SENIOR FOOTBALL: With one more round to be played as well as one back game (Templenoe .v. Killarney Legion) the top two positions in the League Table are still wide open with all of the top six teams still in contention – Rathmore Stacks, Crokes, Rahillys, Dingle and Legion.
So all to play for in this 11th and final round which is provisionally fixed for the week-end after next (w/e 18th August) but this has yet to be confirmed as we write. We are away to St. Marys in this final round.
B FOOTBALL: The 11th and final round is provisionally fixed for the week-end after next (w/e 18th August) but this has yet to be confirmed as we write. We are at home to Cromane in this final round.
THE C TEAM: Austin Stacks 3-15; Na Gaeil 1-10.
Our semi final game against Na Gaeil (as 2nd and 3rd teams on the League Table) went ahead in Connolly Park on last Friday evening (2nd Aug) and what a cracker of a game it turned out to be with both sides playing attacking attractive football, especially in the first half.
Na Gaeil got off to a brilliant start and led by 1-4 to 0-2 by the end of the first quarter – our two points coming from Dale Counihan and David Courtney. But once we settled we had an outstanding second quarter, scoring 2-7 to 0-2 during that period to leave us ahead by six points at half time (2-9 to 1-6). Our two goals came in the 16th and 26th minutes.
The first came when Michael Linnane burst his way up-field and with a lovely diagonal ball found David Courtney out near the sideline. David’s shot straight across the square found David Leonard who turned and buried the ball in the back of the net.
The second goal came from a touch of class from Pa McCarthy, his merest of touches finding the spot. Our seven points came from six different players – two from Dale Counihan and one each from David Courtney, Donagh McMahon, Danny Roche, Pa McCarthy and Michael Godley.
Like the first half Na Gaeil performed well during the opening six minutes of the second period, scoring four points to 1-1 for us. Both of our scores came from Danny Roche in the space of a minute. Good work again by Michael Linnane and Pa McCarthy led to his first score, a point in the 33rd minute and Dale Counihan was involved in the build-up to his cracker of a goal a minute later.
Score-wise, that was as good as it got for our visitors as we kept them scoreless for the remainder of the game and that was down to another brilliant defensive display by our lads, including TJ Hogan who had reverted to full back in the 15th minute when Eoghan McKivergan had to retire with an injury. We all wish Eoghan a speedy recovery.
Our last five points of the game came from five different players – David Courtney, Donagh McMahon, Pa McCarthy, Sean Dukes and Michael Godley. Only one of our 18 scores came from a free and that was Donagh’s second half point in the 46th minute.
Team: Pa Fitzgibbon, Tommy Costello, Eoghan McKivergan, Conor Lowe, Michael Godley (0-2), Michael Linnane, Brian Phelan, TJ Hogan (Capt), Jason Mitchel, Danny Roche (1-2), Dale Counihan (0-3), Pa McCarthy (1-2), David Courtney (0-3), David Leonard (1-0), Ricky Moloney.
Subs used: Donagh McMahon (15m) (0-2 – one free), Seán Dukes (ht) (0-1), Gearóid Sheehan (40m), Martin Courtney (49m), Ger Breen (55m).
So we now look forward to a Co. League final clash against Annascaul, the team that defeated us in the opening round of the League last May (2-13 to 2-7). The game has been fixed for this Friday evening (9th Aug) with a throw-in time of 7.30 but the venue has yet to be confirmed as we write.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Keel/Listry 5-19; Austin Stacks 2-13.
The third and final round of the Central League played in Listry on last Thursday evening (1st Aug) saw the home side coming out winners after they led at half time by double scores (2-10 to 1-5).
Team; Ben Quilter, Craig Teahan, Niall Fitzmaurice, Ciarán Kelliher, Mark Holden, David Burke, Daniel O’Rourke, Eoghan Carroll, Seán Quilter (Capt) (0-6 – two frees, one forty five), Mervyn Shalama, Cian Purcell (1-1), Conor Myers (0-3 – two frees), Conor Horan (1-1), Jordan Kissane (0-2), Jimmy Charles.
Sub used: Gavin Duffy.
The way is now clear for the semi finals which have been fixed for this Thursday evening (8th Aug) at 7pm. We travel to Cahersiveen for our game against Renard/St. Marys while Killorglin is the venue for the second semi final between Laune Rangers and Keel/Listry.
Then, five days later (Tues. 13th Aug), the Co. Championship resumes with the four quarter finals scheduled to take place. We have a home game against West Kerry, the first time the sides will meet in the competition since 2005. Throw-in in Connolly Park is at 6.30pm with extra time if required.
BEST OF LUCK: to the Kerry Minors (including our own Luke Chester and Adam Curran) who take on Galway and to the Kerry Seniors who play Tyrone in their respective All Ireland semi finals in Croke Park next Sunday (11th Aug).
U21 FOOTBALL: We are due to play Gneeveguilla in the opening round of this season’s Co. Championship on this Tuesday evening (6th Aug)at 7pm. There is no second chance in this competition so a win is a must in order to go through to the quarter final.
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 (29th July) Jackpot, worth €11,700, was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 7, 21, 25.
The €20 winners were: Louise Walsh, Caroline Hutchinson and Kieran O’Callaghan, all c/o The Club; Jim Naughton, c/o Club Rockies; and Tom Landers, 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: Francie Walsh, Latchford’s Terrace, Ballymullen; Dersie O’Sullivan, Rae Street Bungalows and formerly Upper Strand Street (brother of former Kerry and Kerins O’Rahillys footballer, Denis).
