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SENIOR FOOTBAL:
Austin Stacks 1-17
Kenmare Shamrocks 1-14.
Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
Our Seniors continued their record of never losing a Club Championship Final when they captured their fifth title in Fitzgerald Stadium on last Sunday afternoon (13th Sept) but it was a mighty close shave with the Kenmare boys looking odds on, on a number of occasions, to win their second title, in a game that went to extra time.
We were level at half time on five points each – our scores coming from two Ferdia O’Brien frees and three from play by Brendan O’Sullivan, Michael O’Gara and Shane O’Callaghan.
That Brendan O’Sullivan point came after a brilliant save at the other end by Wayne Guthrie.
The second half began with Jack Morgan winning the breaking ball from the throw-in, putting Greg Horan through for a good point which put us in the lead for the first time.
But Kenmare rallied again and in the space of ten minutes left us trailing by five points when they scored 1-3 without reply. There were no scores then until the 56th minute when good work by Kieran Donaghy and Seán Quilter put Colin Griffin through for a lovely point.
A few minutes before that Conor Jordan came off the bench and he scored two good points with Kenmare pointing one in between to leave them three ahead as the game went into added time.
Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
And in the 4th minute of added time another man who had come off the bench, Fiachna Mangan, sent in a high ball which was batted down into the path of Seán Quilter by none other than Kieran Donaghy and Seán, as cool as a breeze, rattled the net to level matters again (1-9 a piece) and bring the game to extra time.
Kenmare were ahead again by a point at the end of the first half of extra time (1-12 to 1-11) with our two points during this ten minute spell both coming from play – a third Conor Jordan one just after the resumption and the other from Darragh O’Brien.
In total we used eight from our bench during the almost two hours of play and they made a huge difference, especially during the second half of extra time when we took full control of the game – going on to score a further six points during this period to just two for the opposition.
Those six points came from five different players – two from Darragh O’Brien with the other four coming from Donagh McMahon, David Mannix, Seán Quilter and Joseph O’Connor.
So a well-deserved, hard-earned victory from a group lads who wouldn’t take no for an answer and who played so well when the chips were down.
Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
Jack O’Shea deservedly won the Man of the Match Award for his display in defence with his many typical runs up-field to set up many attacks.
For the record our other four titles came in 1979 (the inaugural year of the competition), 2003, 2016 and 2019.
Team: Wayne Guthrie, Colin Griffin (0-1), Barry Shanahan, Jack O’Shea, Dylan Casey, Ronan Shanahan (Capt), Jack Morgan, Joseph O’Connor (0-1), Brendan O’Sullivan (0-1), Michael O’Gara (0-1), Ferdia O’Brien (0-2 frees), Greg Horan (0-1), Seán Quilter (1-1), Kieran Donaghy, Shane O’Callaghan (0-1).
Subs used: Darragh O’Brien (45m) (0-3 – one free), Paul O’Sullivan (45m), Fiachna Mangan (45m), Conor Jordan (53m) (0-3), David Fitzmaurice (58).
Ciarán O’Reilly stared in extra time. Subs used during extra time – Donagh McMahon (64m) (0-1), Dylan Casey (h/t), David Mannix (72m). (0-1).
We now turn our attention to the Roddy O Donnell Senior Town Championship sponsored by Lee Strand where we play Ballymac in the semi final with Mitchels against O’Rahillys contesting the other semi final.
Our game has been fixed for next Saturday evening at 5pm in Ballymac.
B FOOTBALL: Gneeveguilla 0-9; Austin Stacks 0-7.
Our thanks to Paddy Barry for the following report.
Our B team headed to Gneeveguilla last Friday night to play our last game of the season. The game was played in ideal conditions though the pitch was slippery after heavy rain showers. We got off to a very slow start finding ourselves down by three pointed frees before Shane Carroll opened our scoring with a pointed free. We were finding it very to reak down the opposition defence as they had adopted the sweeper system.
Shane pointed another long-distance free leave the home side ahead at half time by 0-6 to 0-2.
The second half was a different affair. We took over completely with Ciarán O’Connell and Dara Barry Walsh taking charge.
Our defence was excellent restricting Gneeveguilla to just two points from play. Our forwards were still finding it difficult to get scores though.
They tried their best against a very crowded defensive set-up. Michael O’Donnell opened our second half with a pointed free.
After that Adam Curran added a point from play with Dara Barry Walsh adding two more from play before Adam added another from play. That was our final score with the home team adding one more to leave them with a two points winning margin (0-9 to 0-7).
Our back-line was excellent with David Hennessy in fine form in goals. His kick-outs were excellent setting up many attacking options. Our forwards, as hard as they tried, could not break-down the opposition backline for a goal. Good to see Cian Purcell coming on and making a positive contribution. It was a disappointing end to a very positive season.
Team: David Hennessy, Conor Lowe, John Dennis, John Murphy, Shane Walsh, Paul Galvin, Eoghan Carroll, Dara Barry Walsh (0-2), Ciarán O’Connell, Daniel O’Rourke, Michael O’Donnell (0-1), Adam Curran (0-2, Conor Myers, Shane Carroll (0-2), Dean Scanlon.
Sub used: Cian Purcell (ht).
THE C TEAM: 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.
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 (14th Sept) Jackpot, worth €13,400, was not won. The numbers drawn were 12, 26, 27, 32.
The €20 winners were: Nial Shanahan and Melissa White Maguire, both c/o The Club; David Hennessy, c/o The C Team; Brian Tess, c/o Richard Healy and Laura O’Sullivan, c/o The Brogue Inn.
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: Mary O’Sullivan (nee O’Neill), Derrylea, Oakpark and formerly Adrigole; Thomas Coffey, Cork City and formerly Shanakill; Seán Hurley, Countess Road, Killarney and formerly Tralee; Richard Chute, The Kerries; Mary Jones (nee Hussey), St. Brendan’s Park; and Kathleen Moynihan (nee Griffin), Monavally and formerly Glencar (mother of former Club Footballers Owen and Brian) and Kathleen (Kitty) Conway (nee Walsh), Kilcooly, Ardfert and formerly Basin View.
