CHAIRMAN’S APPEAL: Club Chairman, Billy Ryle completed the Bracker 100km fundraising walk on last Sunday afternoon at about 4.45pm. He did the regular 6km session on Sunday morning and the 20th session, the final 4km session in the afternoon. He said it was a great feeling to step over the line for the last time. He is exhausted after ten consecutive days of walking and he is looking forward to returning to his favourite leisure activity, sea swimming in Fenit. He is so fit now after the ten days that Wayne is chasing him to join the Senior panel, so one of our current fifteen could be on the subs bench shortly. He was blessed with good weather, with only one shower in all twenty sessions. Otherwise it was sunshine all the way.
Billy felt he mightn’t have made it to the end of the 100km journey without the support of his faithful band of walkers who sustained him with stories, laughter and companionship over the ten days. He owes them a very sincere debt of gratitude. They even allowed him to be first to cross the finishing line, which was a lovely gesture.
The group shared a lovely celebration of poetry, stories and good humour at The Bracker Memorial Monument at the end of the 100km walk to bring down the curtain on a memorable ten-day event. It was very special and Billy said he will always remember the entire adventure fondly. As usual Adrienne McLoughlin was there to capture the event which is now up on our website for all to see.
For the next few weeks, Billy will be concentrating on raising money to build a path with disability access. The new path will prevent footfall damage on the pitches. It will also facilitate disability access to the far terrace in Connolly Park for those who are wheelchair bound or unsteady on their feet. The Árd Charraig terrace in Connolly Park is more sheltered with sun, rain and wind at your back. Billy would like it to be accessible to all supporters.
So, Billy is appealing to Rockies everywhere to make a donation to the fund. Every single donation, big or small, will be gratefully received. Please, also share the link with as many people as possible. The donation facility will remain open for the next few weeks. Please donate and share the link, https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-bracker-100km.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 1-12; Dingle 1-12.
Our Seniors began the defence of their Club Championship title in Annascaul on last Saturday evening (25th July) facing the same opposition that we faced in the opening round of last season. We won that opening round last season by three points (2-12 to 2-9) but on this occasion we can consider ourselves lucky to have come away with a share of the spoils.
We had a brilliant first half and it looked all over after 25 minutes when we led by 1-7 to 0-2. Everyone from one to fifteen were playing out of their skins as Darragh O’Brien opened the scoring inside the first minute. Dingle equalized in the 3rd minute but then we added three more points from Joseph O’Connor, Darragh again, and David Fitzmaurice. Dingle’s second point came in the 17th minute but then we added a further three – two brilliant long-ranged ones from Brendan O’Sullivan, who was making his competitive debut, and a well-taken free from the mark by David Mannix (great to see David back again after missing the whole of last season). Then in the 25th minute came the score of the game – a cracker of a goal by the one and only Kieran Donaghy. And what can one say about Kieran that has not been said already. Star was starting his 20th consecutive season on the Senior team. He made his Senior debut away back in June 2001 coming on as a sub in a Co. League game in Killorglin. And what a servant he has been since then and continues to be. Keep it going Star. A goal and a point by the Dingle in the closing minutes of the half, was followed by a Seán Quilter point from a free, which left us five points ahead at half time (1-8 to 1-3).
Dingle came out a different team in the second half , and scored seven points without reply in the opening seventeen minutes, to put them ahead by two points at that stage (1-10 to 1-8). Wayne and his colleagues introduced some seasoned players at that stage and it paid dividends. Shane O’Callaghan was no sooner on the pitch when he pointed, and he followed this with a further two points. Our final score of the game came from another late substitute, Fiachna Mangan, who put over our last score of the game. But Dingle didn’t give up and scored the equalizing point late in additional time to share the spoils.
Team: Wayne Guthrie, Colin Griffin, Barry Shanahan, Paul O’Sullivan, Jack Morgan, Ronan Shanahan (Capt), Jack O’Shea, Joseph O’Connor (0-1), Brendan O’Sullivan (0-2), Michael O’Gara, Darragh O’Brien (0-2), David Fitzmaurice (0-1), Seán Quilter (0-1 free), Kieran Donaghy (1-0), David Mannix (0-1 free).
Subs used: Shane O’Callaghan (47m) (0-3 – one free), Donagh McMahon (52m), Ciarán O’Reilly (57m), Barry Walsh (59m), Fiachna Mangan (63m) (0-1).
