WHAT A WEEK: With our Seniors having a record equaling score in Templenoe and our B team having a 12 points win in their game against Moyvane, both of these feats have been overtaken by two of our Juvenile teams.
First, last Thursday our U12s were co-winners (along with Ballymac) of the Co. League, and then at the weekend in Galway our U14s did the Club proud with their performances in the All Ireland Féile competition – getting to the semi final stage and could consider themselves unlucky not to have gone further.
Well done to both Juvenile teams – the whole squad of players, their super mentors and faithful followers, including the presence of our Club Chairperson, Máiréad Fernane.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Templenoe 2-2; Austin Stacks 2-24.
This round 7 game of the Co. League, played at Templenoe’s picturesque venue on last Saturday evening (29th June), left us with a 22 points winning margin at the end.
Only on three other occasions in the 48 year history of the Co. League did we surpass this – in 1973 we had 23 points to spare in one game and again in 1973 and also in 1978 we had our highest winning margins of 25 points in two other games.
And only on one other occasion (in 1985 against Spa) did we score 24 actual points (as against cumulative points) in a Co. League game. It must be said however that Templenoe were missing their Kerry contingent and were also unlucky to have to play most of the game without their influential full forward who was harshly red-carded after just seven minutes.
At that stage the home side were ahead by four points (2-0 to 0-2) – our opening two points coming from Darragh O’Brien (free) and Donagh McKivergan.
But for the remainder of the half we scored 1-7 without reply – our goal coming in the 22nd minute from Shane O’Callaghan. Templenoe did get the last point of the half, on the stroke of half time, to leave us ahead at the break by five points (1-9 to 2-1).
During the second half we were in total control, outscored the opposition by 1-15 to 0-1 – our second goal coming in the 60th minute by Darragh O’Brien.
This was a very good all-round performance by our lads. Eleven different players got on the score sheet. All our six starting forwards scored. Midfielder, Greg Horan score two and three of our six substitutes scored two points each – Michael O’Gara, Seán Quilter and David Fitzmaurice.
But the point of the game came in the 41st minute when corner back, Colin Griffin raced up-field to put over a beauty. The fact that the opposition just scored on four occasions during the hour was not down to any lack of effort on their part but by another brilliant defensive display by our lads.
There was just one negative during the game when goalkeeper Robbie Murphy had to come off with an injury after 11 minutes.
We all wish Robbie a speedy recovery. He was replaced in goals by Wayne Guthrie who did exceptionally well – Wayne did play in goals, on occasions, in his younger days.
And one other positive note – it was good to see John Murphy playing his first Senior game of the season after being out with a long-term injury.
The win and the score difference, together with the other results of the week-end, leap-frogs us on the League Table from seventh position to top spot – we are now on ten points along with Kerins O’Rahillys and Spa (who we meet in round 10 – see below).
Team: Robbie Murphy, Colin Griffin (0-1), Barry Shanahan, John Dennis, Jack O’Shea, Conor Jordan (Capt), Ciaran O’Reilly, Wayne Guthrie, Greg Horan (0-2), Shane Carroll (0-3), Shane O’Callaghan (1-1), Pa McCarthy (0-1), Ferdia O’Brien (0-4), Darragh O’Brien (1-5 – 3 frees, one 45), Donagh McKivergan (0-1).
Subs used: Michael O’Gara (11m) (0-2), Seán Quilter (40m) (0-2 frees), Paul Galvin (43m), David Fitzmaurice (47) (0-2), Ciarán O’Connell (49m), John Murphy (52m).
There are now only four more rounds to be played and the next three of these will be take place on successive weekends – against An Ghaeltacht (home) w/e July 14th; Killarney Legion (away) w/e July 21st and Spa (home) w/e July 28th. A date for the 11th and final round – away to St. Marys – has yet to be fixed.
B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 5-12; Moyvane 2-9.
League form at the beginning of this game (Co. League round 7 played in Connolly Park on last Sunday afternoon – 30th June) would have Moyvane (3rd on the Table) as firm favourites against our lads who were in 6th position but as this game progressed we were going from strength to strength even though the first half did ebb and flow right up to the half time whistle.
