Austin Stacks GAA Club News

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SENIOR FOOTBALL: Our Seniors begin their 93rd consecutive season of Co. Championship activity when they take on Dr. Crokes in the opening round of the competition on next Friday evening (21st Aug) in Austin Stack Park at 7.30pm. The game will be televised live by TG4.

This will be the 12th occasion that the sides have met in the Senior Championship since our first encounter thirty years ago – in the 1990 quarter final. So far Crokes have had the upper hand against us, winning seven of the eleven previous meetings.

We have won three and drawn one with our last win coming almost 19 years ago in the 2001 semi final. Our two previous wins were in the 1990 quarter final and the 1994 Final Replay with the one draw coming in that 1994 Final Proper.

So the best of luck to Wayne Quillinan, his fellow colleagues, Eoin Colgan, Jonathan Conway, John O’Sullivan, Tommy Naughton, Damien Ryall and Fionán Hallinan and the whole squad of players.

B FOOTBALL: Dr. Crokes 1-6; Austin Stacks 2-10.

Our first round in the Co. Junior B League took place in the Dr. Crokes pitch against the hosts. This was going to be a tough ask for both teams as neither had played a competitive game since March.

We fielded a very strong team and got straight down to business and went into a two points lead in the first eight minutes with two points from Donagh McKivergan, first from a free and second from play.

Having taken control of the game with our backs and midfield totally in charge we suffered a setback when Crokes got in for a goal, totally against the run of play. Crokes added two points before Ciarán O’Reilly settled us with a wonderful forty five before the water break.

After the break Crokes added another point before we got the tonic we needed with a super goal by Calvin Foley who had been unlucky with a goal effort earlier. Donagh McKivergan added a point before Calvin added another before the break.

We had taken total control with Ciarán O’Connell and Dara Barry Walsh in fine form ably assisted by David Burke, Ciarán O’Reilly and Paul Galvin in the half-back line. The full back line had tightened up completely now with Tom Farrell, Barry Walsh and John Murphy doing the perfect job.

Robbie Murphy’s steadying effect was evident and his kick-outs were done with pin-point accuracy. We went in at half time ahead by 1-5 to 1-3.

We started the second half as the first half ended. Calvin again came up with the goods with a wonderful goal after great work by Daniel O’Rourke.

We had introduced Conor Jordan at half time and after blowing off some cobwebs he had an excellent half. We added two more points before the water break – two by Donagh – one from play and one from a placed ball. Crokes had yet to score in this half. Andrew Morrissey, Shane Walsh and Daniel O’Rourke were performing to great effect with Andrew having two marks from kick-outs.

Cathal O’Reilly was providing the important link between the half forwards and full forward line.
Rory Forbes joined the game at this stage and slotted in perfectly. Again we got down to work with a lovely point by Daniel and a Ciarán O’Reilly free. Adam Curran and Conor Myers went on and Conor wasn’t long on before he took a great point.

Croke added three points during this period. The game finished on a scoreline of 2-10 to 1-6.
It was great to see the two Conors (Jordan and Myers) back in action again and congratulations to Tom O’Farrell on his first start for the B Team.
Team: Robbie Murphy, Tom O’Farrell, Barry Walsh, John Murphy, David Burke, Ciarán O’Reilly (0-2), Paul Galvin (Capt), Ciarán O’Connell, Dara Barry Walsh, Daniel O’Rourke (0-1), Shane Walsh, Andrew Morrissey, Donagh McKivergan (0-5), Calvin Foley (2-1), Cathal O’Reilly.

Subs used: Conor Jordan, Rory Forbes, Adam Curran, Conor Myers (0-1), Luke Chester, Niall Fitzmaurice.
We have a three weeks break now before our round 2 encounter at home to Rathmore (Fri 4th Sept) with the 3rd and final round taking place a week later, away to Gneeveguilla (11th Sept).
Our thanks to Paddy Barry for this very comprehensive Report.

