SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-16; Kerins O’Rahillys 1-9
This local derby (round 5 of the Co. League), played in a sunny Connolly Park on last Saturday evening (8th June), saw both sides in control during the first half.
We totally dominated play in the opening quarter, leading by 0-6 to 0-1 after 15 minutes. But Rahillys has a brilliant second quarter, scoring 1-5 without reply, their goal coming in the 29th minute.
We did have the last point to leave the Strand Road boy two points ahead at the break (1-6 to 0-7). Our first half seven points came from four players – Shane O’Callaghan (3 –all from play), Darragh O’Brien (2 – one each from play and a free) and a point each, both from play, by Fiachna Mangan and Pa McCarthy.
Wayne and his colleagues must have given our boys some dressing-down at the interval because they came out a totally different side for the second half. We scored eight points during the first 26 minutes of that half while holding the opposition to just one point during that period.
Seán Quilter, who along with his two other Stacks colleagues – Dylan Casey and Joseph O’Connor – had earlier in the day helped the Kerry U20 team to victory over Dublin, scored three of those, and the other five coming from Darragh O’Brien (2), Fiachna Mangan, Kieran Donaghy and Shane O’Callaghan. Rahillys did get two late points after that which left us ahead by just three at that stage.
And in one final attack Rahillys were through for what looked like a certain goal but for a brilliant intervention by Ronan Shanahan.
Then, from that clearance, we made sure of victory when our top scorer on the evening, Shane O’Callaghan, put over the last point of the game, deep in added time, to leave us with a four points winning margin at the end.
It was good to see Dylan Casey back with the squad after an injury and also good to see Wayne Guthrie coming on as a second half sub after an injury. And also good to see reserve goalkeeper, Darragh O’Brien (the other Darragh O’Brien) back with the squad after an absence away.
Team: Robbie Murphy, Colin Griffin, Barry Shanahan, John Dennis, Ciarán O’Reilly, Ronan Shanahan, Jack Morgan, Greg Horan, Conor Jordan (Capt), Shane O’Callaghan (0-5), Shane Carroll, Fiachna Mangan (0-2), Ferdia O’Brien, Kieran Donaghy (0-1), Darragh O’Brien (0-4 – two frees).
Subs used: Pa McCarthy (4m) (0-1), Seán Quilter (ht) (0-3 – two frees), Wayne Guthrie (45m), Donagh McKivergan (56m), Ciaran O’Connell (59m), Brandon Patterson (60m).
Before the start of the game a Minutes Silence was observed in honour of the late Jackie Power who sadly passed away last week after a long illness.
Despite An Ghaeltacht going down to Dr. Crokes they still top the table on 8 points and then, unbelievably there are eight teams sharing second spot, including ourselves, with 6 points each. So all to play for as we travel to Dingle on this coming week-end for a round 6 game. As we write the game is fixed for Sunday afternoon (16th June) at 3pm.
B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 1-8; Kilgarvan 0-12.
On a warm sunny Sunday afternoon in Connolly Park table-toppers, Kilgarvan, continued their winning streak in this season’s Co. League making it five wins out of five with a narrow one point win against a Rock side that never gave up. When you consider that the visitors had 20 points to spare in one game, 15 to spare in another and 12 in another their winning margin on this occasion puts our performance in context.
We got off to a brilliant start with Darragh Scanlon winning the throw-in, finding Shane Carroll and Shane’s perfect pass found the on-rushing Brandon Patterson who put over beautifully inside 20 seconds. The visitors opened their account in the 6th minute and led by three points to one at the end of the first quarter.
Then in the 17th minute we were awarded a penalty when Cathal O’Reilly was fouled and Shane Carroll make no mistake from the spot for what turned out to be the only goal of the game.
This however did not deter the Kilgarvan boys as they went on to score a further five points before the end of the half. We added just two more during the second quarter, both coming from Shane Carroll which left the visitors ahead by two at the break (0-8 to 1-3).