Both sides had periods of dominance during this opening half. We were on level terms after eleven minutes (1-1 to 0-4) with Donagh McKivergan pointing for us and Donagh McMahon scoring our goal.
We then controlled the next nine minutes, scoring 1-4 without reply (2-5 to 0-4 after 20 minutes). Our four points came from Donagh McKivergan (2) and Rory Forbes and Donagh McMahon with a point each.
Our goal could be regarded as lucky but Ciaran O’Connell won’t mind that as his accurate shot into the square, meant for a colleague, deceived both his colleague and the Moyvane keeper to sail all the way into the net.
However in the space of the next six minutes the North Kerry boys were back on level terms (2-5 each) with two goals – one from a well-taken 14 yards free – and a point from play. We then finished the half the stronger with a goal and two points – John Dennis with the goal and the two points by Donagh McKivergan. This left us ahead by five at the break (3-7 to 2-5).
We introduced two subs for the start of the second half and both had a big influence on the game. Michael O’Gara scored 1-2 – the goal coming from a well-taken penalty and both points coming from frees.
The second sub, Dean Scanlon, scored our fifth goal of the game. Our other three points of this half all came from play with David Fitzmaurice, Rory Forbes and Donagh McMahon all on target. In that second half we outscored the opposition by 2-5 to 0-4 and at the end of the hour we had a twelve points winning margin.
Kilgarvan and Knocknagoshel still top the table on 12 points each, Asdee are in 3rd position with 8 points, Moyvane in 4th with 7 and we are 5th on six points.
Team: Barry Galvin, John Murphy, Denis Costello, Rory Forbes (0-2), Paul Galvin, John Dennis (1-0), Andrew Morrissey (Capt), David Fitzmaurice (0-1), Ciarán O’Connell (1-0), Donagh McMahon (1-2), Pa McCarthy, Cathal O’Reilly, Seamus Bastible, Donagh McKivergan (0-5 – one free), Pádraig Looney.
Subs used: Michael O’Gara (ht) (1-2 – penalty goal; two pointed frees); Dean Scanlon (ht) (1-0), Eoghan Galvin (53m), Jack McGrath (53m).
There are now only four more rounds to be played and the next three of these will be played, like our Seniors, on successive weekends – against Rathmore (away) w/e July 14th; Knocknagoshel (home) w/e July 21st and Asdee (away) w/e July 28th. A date for the 11th and final round – at home to Cromane – has yet to be fixed.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL: We now have two more rounds to play in this season’s Co. League. The first of these goes head in Listowel on this Friday evening (5th July) against Emmets in round 4. And then the final round will be played a fortnight after that (19th July) at home to John Mitchels.
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 saddened to learn of the death of former card player, Jack Murphy. Our sympathies to Jack’s family and to his partner Jane Colfer. Our sympathies also to card player, Anne Sheehan on the death of her brother-in-law, Liam Sheehan (see sympathy below).
LOTTO: Last week’s (24th June) Jackpot, worth €11,400, was not won. The numbers drawn were 6, 16, 23, 29.
The €20 winners were: Eamonn O’Reilly and William Kirby, both c/o Club Rockies; Mary Godley, c/o Carmel O’Neill; Bernadette O’Sullivan, c/o Rock Street Post Office; and Dan Foley, 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.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently: Geraldine O’Sullivan (nee O’Gorman), Ballinorig Close and formerly Boherbee; Timothy McCarthy, Strand Road and formerly Kettering (UK); Maurice Boland, Edward Street and formerly Tarbert; Liam (William) Sheehan, Cappawhite (Tipperary) and formerly Tralee (brother of Timmy – Club Member and former Club Footballer); Ann McCormack (nee O’Brien), Connolly Park and formerly Athlone (grandmother of the late Seán Roche – former Club Hurler); Daniel (Dan) Murphy, Clahane, Ballyard; Helen O’Shea (nee Hayden), Boherbee (wife of the late John Thorney – former Mitchels and Kerry Footballer); John (Jack) Murphy , Rea, Kilflynn (see Cards); Kathleen Power, Cloonanorig; and Carol Moriarty Donovan, formerly Tralee who died in The Bronx, New York (daughter of the late Jerry Pluggy Moriarty Jnr.).
