Austin Stacks GAA Club News

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SENIOR FOOTBALL: Killarney Legion 0-16; Austin Stacks 1-11.

After four consecutive Co. League wins our Seniors suffered their third League defeat in Killarney on Saturday evening when a Stephen Stack managed outfit put them to the sword. The defeat drops us down to second position on the League table.

But with two rounds still to be played there are still eight teams who could finish up in the top two positions. These teams are Rathmore who are now table toppers on 13 points. Four teams then share 2nd position – that’s ourselves, Rahillys, Crokes and Dingle. Legion’s win puts them up to 6th spot on 11 points and then Spa and An Ghaeltacht share 7th and 8th positions on 10 points.

Round 10 goes ahead on next Saturday evening (27th July) when Spa, who are currently 7th on the table, pay their first visit to Connolly Park in six years. Throw in is at 7.30pm.  Our 11th and final game will be away to St. Marys on a date yet to be confirmed.

B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-9; Knocknagoshel 1-12.

Knocknagoshel stay top of Division 5B despite dropping their first point of the season after being held to a draw by a gritty Stacks outfit in Connolly Park on this Saturday evening (20th July).

The visitors went ahead inside the opening minute with a pointed free. Daniel O’Rourke got us off the mark over a minute later with a beautiful point from an acute angle and then Rory Forbes goaled for us in the 11th minute after latching on to a perfect cross-the-square ball from Donagh McKivergan.

Two points then by the visitors leveled matters at the end of the first quarter. Three more points then in as many minutes, all from frees, by Theo Diggin and Donagh MvKivergan (2) put our lads three points ahead again after 20 minutes.

However Knocknagoshel put on the pressure in the closing minutes of the half adding four more points without reply to leave them one ahead at the break (0-8 to 1-4).
We dominated the third quarter holding the opposition scoreless while adding 1-4 to our tally.

Substitute David Couchman was less than five minutes on the pitch when he goaled from a beautiful move initiated by Shane Kelliher from his full back position. Our  four points came  from Donagh McMahon (2), Dean Scanlon and Rory Forbes.
But in the final quarter it was the visitors who dominated matters again when they did exactly the same thing – holding our lads scoreless while adding 1-4 to their own tally, leaving them a point ahead as we neared full time.

But on the stroke of 60 minutes it was Dean Scanlon who became the hero of the hour when he leveled the game again for the 6th and final time with a smashing point. Both sides then had chances in the closing three minutes of added time before referee Ronan Moore blew the final whistle and a draw seemed a fair result after a hard fought, exciting game that went down to the wire.

This was a superb display by our lads, following their brilliant away win last week against Rathmore. All 17 players who lined out were exceptional. All our six forwards got on the score sheet as well as second half substitute David Couchman whose second half goal turned out to be vital.

But Knocknagoshel were so strong upfront that against any other team they would have wiped them out.

But our defence were superb performing turn-over after turn-over throughout the whole hour, including one outstanding game-saving save by Seamus Bastible during that final quarter when the Knock boys were going for broke. And to add to that both Cathal O’Reilly and Shane Walsh dominated the centre all through.

Team: Seamus Bastible, Shane Kelliher, Denis Costello, John Murphy, David Burke, Paul Galvin, Andrew Morrissey (Capt), Cathal O’Reilly, Shane Walsh, Donagh McMahon (0-2), Rory Forbes (1-1), Theo Diggin (0-1 free), Dean Scanlon (0-2), Donagh McKivergan (0-2 frees), Daniel O’Rourke (0-1).
Subs used: David Couchman (37m) (1-0), Michael Linnane (54m).

We now have two more rounds to play- the first away to Asdee on next Sunday (28th July) at 2pm with the last round-robin game at home to Cromane on a date yet to be fixed.

THE C TEAM: Austin Stacks 3-10; John Mitchels 1-4.

Our fifth and final round of the Co. League, at home to John Mitchels on last Friday evening (19th July), ended in a twelve points win for our lads against a Boherbee side who were missing a number of first choice players.

