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The Meath hurling team availed of the excellent Austin Stacks facilities in Connolly Park to have a training session and puck around on Saturday afternoon ahead of their 2A round 3 league match versus Kerry on Sunday in Austin Stack Park. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
SENIOR FOOTBALL: General fixtures have now come to hand for our five round games in Div. 1A of this season’s curtailed Co. League (no specific dates or times have been fixed yet).
We will have three home games and two away – R1 at home to Dingle (w/e 12th June); R2 away to Spa (w/e 19th June); R3 away to Dr. Crokes (w/e 3rdJuly); R4 at home to John Mitchels (w/e 17th July) and R5 at home to Kilcummin (w/e 31st July).
The Div. 1 Co. League final will be between the top teams in Div 1A and Div. 1B. An Ghaeltacht, Beaufort, Kenmare Shamrocks, Kerins O’Rahillys, Killarney Legion and Rathmore are in Div. 1B.
As usual three teams will be relegated to Division 2 for next season – the two bottom teams in each group and a play-off between the second last teams in both Div. IA and Div. 1B.
B FOOTBALL: The same week-end dates will apply for our B team’s five games in Division 5A. of the League (the Bs will have two home games and three away). R1 away to Laune Rangers B; R2 at home to Moyvane; R3 away to Kilgarvan; R4 at home to Ballyduff and R5 away to St. Michaels/Foilmore. The top teams in 5A and 5B will qualify for the Div 5 final as well as achieving promotion to Round 4 for the 2022 season.
MINOR FOOTBALL: We are in Div. 1B of this season’s MF Co. League with Ardfert, Dr. Crokes and Glenflesk. Div. 1A comprises Fossa, Kerins O’Rahillys, Kilcummin and Laune Rangers. No specific dates have yet come to hand except the three rounds have been fixed for three consecutive Monday evenings in June – 7th, 14thand 21st.
MAY IN THE PAST: (22nd to 31st). On the field of play in 1930 our Seniors got their Co. Championship campaign off to a winning start with a massive win over South Kerry at the Sportsfield (3-10 to 0-1).
Team: Bobby Rucky Kelly, Mick Healy, Joe Barrett, Tommy Barrett, Dan Ryan, Tadgh Drummond, Denis Rory O’Connell, Jimmy Barrett, Pat Mullins Curtin, Tim Roundy Landers, Miko Doyle, Archie Reidy, Martin Bracker O’Regan, Jimmy Kelter, Tom Cashel.
Many years later – 25th May 1995 our U14s won the Co. Football League – defeating Dr. Crokes by 4-4 to 2-4. Team: Jonathan Conway, Kieran Leonard, Pádraig McMahon, Brian Dennehy, Garry Landers, David Varley, TJ Hogan, Darragh Long (0-1), Conor O’Carroll, Finbarr Smith, Timmy Lynch (1-0), Mark O’Regan, Mikey Collins (2-1), Pádraig Sugrue (0-2), Michael Ashe (1-0). Subs: Michael Sheehy, Shane O’Callaghan, Michael Finn, Eoin Broderick.
Sunday, 23rd May 1993 was one of the great days in Kerry Hurling when they achieved their first win since 1926 in the Munster SH Championship, defeating Waterford by 4-13 to 3-13 with two Rock Hurlers on the team – Martin McKivergan and Seamus Sheehan and another Rock man on the Selection Committee, Eddie Murphy.
Three prominent members passed away during the latter days of May – on 23rd 2002 Mick Walsh, a Club Vice President and a avid match-goer; on 26th 2007, a former Club footballer, Eamon Gal Slattery and just two years ago (30th May) Jackie Power, another former Club footballer and mentor of many teams thereafter and husband of Noreen passed away at too young an age.
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.
CLUB LOTTO: Monday Night’s (24th May) Jackpot, worth €2,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 10, 15, 21, 29. The €20 winners were Mary O’Riordan, c/o John O’Riordan; Michael & Joan Casey, c/o The Juveniles; David Cunningham, c/o The Club; and Michael Finn and Lesley O’Callaghan both c/o OnLine.
From now on the Jackpot will be increased by €50 per week which means next Monday’s Jackpot will be worth €2,050.
Continued thanks to the following businesses for selling our Club Lotto tickets – Kevin Barry’s Shop, Commane’s Book Shop, O’Flynn Interiors, Hussey’s, Princess St., Terry’s Butcher’s, Oakpark The Burger Shack, Monavally as well as Maguire’s Butchers and Kirby’s Brogue Inn and continued thanks to everyone who purchase tickets week in, week out.