THE C TEAM: Austin Stacks 2-11; Ballymac 2-11.
The C Team began the defence of their Co. League title with a tough game against a good Ballymac outfit in a drizzly Connolly Park of last Friday evening (14th Aug) and came away with a share of the spoils in the end.

We couldn’t have got off to a better start when last season’s player of the year, David Courtney was at the end of a good move from the throw-in, with Pa McCarthy, Jason Mitchel and Darragh Long prominent, to slot to the net inside the first minute.

David was also involved in our next two scores, a point by Pa McCarthy and a second goal by Mikey Collins – all inside the first five minutes. But once Ballymac settled they got more into the game and between then and the end of the first quarter break they scored four points while we added two more courtesy of Darragh Long.

The visitors also shaded the second quarter scoring a further four points to three for us with Dale Counihan scoring two and the final point of the half coming from William Kirby. This left us four head at half time (2-6 to 0-8).
Ballymac dominated the third quarter at the end of which they had drawn level for the first time in the game when they had added a further two goals and a point to three more points for us – Darragh Long, Mikey Collins and team captain Denis McElligott on target. In the final quarter both sides added two more points each – both of ours coming from Mikey Collins again.

Team:  David Hennessy, Tommy Costello, TJ Hogan, Craig Teahan, Jack McGrath, Denis McElligott (Capt) (0-1), Conor Lowe, Jason Mitchel, William Kirby (0-1), Pa McCarthy (0-1), Michael Collins (1-3), Dale Counihan (0-2), David Courtney (1-0), David Leonard, Darragh Long (0-3 – one free).

Subs used: John Dennis (26m), Gearóis Sheehan (ht), Joe Looby (41m), Dean Scanlon (51m), Seán Dukes (58m).
We now have a gap of three weeks before our round 2 encounter, away to Listowel Emmets (4th Sept) with round 3 taking place a week later (11th Sept) at home to Annascaul.

MINOR FOOTBALL: After our draw away to Castlegregory in the opening round (17th July) our Minors received a walk-over from Na Gaeil in round 2 of the Co. League which was scheduled to be played in Connolly Park last Saturday (15th Aug). In our 3rd and final round of the Competition we are at home against An Ghaeltach on Saturday 5th September.

CHAIRMAN’S APPEAL: Club Chairman, Billy Ryle is continuing to appeal to Rockies everywhere to continue making  donations to the fund to help build the 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.

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..

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 (17th Aug) Jackpot, worth €13,400, was not won. The numbers drawn were 7, 30, 31, 32.
The €20 winners were Michael Naughton, Micheál Hayes, Jemma O’Connell (2), all c/o The Club; and Poppie Colgan, c/o The Brogue Inn.
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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.
Continued thanks to the following businesses for selling our Club Lotto tickets – Kevin Barry’s Shop, Commane’s Book Shop, O’Flynn Interiors, Kirby’s Brogue all on Rock St., Hussey’s, Princess St., & Maguire’s Butcher’s Caherslee Road. Austin Stacks lotto tickets now also available to purchase on line on the following link:
https://play.clubforce.com/play_newa.asp?ll_id=529#Anchor Kirby’s Brogue Inn Maguire’s Butchers Hussey’s P. Commane Books.

REMEMBERING: We remember at this time our late colleague Charlie Healy whose anniversary occurred on Sunday last. Charlie died five years ago on the 16th August 2015.

See our Club Website where his anniversary is commemorated. We also remember at this time the late Timmy Sheehan who died suddenly earlier this year (3rd March). In his preview of the Kerry SH Championship which got underway at the weekend Radio Kerry’s Mike O’Halloran reminded us of Timmy’s outstanding coverage of the Hurling Championship both on Radio Kerry and in the Kerryman Newspaper going back many many years.

His outstanding knowledge of the game and his excellent presentations will be sadly missed at this time.

SYMPATHY:  Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently: Hannah Horan (nee Bentley), Mitchels Road and formerly Mary St.; and Kathleen O’Sullivan (nee O’Mahony), Stack’s Villas and formerly Lohercannon.

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