.
Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-15 (21); John Mitchels 3-9 (18).
On an ideal Sunday afternoon (27th Sept) for football this topsy-turvy Town Championship Final (for The Roddy O’Donnell Cup, sponsored by Lee Strand) could have gone either way with both sides having dominating periods throughout the 63 minutes of play.
From the throw-in we were on the attack with Shane O’Callaghan on target after just 27 seconds. But Mitchels were really up for this, and by the fifth minute had gone into a four points lead (1-2 to 0-1).
It took us a while to settle but in the space of a minute (11th mn) we were back in the lead after some brilliant build-up play, culminating in points from Fiachna Mangan and Shane O’Callaghan again and a super goal by David Fitzmaurice, his first at Senior level. However Mitchels were back in the lead at the water-break when they pointed two frees – the Boherbee boys ahead at that stage by 1-4 to 1-3.
We just edged the second period of the half scoring three further points, to two for the opposition, with Brendan O’Sullivan involved in all three, scoring two superb efforts himself from play, with Seán Quilter putting over the third from a free after Brendan was fouled going through. This left the sides level at half (1-6 each).
Two quick points just after the resumption by Darragh O’Brien and Shane O’Callaghan were followed by a point each from both sides by the tenth minute – ours another Darragh O’Brien effort, this time from a free after Ronan Shanahan was fouled going through.
But within two minutes Mitchels were back in the lead again when they goaled from a penalty. However two super points from play by Greg Horan and Seán Quilter restored our lead at the second water-break (1-11 to 2-7).
Then in the final quarter the lead changed hands again. After both sides had a point each (ours from another Greg Horan one from play) Mitchels were back in the lead with their third goal of the game in the 52nd minute.
But their lead last hardly two minutes when Darragh O’Brien goaled from the penalty spot after Seán Quilter was fouled in the square. We were now back the lead for the fifth time and finished out the game by adding three more points to our total – Seán scoring two (one from a free) and the final score of the game coming from full-back, Dylan Casey.
So for the second time in as many weeks Team Captain, Ronan Shanahan, came away with the winning trophy and for the second season in a row our Seniors have won the Town Championship Final to add to the Co. Club Championship which they won two weeks ago – also for the second season in a row. So in a very curtailed season, winning two out of the three competitions that we contested is no mean feat. Congratulations to all the 39 players who performed so well during the season and a special thanks to their super mentors Jonathan Conway, Eoin Colgan, John O’Sullivan, Tommy Naughton, Damien Ryall and Fionán Hallinan, led by the one and only Wayne Quillinan. And of course Wayne also managed the team for a four year spell during the 2009-2012 seasons.
Team: Wayne Guthrie, Colin Griffin, Dylan Casey (0-1), Jack O’Shea, Paul O’Sullivan, Ronan Shanahan (Capt), Conor Jordan, Brendan O’Sullivan (0-2), Greg Horan (0-2), Michael O’Gara, David Fitzmaurice (1-0), Fiachna Mangan (0-1), Seán Quilter (0-4 – two frees), Shane O’Callaghan (0-3), Darragh O’Brien (1-2 – penalty goal, one free).
Subs used: Jack Morgan (48m), Donagh McMahon (48m).
A special thanks also to everyone else who helped out during the season, especially Adrienne McLoughlin for her brilliant photography; to Elma Nix and her daughter Ciara for their magnificent twitter work during all the games, both home and away; to Matthew Browne and his sister Aisling for all the work they do; to Noel O’Connell and John Breen for their pitch work, especially for home games; and to Tim McMahon and Jonathan Magnier for their screening of all games. Looking forward already to 2021.
THE C TEAM: Our C team are still awaiting for a date to play Annascaul in the 3rd and final round of the Co. League as the West Kerry boys are still involved in other competitions at county and divisional levels.
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: After being closed for just over six months our Bar and Clubhouse reopened last Friday night and will continue to operate now on a regular basis. Again Harry Hynes would like to thank the Club members and the Connolly residents who have helped him to get the place in tip top shape again.
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 (28th Sept) Jackpot, worth €13,400, was not won. The numbers drawn were 12, 23, 26, 29.
The €20 winners were: Brenda Litchfield, Meabh Phelan, Mary Catherine O’Connor, Denis & Sandrene Brassil and Elaine O’Connor, all c/o The Club.
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. And now two more locations have come on board where Lotto tickets can be purchased – Terry’s Butcher’s, Oakpark and The Burger Shack, Monavally.
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: Maurice Foley, Lisbeg, Oakpark (Maurice’s brother – the late Fr. George – was a member of that famous Stacks 1955 MH team – winners of that year’s Co. Championship, and to-day his grandchildren Bao and Dibora play with the Club); Gerard (John) Counihan, Listellick North and formerly Killerisk (grandfather of Club Juvenile player, Darragh); Anne Douglas (nee Conroy), Reidy’s Tce. and formerly Urban Tce., Boherbee; and Veronica Doyle (nee Reidy), Abbeyfeale and formerly Basin View.