Austin Stacks lotto tickets are 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: Margaret (Magie) Cummins (nee Hanlon), Killeen Road and formerly Athea; Donie Duggan, Hertfordshire and formerly Mitchel’s Avenue; Tim (Tadhg) Broderick, The Belfy, Cloghers and Duagh; and Patrick O’Sullivan, Kevin Barry Villas and Garryruth.
JUVENILE NEWS
BUACHAILLÍ FAOI 7: So far this season we’ve had seven great UNDER 7 sessions and our youngest players are motoring in style. Last week’s training sessions were once again really enjoyed by all. These games/coaching sessions are for all future Rock football players a tháinig ar an saol i 2014, 2015 nó 2016. Come along, boys! Come along to Thursday’s session and to Sunday’s session in our own CONNOLLY PARK. Two fun-filled weekly football sessions for every single solitary boy in Tralee who’s not playing football at the moment! Just come along and join William Kirby, Éamonn Scanlan, Mickey Collins, Finbar Canty, John Magnier, Richard Long, Brendan Smith, Tim McMahon agus Tomás Ó Liatháin. The days/times to remember are (i) Sunday at 11am and (ii) Thursday at 5.30pm. Fáilte roimh chách, gach éinne ag teastáil, bígí páirteach and newcomers always welcome! Tá óige na Carraige faoi bhláth! Teas, coffees agus rudaí beaga deasa will be available at Clubshiopa Harry Hynes in Connolly Park on Sunday morning. (Remember: COVID hasn’t vanished!).
BUACHAILLÍ FAOI 8/9: More of the same….brilliant football was played by our UNDER 8 and UNDER 9 boys on Sunday last and on Thursday last. Lots of lots of U8 and U9 boys come to CONNOLLY Park to work on and to improve their Gaelic football skills. The football fun exwecises are really being enjoyed by all….admiring parents, faithful mentors and very veryskilful young players. (Gan dabht, everybody was mindful of COVID advice). See you all at the next sessions, boys, and the days/times to remember are (i) Sunday at 11am and (ii) Thursday at 5.30pm. Our U8 and U9 mentors: Noel Healy Keith McKensie, Brian O’Leary, Mike Lynch and Wayne Quillinan. Harry Hynes’ teas, coffees and nice extras will be available ag Clubshiopa Harry in Connolly Park on Sunday morning.
PEIL FAOI 10/11: The UNDER 11 Rock footballers had two more enjoyable football sessions! They had great fun on Thursday last and on Sunday last, in Connolly Park, with Kieran O’Flaherty, Micko Horan, Kenneth Cronin, Niall Riordan, Gearóid Ó Tíocháin agus Colm Ó Mongáin. We can’t wait to start playing our ‘big’ games v Laune Rangers, Baile an Mhuilinn, Crócaigh Chill Airne, Cill Chuimín and Baile Mhic Eileagóid. Let the games begin! See you all, boys, on Thursday and on Sunday. An Charraig go deo! (And COVID still hasn’t vanished). Teas/coffees/blaistíní beaga ar fáil, maidin Dhomhnaigh, i gClubshiopa Harry i gConnolly Park. Marbh ag tae agus marbh gan é…ach is maith ann é!
PEIL FAOI 12/13: More big turnouts at our training sessions last week. Over 40 enthusiastic and skillful players attended each of our three sessions and all had a ‘ball’! Bhí ocras agus craos chun peile ar gach mac máthar! Coaches and players eagerly look forward to our upcoming matches!! The real season gets underway on Sunday 13th June. Players can’t wait for the first round of the county league….sraith an chontae. Our A team will play in Division 1 against Laune Rangers, Club Sheáin Mhistéil, Léigiún Chill Airne, Keel/Listry and Fiodh Ros. Our UNDER 13 Bs are in Division ‘B’ and will play against the above-mentioned clubs. Training will take place (i) on Thursday at 6.30pm, (ii) on Sunday at 4pm and (iii) on Tuesday at 6pm. Beidh gach seisiún ar siúl i bPáirc Uí Chonghaile. Leanfar leis na mórsheisiúin iontacha thaitneamhacha!! (Tá COVID fós in Éirinn!)