With both sets of defences excelling the second half was equally as tight. On this occasion we just shaded it on the scoreboard, scoring five points to four for the opposition but even though we came close on at least two occasions we could not get that vital goal to bring us over the line.
Shane Carroll added two more in this half with the other three coming from Pa McCarthy (2) and Donagh McKivergan.
The visitors made better use of their chances – they had just three wides during the course of the hour, to twelve for us and were deserving winners in the end. However losing Paul Barrett through injury after 15 minutes did not help our cause. We all wish Paul a speedy recovery.
It was also good to see Darragh O’Brien making his first appearance in goals after an absence. The result leaves us in 5th spot on the table as we near the half-way stage in the League campaign.
Team: Darragh O’Brien, Shane Kelliher, Denis Costello, Rory Forbes, Brandon Patterson (0-1), Ciarán O’Connell. Andrew Morrissey (Capt), Paul Barrett, Darragh Scanlon, Padraig Looney, Shane Carroll (1-4 – penalty goal, two frees), Shane Walsh, Dale Counihan, Donagh McKivergan (0-1), Cathal O’Reilly.
Subs used: David Fitzmaurice (15m), Pa McCarthy (ht) (0-2), Theo Diggin (41m), David Couchman (45m), Seamus Bastible (56m).
Round 6 goes ahead next week-end with a trip to Ballylongford for our lads. As we write the game is fixed for Sunday afternoon (16th June) with a 2pm start.
THE C TEAM: Our postponed round 2 Co. League game against Ballydonoghue has yet to be refixed as we write.
BILLY RYLE’S NEW NOVEL: Former Club Footballer and Club Secretary/Assistant Secretary (1972-1975), Billy Ryle and current member of our Jobs Match Committee as well as a co-author of our recent Centenary Book is about to publish his first Novel ‘Christian Brotherly Love’.
The book is based on the exploits of a lad named Barry Kyle (that name rhymes with someone that I know) during his primary and secondary school years in the Christian Brothers between 1958 and 1968. Barry was a member of a republican family, a talented Gaelic footballer, a keen student and a loyal friend and was a witness to all that was happening at that time – as they say ‘all human life is there’
This is Book One of what will be an enthralling trilogy and it will be launched at the Kerry Library, Moyderwell, on this Thursday evening, 13th June at 7.30pm by former Editor of The Kerryman, Declan Malone .
Everybody is very welcome to the launch where the Book will be on sale at €12 per copy. The Book can also be purchased online from Amazon. A digital e-book version (kindle) is also available from Amazon.
The Master of Ceremonies on the night will be our won Kerry O’Shea, popular contributor to the weekly Tralee Outlook Magazine.
Billy is dedicating the novel to Micheál Hayes and Seán Murphy, two outstanding football and hurling mentors of that era and he is also dedicating it to the memory of James Hobbert, Jack Parker, Johnny Reidy, Michael ‘Chucky’ O Connell, Mick Ryan, Joe Mulchinock, Jackie Power Snr. and Paddy Drummond for their contribution to the development of hurling and football during that period also.
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.
All at the Cards were delighted to see James O’Hara back in action again last week after an absence of a few weeks and offer continued best wishes to Tom Leen, John Murrihy and Eileen Conway and look forward to their return as soon as possible.
LOTTO: Last week’s (3rd June) Jackpot, worth €11,300, was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 9, 10, 22.
The €20 winners were Bernadette Moughaly and Pauline McCarthy, both c/o Rock Street Post Office; Phil Lynch and Paudie O’Shea, both c/o The Club and Martin Dennehy, c/o Carmel O’Neill.
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.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently: Thomas (Tom) Foley, Lougher, Annascaul and formerly the Anchor Bar and Knockanish; Edward (Eddie) O’Brien, Doon (relative of Joe Naughton); Mary Lee (nee Lyons), Newcastle West (mother of Billy, who was part of our SF Management team during 2016); and Tom Raymond, Rahoonane and formerly Old Marian Park.
