SENIOR FOOTBALL: Our next competitive outing will be in round 8 of the Co. League when we welcome Killarney Legion to Connolly Park on the weekend after next (w/e 26th July).
JUNIOR B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 1-11 (14); Na Gaeil 2-9 (15).
We have often heard of a game of two halves. Well we could invent a new cliché for this first round of the Junior Town League played at Connolly Park on last Friday evening (10th July) – it could be described as a game of one half and two quarters. The first half was fairly even – the visitors going in at half time a point to the good (0-5 to 0-4). Patrick Fitzgibbon (with two frees) and Darragh Long with one each from play and a free were our first half scores. That was the half.
Then came the two quarters. In the 3rd quarter Na Gaeil scored 2-4 to nothing for us, which left us 11 points adrift at that stage. Then in the 4th quarter we scored 1-7 to nothing for Na Gaeil but that was enough to see them through with that one point win. Darragh Long was our second half goalscorer (53rd minute) and he also scored three more points. Our four other 4th quarter points came from Eoghan McKivergan, James Galvin, Joseph O’Kelly and William Kirby.
Team: Seán Purcell, Paul Galvin, Eoghan McKivergan (0-1), John Murphy, Nicholas Gogarty, Denis O’Neill, Joseph O’Kelly (0-1), Alan Duggan (Capt), William Kirby (0-1), Dale Counihan, Breandán Caball, Dylan Harnett, Andrew Morrissey, Darragh Long (1-5 – 3 frees), Patrick Fitzgibbon (0-2 frees).
Subs used: Kyle Fitzgibbon (ht), James Galvin (38m) (0-1), Seán Hurley (42m), Tommy Nicholson (44m), Sam Nealon (46m), Eoin Galvin (50m).
We must now prepare for our trip down south on this Sunday (12th July) to play Reenard in a round 5 back game of the Co. League. The game throws in at 2.30pm.
After that it’s back to Town League duty with an away game in round 2 against John Mitchels. This game has been rescheduled for next Friday (17th July) at 7.30pm.
JUNIOR B FOOTBALL: Reenard 1-16; Austin Stacks 0-13.
This Co. League round 5 back game ended with a six points win for the home side played in ideal conditions in Reenard on Sunday afternoon (12th July).
Reenard opened the scoring in the 4th minute, but just over a minute later Shane Crowley had us on level terms after receiving from Brían Mangan. Brían was involved again in the 7th minute when his free found Seán Dukes who laid off to Breandán Caball who put us ahead with a good point.
Reenard then had the next three scores to leave them ahead by two at the end of the first quarter (0-4 to 0-2).
But within three minutes we were back on level terms with a pointed free by Brían Mangan following a foul on Breandán Caball and one from play by Jack O’Shea from a move which was started by John Murphy from his half back line, a player who is improving with every game. In the last eight minutes of the half it was almost a point a minute with the home side scoring four to our three – two more by Jack O’Shea and one from Breandán Caball. That left us down by one at half time (0-8 to 0-7).
It didn’t help our cause when Jack O’Shea had to retire six minutes after the resumption following an injury picked up just before the break. Nicholas Gogarty also had to retire due to an injury three minutes later, We wish Jack and Nicholas a full and speedy recovery. In the first 12 minutes Reenard, with three points, had extended their lead by four. Points were then exchanged, with ours coming from another Brían Mangan free after a foul on Dale Counihan, and it was Dale himself in the 49th minute who put over to leave three between the sides.
But the score that put this game beyond our reach came just over two minutes later – the only goal of the game – for the home side.
Despite this we battled on with both sides scoring four each in the remaining eight minutes. Two of these came from play by Breandán Caball, both from acute angles to add to the two he scored in the first half. The other two came from frees by Seán Dukes and Brían Mangan with his third of the game.
The result leaves us with four points on the League Table after seven games while it puts Reenard in second spot in line for promotion with neighbours Valentia.
Team: Seán Purcell, Paul Galvin, Barry Walsh, Nicholas Gogarty, John Murphy, Denis O’Neill, Seán Hurley, Brían Mangan (Capt) (0-3 frees), Eoghan McKivergan, Dale Counihan (0-1), Ciarán O’Connell, Jack O’Shea (0-3), Breandán Caball (0-4), Seán Dukes (0-1 free), Shane Crowley (0-1).