Thanks to everyone in the Annascaul Club for their excellent organization and handling of the event in these very challenging times for contact sport and well done also to both teams, their mentors and both sets of supporters who won the draw to travel to the game. Let’s hope the 200 limit will be increased to 500 and beyond as soon as possible. There is no comparison with 500 in Connolly Park (for example) and 500 in Austin Stack Park and, even worse again, 500 in Fitzgerald Stadium.
In round 2, which goes ahead on this Saturday evening (1st Aug) at 7pm, we have a home game against Kilcummin who narrowly lost to Killarney Legion (0-15 to 1-10) in their opening round.
B FOOTBALL: Our B Team are in Group A of the Co. League. We are away to Dr. Crokes in round one on 14th August. In round 2 we are at home to Rathmore on 4th Sept. and in the 3rd and final round we are away to Gneeveguilla on 11th September.
THE C TEAM: With no Barrett Cup competition this season our C Team must also do with the slimmed down League which, like the B team, will be confined to groups of four teams. Our three games are fixed for the same Friday evenings as our B team, though there are no venue clashes. In round one we are at home to Ballymac (14th Aug), in round 2 we are away to Listowel Emmets (4th Sept) and in round 3 we are at home to Annascaul (11th Sept).
MINOR FOOTBALL: After our draw away to Castlegregory in the opening round of this revised Co. League our two remaining rounds will both be at home – against Na Gaeil in round 2 on Saturday 15th August and against An Ghaeltach in the final round on Saturday 5th September. Both games have a start time of 4pm.
U17 FOOTBALL: For the first time in the almost 100 year history of Minor Football the grade is being replaced by Under 17 for the Co. Championship this season. Our boys will have a tough encounter in the opening round when they travel to Cahersiveen on this coming Bank Holiday Monday (3rd August) for a 6pm start against South Kerry. Extra time and result on the day will be in operation. The winners will go through to the quarter final with the losers confined to the scrap-heap as there is no back-door system in operation at present. The quarter finals are fixed for a week later (10th August) with the semi finals down for decision on 24th August and the final, a week later, on 31st August.
STACKS 100: We continue to remind all club members that our Award Winning Stacks 100 website is now available to view – check out club memories, matches & podcasts – a great way to spend an enjoyable few minutes or hours and hours and hours . . . www.stacks100.ie.
ONLINE CLUB SHOP OPEN – check out the newest ‘official’ Austin Stacks Club Merchandise – only available to order on this link (free delivery on any orders over €50) see www.oneills.com
CLUBHOUSE: Our Bar and Clubhouse continue to remain closed until further notice.
ONLINE LOTTO: This new initiative, which was launched recently, is to reach out to a much wider playing audience locally, nationally and worldwide. Playing the Austin Stacks Club Fundraising Lotto online will be very straight forward. It takes just six easy steps to play. All you need do is visit our club Website, Facebook Page or Twitter Account, click on the lotto links and follow the steps.
Online tickets purchased up to 6pm on a Monday will be included in that evening’s Lotto draw. Tickets purchased online after 6pm on a Monday will be included in the following Monday’s Lotto draw. Results of the Austin Stacks GAA Club fundraising Lotto draw are published weekly on our website, club notes and social media platforms.
LOTTO RESULTS: This Monday Night’s (27th July) Jackpot, worth €13,400, was not won. The numbers drawn were 9, 17, 23, 29.
The €20 winners were Anne Marie Horgan, Ballyheigue; Gerard Crean, Catherine O’Sullivan and Anne Sheehan, all c/o The Club; and Tom Diggins, c/o Kevin Barry’s.
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We would be delighted to continue to hear from any other businesses who wish to sell lotto tickets for Austin Stacks GAA Club. If interested please get in contact with Bernie on 086 0767415 and in exchange we will promote your business, special offers and products to our vast membership through our extremely popular social media outlets which command a very high following.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently: Josephine Hurley (nee Enright), Knockmoyle; Helen Mahoney (nee O’Sullivan), Lohercannon; Kathleen (Kate) Moriarty (nee Walsh), Castlemorris Terrace and formerly Latchford’s Terrace, Ballymullen; Tom Kelly, Tubridmore, Ardfert; Noreen O’Mahony (nee Carroll), Ardfert; and Carmel O’Donnell (nee Ryan), Castlegregory and formerly Birr and Cork (mother of Club member, Brendan and grandmother of Club players Michael and Lucy).
