.
SENIOR FOOTBAL: Our Seniors travel to Fitzgerald Stadium on next Sunday afternoon (13th Sept) to play Kenmare Shamrocks in the Club Final. Throw-in at 3.30. The game will be preceded by the Relagation play-off for next season’s County Championship between Templenoe and Kilcummin.
As we write no date has yet been fixed for the Roddy O Donnell Senior Town Championship sponsored by Lee Strand but it is likely to go ahead within the next week or so. With four teams competing the semi final line-up sees Mitchels against O’Rahillys while we play Ballymac.
B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-24; Rathmore 0-4.
This was as near a perfect performance as one could imagine in this second round (of 3) of the Co. League played in Connolly Park on last Friday evening (4th Sept). We led by five points to two at the end of the first quarter. By half time we had added a further five to one for the opposition to lead by ten points to three. We kept the opposition scoreless during the third quarter while adding a further nine points ourselves and during the final quarter we scored our two goals, both from Adam Curran, while adding another five points, with Rathmore scoring just one more point during the last quarter.
And Rathmore did look dangerous every time they attacked but our defence was just superb, including at least two outstanding saves by David Hennessy. Remember Rathmore won their first round game against Gneeveguilla on a scoreline of 2-13 to 0-7. Ten players, including our three subs, got on the score sheet with some remarkable scores from all different angles, including nine from full-forward, Donagh McKivergan.
So now we just have to win our last round game, which will be away to Gneeveguilla on next Friday (11th Sept) at 6.30pm, to win this season’s Co. League.
Team: David Hennessy, Tom O’Farrell, Barry Walsh, John Murphy, John Dennis, Paul Galvin, Niall Fitzmaurice, Dara Barry Walsh (0-2), Ciarán O’Connell (0-1), Daniel O’Rourke (0-2), Shane Walsh (0-3), Adam Curran (2-2 – one free), Dean Scanlon (0-2), Donagh McKivergan (0-9 – five frees), Cathal O’Reilly.
Subs used: Eoghan Carroll (ht) (0-1), Conor Myers (ht) (0-1, Cian Purcell (40m) (0-1).
THE C TEAM: Austin Stacks 3-14; Listowel Emmets 1-2.
Listowel looked by far the stronger side during the opening ten minutes of this round 2 Co. League game played in rather damp conditions in Connolly Park on last Sunday afternoon (6th Sept) when they lead by 1-2 to 0-2 – our two points coming from two Alan Duggan frees. But once our lads got going they gave an almost carbon copy display of how our B team played two evenings previously. In fact they did slightly better from the point of view of holding their opponents scoreless for the rest of the game. Our opening point from play came in the 12th minute from one of the veterans on the team, Daniel Bohan, which left us two behind at the water break (1-2 to 0-3). Whatever Aidan and his colleagues put in the water during the break it had a dazzling effect on our lads because they dominated the rest of the game. David Courtney opened the scoring with a point at the start of the second quarter and after three more points from three different players – Mikey Collins, Shane Carroll and David Leonard, Courts was on hand again for our last score of the half – tucking away a brilliant goal after good work by Pa McCarthy and Dean Scanlon. This left us five ahead at half time (1-7 to 1-2).
During the third quarter we added a goal and three points – the points coming from David Courtney, Pa McCarthy and Shane Carroll and the goal expertly put away by David Leonard (2-10 to 1-2 ahead at this stage).
During the final quarter we added a further goal and four points – the goal coming first from another super veteran, William Kirby and the points from Ricky Moloney, Alan Duggan (free) and two from Seán Dukes, to leave us with a comprehensive 18 points win at the end.
There were some brilliant displays from all who lined out but the man that really caught the eye on this occasion was wing-back, Joe Looby who on numerous occasions thwarted some dangerous moves by the opposition and then made some fabulous runs up-field setting up many attacks.
With the Junior Championship also taking place this weekend the other second round game between Annascaul and Ballymac did not go ahead, so all we can do at this stage is to win our final game and see how things materialize after that. And that final game, against Annascaul, was scheduled to go ahead in Connolly Park on next Friday evening (11th Sept) but we understand, as we write, that this may not go ahead now due to Annascaul’s involvement in other competitions.
Team: David Hennessy, Conor Lowe, John Dennis, Jack McGrath, Pa McCarthy (0-1), Denis McElligott, Joe Looby, Shane Carroll (0-2), Alan Duggan (0-3frees), Dale Counihan, Michael Collins (Capt) (0-1), Daniel Bohan (0-1), Dean Scanlon, David Leonard (1-1), David Courtney (1-2).
Subs used: William Kirby (32m) (1-0), Jason Mitchel (36m), Brian Phelan (39m), Craig Teahan (40m), Seán Dukes (42m) (0-2), Pádraig Breen (42m), Ricky Moloney (43m) (0-1), Matthew Browne (43m), Gavin Duffy (43m).
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: Last Monday Night’s (7th Sept) Jackpot, worth €13,400, was not won. The numbers drawn were 12, 18, 20, 30.
The €20 winners were Daniel Bohan, Noreen and Chris McKivergan, all c/o The Club; Denis O’Sullivan, c/o The Brogue Inn and Kevin McLoughlin c/o Kevin Barrys .
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.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently: Michael Sheraton, East borne (UK) and formerly Ballyseedy Castle; Joan Prendiville (nee O’Callaghan), Lisbeg, Oakpark and formerly Killaly, Castleisland; and Donagh O’Mahoney Ballyard and formerly Bishopstown (father of Grace and Rachel of our U16 and U14 teams).
