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SENIOR FOOTBALL: Dr. Crokes 3-19; Austin Stacks 2-17.
In this opening winner-take-all game of the Co. Championship played in Austin Stack Park on last Friday evening (21st August) the sides were level at half time (1-5 each) and at full time (2-12 each) and at half time in extra time only one point separated the sides (Crokes ahead 2-16 to 2-15). But in the second half of that extra time they outscored us by 1-3 to 0-2 to give them a five points win at the end.
We had a good start and lead by two points after eight minutes with two pointed frees from Wayne Guthrie and Ferdia O’Brien and a great goal by Joseph O’Connor. It took another six minutes before the next score – a goal for Crokes from a penalty – and then they added two more points on either side of the water break to leave them three ahead at that stage. However we dominated the remainder of the half, holding the opposition scoreless while adding three good points – all from play – by Jack Morgan, Shane O’Callaghan and Joseph O’Connor, which left the sides level at half time.
It was still score for score, almost, during the first sixteen minutes of the second half with Crokes just ahead by one after adding three to our two (our two attacking defenders – Dylan Casey and Colin Griffin – on target for us).
But a goal and a point by Crokes just after the water break put them ahead by five points for the first time in the game and that was still the difference between the sides as the game went into added time – both sides scoring three points each during that nine minutes period – ours coming from our two second half substitutes – Darragh O’Brien with two frees and Seán Quilter from play.
There was sixty four minutes on the clock at that stage and referee Jonathan Griffin had added a further four but it still looked a lost cause for us. But not for the first time in his long career Kieran Donaghy found the net to be followed almost immediately by two Sean Quilter points to send the game to extra time.
Crokes just shaded the first half of extra time scoring four points to our three – Seán Quilter, Darragh O’Brien and Jack O’Shea on target for us. Two minutes after the resumption Crokes goaled from a second penalty and added a point from the kick-out to leave them five clear at that stage.
But try as we did a second come-back was not on the cards for us, and with both sides adding two points each during the remainder of the game (Darragh O’Brien and Seán Quilter again on target for us), five points remained the difference between the sides at the end.
Three of our starting fifteen were making their Championship debuts with the Club – Paul and Brendan O’Sullivan and David Fitzmaurice (Paul and Brendan have of course played Senior Championship games with South Kerry) and substitute, Donagh McMahon was also making his Senior Co. Championship debut.
However the headline of the night, from appearances point of view, was the record-equalling stat by Kieran Donaghy who was making his 59th Co. Championship appearance, to draw level with Ger O’Keeffe who has held the record since 5th July 1992.
And Star was as good on this occasion as he was when making his first Co. Championship start in that famous game back in Gallarus all those years ago (11th August 2002)
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Team: Wayne Guthrie (0-1), Colin Griffin (0-1), Barry Shanahan, Paul O’Sullivan, Jack Morgan (0-1), Ronan Shanahan (Capt), Dylan Casey (0-1), Joseph O’Connor (1-1), Brendan O’Sullivan, Michael O’Gara, Greg Horan, David Fitzmaurice, Ferdia O’Brien (0-1 free), Kieran Donaghy (1-0), Shane O’Callaghan (0-1).
Subs used: David Mannix (34m), Seán Quilter (41m) (0-5 – 2 frees), Darragh O’Brien (48m) (0-4 – 2 frees), Donagh McMahon (51m), Conor Jordan (54m), Jack O’Shea (64m) (0-1), Barry Walsh (70m).
B FOOTBALL: After our excellent win against Dr. Crokes in the opening round of the Co. League we now have a home game against Rathmore in round 2 of the competition on Friday week next ( 4th Sept) with the 3rd and final round taking place a week later, away to Gneeveguilla (11th Sept).
THE C TEAM: are also on Co. League duty on Friday week (4th Sept) with a trip to Listowel for their round 2 game. Then in the 3rd and final round they are back home a week later (11th Sept) to play Annascaul.
MINOR FOOTBALL: After their draw away to Castlegregory in the opening round (17th July) and the walk-over against Na Gaeil in round 2 of the Co. League our Minors entertain An Ghaeltacht in the 3rd and final round of the competition at home on Saturday week (5th Sept).
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
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS: Belated happy birthday to the one and only Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh who celebrated his 90th last Thursday (20th Aug) down in his home patch in Dún Síon. Mícheál’s son, Éamonn, played football with the Rock during the mid nineties when he was down in Kerry. He played at centre-field with the C team – lining out with Hugh O’Donnell in one particular game (against Annascaul) and scoring four points. And on another occasion he scored two points against Na Gaeil when his mid-field partner was none other than Kevin O’Carroll. There was only one goal scored in that game and Kevin was the scorer. Those games took place in June 1995.
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 (24th Aug) Jackpot, worth €13,400, was not won. The numbers drawn were 9, 11, 16, 30.
The €20 winners were Pádraig Podge O’Connor, Anne-Marie Horgan and Noel O’Connell, all c/o The Club; J. O’Connor, c/o John Gentleman and Cloe & Charley Healy, c/o Richard Healy .
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.
ANNIVERSARY: We remember at this time Fr. Micheál Galvin who died at the great age of 91, ten years ago on the 23rd August 2010, after a life-long service to his priestly vocation and to his Club. He spent 66 consecutive seasons (1944-2010) as President of the Club, a record that we have never seen achieved by anyone else in any club or county. And even though his priestly ministry took him to many different parishes throughout the Kerry Dioceses he never really left the Rock. He loved nothing more than being on the sideline, whether it was the under 12s or the Seniors, or the C team or the Hurlers. His other great sporting loves were Horse Racing and Greyhounds. He once named one of his greyhounds after the great Bracker O’Regan, calling him ‘On the Forty’ – that was Bracker’s famous phrase – ‘put me on the Forty and build the team around me’. Today Fr. Micheál’s family are still involved in the Club – his nephew, John Galvin Solr., never found wanting when any relevant work is required and his two grandnephews, Eoghan and Paul still playing good football.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently: Breda Pilarczyk-Sullivan, Laharn and formerly Moyderwell and Garryruth; June Walshe (nee Moriarty), Killarney and Tralee; Christina Creagan (nee Breen), Shanakill; Liam Freeman, Ballybeggan; Rose Hussey (nee Clifford), Hillview Drive, Caherslee and formerly Pembroke Street; Maura Maunsell (nee O’Sullivan), Ballinorig Close and formerly Kinard; and Eamon Moriarty, Artane (Dublin) and formerly Curraheen.
