of our opening points came from two well-taken frees by Darragh O’Brien. But in a five minute spell between the 15th and 20th minutes we scored six brilliant unanswered points – all from play  – with Kieran Donaghy and Greg Horan on target twice and one each from Fiachna Mangan and Ronan Shanahan.

Crokes responded well with three more points inside the 25th minute. Both sides then had a point each in the closing minutes of the half – ours a super effort from distance by Shane O’Callaghan – and it was looking like Crokes were going in at the break with a two points lead.

But in one last attack Kieran Donaghy fielded a mighty effort, as he did all afternoon. He was fouled in the square and Darragh O’Brien sent the keeper the wrong way from the resultant penalty to give us a one point lead at half time (1-9 to 1-8).

With both sides exchanging points during the third quarter that was still the margin between the sides (1-13 to 1-12) as the game entered the final quarter – three of our four points coming from the boot of Seán Quilter after Darragh O’Brien had opened the second half scoring in the 34th minute.

But the preparation done by Wayne, Damien and their colleagues really showed in the final quarter when we outscored the opposition by eight points to three. Four of these came from Seán Quilter (two frees), one from Shane O’Callaghan and one each from three of the subs that came on during the second half – Conor Jordan, Shane Carroll and Ferdia O’Brien.

Again our defence was superb. Robbie Murphy was soundness personified in goals and his kick-outs always found a colleague. Time after time, when Crokes were on the attack one or other of our six defenders were there to do a turn-over and all six mounted attack after attack when the occasion arose.

Wayne Guthrie and Joseph O’Connor won the midfield battle over the course of the game. Wayne picked up a nasty leg injury ten minutes into the second half and we all wish him a speedy recovery (however it didn’t stop him from climbing the steps of the stand to accept the Michael O’Connor Cup after the game) .

Up front all our six starting forwards got on the score sheet as well as three of the subs (already named above) and Ronan Shanahan in one of his many attacks up field also put over. Seán Quilter won the Man of the Match award.

In his last five games he has amassed a total of 31 points which brings him into joint second spot with Shane O’Callaghan (4-19), just four behind the current top-scorer, Darragh O’Brien (3-26).

Team: Robbie Murphy, Colin Griffin, Barry Shanahan, Jack O’Shea, Ciarán O’Reilly, Ronan Shanahan (0-1), Jack Morgan, Wayne Guthrie (Capt), Joseph O’Connor, Greg Horan (0-2), Darragh O’Brien (1-3 –one penalty goal; two frees), Fiachna Mangan (0-1, Seán Quilter (0-7 – three frees), Kieran Donaghy (0-2), Shane O’Callaghan (0-2).

Subs used: Conor Jordan (37m) (0-1), Michael O’Gara (40m), Ferdia O’Brien (51m) (0-1), Shane Carroll (58m) (0-1), Brandon Patterson (60m).

We won the very first Club Championship in 1979. We then had to wait 24 years before our next title in 2003. And one man who had another stormer today was also on that team 16 years ago – the one and only Kieran Donaghy.

And also on the playing panel during the course of that campaign were three men who are part of the management team today – Wayne Quillinan, Jonathan Conway and Eoin Colgan.

Our next game, on the week-end after next , will also be against Dr. Crokes. The game, in Connolly Park, will be in the 3rd round of the Co. League.

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 Monday’s (22nd April) Jackpot, worth €11,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 6, 15, 18, 27.

The €20 winners were; Paudie O’Shea, c/o Rock Street Post Office; and Dex Carmody, Gerard Teahon, David Doyle and Paul O’Connor, all c/o The Club.

Lotto Tickets are on regular sale at the Rock Street Post Office and at the Stacks Clubhouse, as well as from our other regular outlets.

DEATH: Last week we were mourning the death of Benny Hayes, a member of the 1955 MH Co. Championship winning side. This week another member of that great team passed away at his home in the US – David Barry.

Dave lined out at right corner back on that September day along side team captain, Jimmy Murphy. The following year he was a member of our Minor Football team. He was a brother of the late Jimmy and Kevin Barry and an uncle of Paddy, the current Manager of our B team.  We offer sincere sympathy to David’s family and relations.

SYMPATHY:  Sincere sympathy is also offered to the families of the following who died recently – Cathy O’Connell (nee Fitzgerald), Casement’s Avenue (wife of the late Michael Chucky – former Club Footballer, Team Mentor and Executive Member and mother of Mary, Anne, Martina, John and James); Donie Quirke, Kerin’s Park and formerly Clahane; Tom Brosnan Snr., Leedale, Caherslee and late of Rathkenny, Abbeydorney; George Moloney, Kevin Barry’s Villas and formerly Old Marian Park; Leslie Hutchins, Manor Village; and Bridget (Bridie) Griffin (nee Taggart), Lohercannon and formerly Fintona, Omagh.

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