SENIOR FOOTBALL: It’s amazing that, after six rounds of the Co. League, seven teams share top spot on eight points each with all seven having won four games and lost two. So with five rounds remaining it’s still wide open as to who will come out on top.
Round 7 goes ahead on this week-end as we travel to Templenoe on Saturday evening (29th June) for a 7.30pm throw-in.
B FOOTBALL: Our B team are also on duty this week-end as they welcome Moyvane to Connolly Park on Sunday afternoon for a 2pm start. Moyvane are third on the League table while we occupy 7th spot.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 1-14 (17); Ballydonoghue (3-7 (16).
Despite conceding three first half goals the C Team put up a brilliant performance to eventually edge out a very strong North Kerry outfit by the narrowest of margins in this postponed round 2 Co. League game played in ideal conditions in Connolly Park on a fine Tuesday evening (18th June).
We got off to the perfect start with Seán Dukes winning the throw-in, finding Darragh Long who opened the scoring after just twelve seconds. The visitors then equalized but Darragh was on target again in the 4th minute following good work by Danny Roche.
William Kirby put over our third and David Courtney our 4th after nine minutes to put us three up at that stage. But Bally were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute which they brilliantly converted to level matters.
Four minutes later they added a second, this time from play after we had put over two in the meantime with Darragh and David Courtney on target again. Seamus Smith then pointed in the 17th minute to level again.
Our only goal of game came a minute later when David Courtney was on target but this was cancelled out immediately when Bally got through for their third.
In the closing ten minutes of the half we just shaded it scoring three points to two for the opposition – Danny Roche, Darragh Long (free) and William Kirby on target for us. This left us ahead by one at half time (1-10 to 3-3) and that was still the margin at the end of this tightest of tight games after both sides had scored four points each during that second half – Darragh Long again scoring three of these – to cap a fine performance by him – with David Courtney scoring the forth of the half.
Team: Darragh O’Brien, Tommy Costello, David Leonard, Brian Phelan, Conor Lowe, Barry Walsh (Capt), Michael Godley, Seán Dukes, Daniel Bohan, Danny Roche (0-1), Darragh Long (0-7 – four frees), Seamus Smith (0-1), David Courtney (1-3), William Kirby (0-2), Pádraig Breen.
Subs used: Michael Collins (ht), Joe Looby (36m), Philip Quilter (40m), Eoin Muckian (51m), Gearóid Sheehan (54m), Rory O’Shea (58m).
Connolly Park will also be the venue for our Round 3 game against Na Gaeil which is scheduled to go ahead on this Friday evening (21st June) at 7.30pm.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 4-11; Na Gaeil 1-6.
In the space of three days our C team have achieved a second win in this 3rd round of the Co. League played at a damp Connolly Park on last Friday evening (21st June).
After a measured start we went into a three points lead inside the first ten minutes with Danny Roche, Michael Linnane and Seán Dukes on target for us.
However by the 15th minute we found ourselves in arrears after Na Gaeil pointed twice and then capitalized on a defensive error for a well-taken goal. Both sides then exchanged points by the 20th minute, ours coming from Danny Roche again.
Then two minutes later David Courtney was at the end of a good Stacks move to put away the first of our four goals. Na Gaeil pointed in the 25th minute to leave the sides level on 1-4 each.
Then in the closing two minutes of the half we scored a goal and two points which was the difference between the sides at half time (2-6 to 1-4).
The goal came after some brilliant work by those two veterans, William Kirby and Daniel Bohan to set Danny Roche free and he placed his shot perfectly away from the keeper. David Courtney then pointed and the last score of the half came from a pointed Daniel Bohan free after another veteran, Mikey Collins was fouled going through.
We had a very good second half also scoring just one point short of what we had achieved in the first half. The two goals came this from Mikey Collins (in the 40th minute) and Cian Liston in the 55th minute while our five points came from Danny and David again with the other three from three of the subs introduced during the game – Mike Collins, Cian Liston and David Walsh.
So another all-round brilliant performance by our lads, including a superb defensive display holding the opposition to just two scores during that second half. It was good to see a number of players back on the field of play after some long absences and good also to see Sean Somers making his Senior Club debut, coming on during the second half and performing well.
It’s tight at the top of the League table with three teams sharing top spot on four points each – that’s Mitchels, ourselves and Annascaul (Mitchels do have a game in hand).
Team (13 a-side): Darragh O’Brien, Tommy Costello, No Full Back, Barry Walsh, Conor Lowe, TJ Hogan, Michael Linnane (0-1), Jason Mitchel (Capt), Gearóid Sheehan, Ricky Moloney, Seán Dukes (0-1), Danny Roche (1-3), David Courtney (1-2), No Full Forward, Daniel Bohan (0-1 free).
Subs used: Michael Collins (15m) (1-1), William Kirby (20m), Philip Quilter (27m), Cian Liston (41m) (1-1), St. John Hegarty (45m), David Walsh (50m) (0-1), Martin Courtney (52m), Seán Somers (52).
We now have two more rounds to play, away to Listowel Emmets in a fortnight’s time (5th July) and two weeks after that (19th July) at home to John Mitchels.
WELL DONE: to both the Kerry Minors (including our own Luke Chester and Adam Curran) and the Kerry Seniors on their Munster Final victories against Cork last Saturday.
BEST OF LUCK; from all in the Senior Section of the Club to our U14 boys as they travel to a number of venues in Connacht on this coming week-end for the All Ireland Finals of Féile na bPeil.
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 Tom Leen back playing Cards again last Thursday night and they wish continued progress to Eileen Conway and John Murrihy and look forward to their return shortly.
LOTTO: Last week’s (17th June) Jackpot, worth €11,400, was not won. The numbers drawn were 3, 6, 20, 24.
The €20 winners were: Martin O’Regan, c/o Carmel O’Neill; Tim Tiger Slattery, c/o The Club; Jerry & Mary Fitzmaurice, c/o Club Rockies; Eoin Muckian, c/o Terry’s; Pat De Lacey, c/o Rock Street Post Office.
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: Owen (Gully) O’Sullivan, Kerins Park and formerly Cahill’s Park; Marie Moran (nee Clarke), Elm Court and formerly Woodlawn Drive, Killarney; Fred Browne, Spa Road; Anne Harrington (nee Mealy), Meadowlands and formerly Tuosist and Castlecomer; Fr. Willie Stack, Doon and St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan (brother of former Club player, the late Brendan); Michael Bob O’Connor, Rathass; and John Hanafin, Monavalley House.