PEIL FAOI 14/15: The UNDER 15 players are showing well and improving in all aspects of their game with every session! The mentors are happy! Keep it going, lads! Training will be held (i) on Wednesday at 5.30pm, (ii) on Friday at 5pm and (iii) on Sunday at 4pm. It is hoped that our players will play like the Kerry seniors (v Dublin!!) when they get into real competition! Our A team has been drawn v Club na Gaeltachta, Keel/Listry, Cill Chuimín, Maigh Mheáin (Newtownsandes) and An Ráth Mhór. Our B boys will play v Léigiún Chill Airne, Keel/Listry, Milltown/Castlemaine and Firies. Dates and venues have still to be decided and our boys will be ready when the time comes! Bímis ullamh….let’s be well prepared! Coimeádaigí súil ghéar ar an Parents’ WhatsApp Group. (Sea, tá COVID fós sa tír!)
CAMPA PEILE: Dea-scéal eile! Due to popular demand, the Austin Stack Club Summer Camp will take place once again. This year’s camp will be held from August 3rd to August 7th(Tuesday to Saturday). The Rock is really thinking ahead! This football camp will be held at our club grounds in Connolly Park from 9.30am to 1pm each day. There is no need to book; all comers will be welcomed on the day. Sweet music to our football ears….football is the ocean that pulls me to the shore and football is the rhythm that moves me to the core!
SEANBHRÓGA PEILE: We are currently setting up a boot room in the club. Players may donate old football boots that no longer fit and these boots may be used by upcoming players. Parents or players can give their seanbhróga peile to any club official or coach. An-phlean, gan aon agó!
FOIREANN/Return to Play: Still not too late to sign up! Fáilte roimh chách.
FOCLÓIR: An rud nach bhfuil leigheas air, caithfear cur suas leis (what can’t be cured, has to be endured). An rud nach féidir, ní féidir é (what can’t be done, can’t be done). An té a bhíonn amuigh, fuarann a chuid (the one who is out, his share gets cold).
MIONÚIR CHIARRAÍ: Good wishes to our 7 Rock/Kerry minors as they quietly prepare for their All-Ireland semi-final v Roscommon: Seosamh de Nógla, Armin Heinrich, Conchúir Ó hÓráin, Jordan Ó Cíosáin, Dean Rusk, Seán de Bastábla agus Ben Cuiltéir.
IOMÁNAITHE CHIARRAÍ: ‘Well done’ to the hurlers of Kerry v An Mhí on Sunday last. Best wishes to them as they prepare for their next wncounter v Cill Mhantáin (5th June).
PEILEADÓIRÍ CHIARRAÍ: ‘Well done’ to the Kerry senior footballers, including our own Joe O’Connor, v Baile Átha Cliath on Sunday last. D’ardaigh siad ár gcroí go hard na bhflaitheas! Best wishes to them v Ros Comáin ar an Domhnach seo chugainn ag 3.45pm i bPáirc de hÍde.
PÁIRC de hÍDE: Páirc de hÍde, Roscommon, is named after Dúghlas de hÍde. Cérbh é? Douglas Ross Hyde was born in Roscommon in 1860, was known as ‘An Craoibhín Aoibhinn’ (= the pleasant little branch), was an Irish writer/poet, scholar of the Irish language and, with Eoin Mac Néill and others, founded Conradh na Gaeilge in 1893; he learned his Irish from the local workers in Tibohine, Co Roscommon, and he learned so well that he later became a professor of Irish at University College Dublin from 1909 to 1932; he also studied and became fluent in French, Latin, German, Greek and Hebrew; he was a friend of the poet William Butler Yeats and of Lady Gregory; he served as the first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945. Fuair sé bás sa bhliain 1949. Bhí sé 89 bliain d’aois.
OBAIR DHEONACH: Volunteers don’t get paid… NOT because they’re worthless BUT because they’re priceless! Ní íoctar pinginí le hoibrithe deonacha…..ní toisc nach fiú iad ach toisc gur fiú iad! Club volunteers, take a bow!
CRANNCHUR: Ticéid lotto an chlub le fáil ag (i) Maguires, Butchers, Cathair Sailí, (ii) Kevin Barry’s Shop, Sráid na Carraige, (iii) Paudie Commane’s Book Shop, Sráid na Carraige, (iv) Terry’s Butcher Shop, Páirc na Darach, (v) O’Flynn Interiors, Sráid na Carraige, (vi) The Burger Shack, Móin an Bhaile, (vii) Kirbys’ Brogue Inn, Sráid na Carraige, (viii) Husseys’ Deli, Cé an Phrionsa, and (ix) on www.austinstacks.ie.