Subs: Eoin Galvin (36m), Seán Power (39m).
We now have three games remaining in the Co. League – all three at home – against Moyvane (w/e 26th July). Ballylongford (w/e 27th Sept) and Valentia on a date to be fixed.
In the meantime it’s back to Town League duty with a round 2 game away to John Mitchels on Friday next (17th July) at 7.30pm.
SENIOR HURLING: We have completed the group stage of the Co. League and we await communication from the Co. Board as to what comes next. The Board’s Website doesn’t add up and we are not sure if there will just be a final which looks to us should be between Ballyheigue (who top the group) and ourselves or if there is to be a semi final between 2nd and 3rd (which would be Stacks .v. St. Pats). So nothing confirmed as we write.
U21 FOOTBAL: With An Ghaeltacht, East Kerry and Kerins O’Rahillys already through to the Co. Championship semi finals, the 4th and final spot is up for grabs on this Wednesday evening (15thJuly) when ourselves and John Mitchels contest the last quarter final at the Mitchels pitch in the townland of Caherleheen. Throw in at 7pm with extra time if required..
MINOR FOOTBALL; Austin Stacks 1-14; Feale Rangers 2-7.
Even though only four points separated the sides at the end of this first round Co. Championship game played in ideal conditions in Connolly Park on last Wednesday evening (8th July) we were very much in command all through.
Brilliant support play led to three good opening points for us from Ferdia O’Brien (2) and Seán Dukes inside 8 minutes. After Rangers had their first score in the 12th minute from a pointed free, we went on to add three more from Louis Ryle and Calvin Foley (2). In the closing minutes of the half both sides had two each – ours coming from another Calvin Foley free and Ferdia O’Brien’s 3rd point of the half from play.
We led at the break by 0-8 to 0-3.
Calvin Foley, who had moved to centrefield at the start of the second half, won the throw-in, cut through the visitors defence and put over a beauty after just 12 seconds. By the 50th minute we had increased our lead to ten points (1-12 to 0-5). Our three additional points came from another Calvin Foley free following a foul on Philip Quilter and one each from play by Pádraig Looney and Jack Morgan, similar to the one he scored for Kerry last Sunday. In between came our only goal of the game in the 41st minute with Louis Ryle on target after some very good work by Michael Linnane.
But in the space of 30 seconds our ten points lead was shattered with two opportunist goals by the visitors.
However our lads responded well, contributing two more pointed frees from Seán Dukes and team captain Colin Griffin.
Rangers did finish the game out with two more points but at no stage did we lose our composure and looked comfortable all through, including good displays from the three under 16 s who lined out – Shane Walsh, Pádraig Looney and Michael Linnane. The performance will please team mentors Gene O’Donnell, Eamonn O’Reilly, John O’Sullivan and Brian Morgan, who have enlisted the services of former Senior team mentor , Wayne Quillinan for the rest of the season.
Team: Danny Kinsella, Dylan Hennebery, Jack Morgan (0-1), Brandon Patterson, Shane Walsh, Colin Griffin (Capt) (0-1 free), Darragh Scanlon, Philip Quilter, Jack O’Shea, Louis Ryle (1-1), Ferdia O’Brien (0-3), Fergal Ryan, Seán Dukes (0-2 – one free), Calvin Foley (0-5 – 3 frees), Pádraig Looney (0-1).
Subs used: Michael Linnane (blood sub 28m-30m); full sub ht), Darren Bastible (49m).
BEST WISHES: All in the Club send best wishes to our good friend Maurice McNamara who is undergoing surgery on this Wednesday. We all wish you a full and speedy recovery Maurice and look forward to you being back with us again soon.
BINGO: continues on this and every Saturday night commencing at 8.30pm.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings phone Des at 066 7126942 after 8pm any evening.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse every Monday and Thursday Nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last Monday’s (6th July) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 7, 20, 26 and 31.
The €20 Prizes went to Timmy Sheehan, c/o Club Rockies; Fionn O’Regan and Selina O’Shea, both c/o Brendan O’Regan; and Terence O’Brien and Noel O’Connell, both c/o Carmel O’Neill.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died during the past week – Kathleen Christina Matchett (nee O’Sullivan), Castle Street and late of Tower Drive, Ballyduff and Rathmore; and Eileen MacHale (nee Hurley), Alderwood Road.