The game had to endure very poor weather conditions with rain and a strong wind prevailing during the first half (it did improve somewhat during the second period). We led by four points to no score at the end of the first quarter, all four coming from that deadly duo, Danny Roche (3) and David Courtney.

Mitchels first score came in the 17th minute but before the end of the half we added a further goal and two points with Mitchels scoring the last point just before the break to leave us ahead at half time by 1-6 to 0-2. Our goal came from Mikey Collins who was no sooner on the pitch when he netted in the 24th minute. Our two points came from David Courtney.

In the second half we double-scored the opposition by 2-4 to 1-2. Our two second half goals came at vital stages – the first in the 40th minute by David Leonard and the second, twelve minutes later, the score of the game from Jason Mitchel.

Jason was also among the scorers of our four second-half points with the other three coming from Mikey Collins, Danny Roche and Martin Courtney.

There are still three back games to be played – all involving Ballydonoghue. But irrespective of these results we have already qualified for a semi final clash against opposition yet to be determined. The top team in the group will automatically go through to the final.

Team: Paddy Fitzgibbon, Tommy Costello, Barry Walsh, Conor Lowe, Brian Phelan, Michael Linnane, Michael Godley, Jason Mitchel (1-1), Gearóid Sheehan, Danny Roche (0-4 – one free), Dale Counihan, Pádraig Breen, David Courtney (0-3), David Leonard (1-0), Ricky Moloney.

Subs used: Eoghan McKivergan (16m), Michael Collins (22m) (1-1), Joe Looby (36m), Martin Courtney (47m) (0-1), Eoin Muckian (54m), Ger Breen (54m).

MINOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 6-10 (28); Reenard/St. Marys  8-12 (36).
Scoring 6-10 would win almost every game but the visitors from South Kerry on an overcast but dry evening last Thursday (18th July) had an eight points winning margin in this opening round of the Minor Central League in Connolly Park.

We led by 2-2 to no score at the end of the first quarter but the opposition had drawn level by half time (2-6 each).

The second half then produced a goal fest. There was nothing but goals in the opening nine minutes – four by Renard/Marys and two for us. In the remaining twenty minutes or so they tagged on a further 2-6 while we added 1-5.

Some of our scores were spectacular, none more so than by Cian Purcell whose tally for the evening was 4-3. One of those came from a brilliantly-taken 36th minute free. Matthew Browne and Greg Scanlon were our other goal scorers

Team; (13 a-side): Jimmy Charles, No Right Full, Niall Fitzmaurice (0-1), Ciarán Kelliher, Padraic Linnane, David Burke, Mark Holden, Dara Barry Walsh (0-1), Eoghan Carroll (Capt) (0-2), Greg Scanlon (1-1), Daniel O’Rourke (0-2 – one free), Tom O’Farrell, Matthew Browne (1-0), Cian Purcell (4-3 – 1-2 from frees), No Top of the Left.
Sub used: Gavin Duffy (16m).

We are away now in our two remaining rounds – on this Thursday evening (25th July – throw-in 7pm) against Laune Rangers and then on the following Thursday (1st August) against Keel/Listry in Listry.

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 (15th July) Jackpot, worth €11,600, was not won. The numbers drawn were 12, 21, 26,  29.
The €20 winners were: Brendan Reidy and David Barry, both c/o The Club; Patricia Walsh, c/o Brendan O’Regan; Jenny McMahon, c/o Tim McMahon; and Kieran James, 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: James (Jimmy) Lucey, St. John’s Park (former Club Footballer), Anne Devane, Annagh (mother-in-law of Joan – our Ladies Club Secretary – and grandmother of Club Footballers, Laura and Brenda); Michael O’Donnell, Glencairn, Caherslee and formerly Tawlaght, Fenit; and Sister Mary Kathrina McKenna, Presentation Convent and formerly Boolteens.

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