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CHAIRMAN’S CALL TO THE 16th MAN.
Club Chairman, Billy Ryle has posted the following – As we approach the business end of the season, I am requesting every member and supporter of Austin Stacks to give your total backing to our teams and mentors in their quest for success on the field of play.
Now is the time to show the rock-solid support for our teams for which Austin Stacks supporters are famous.
Positive vocal encouragement from the 16th man on the terraces lets the players and mentors know that the Rockies are fully behind them. It’s one for all and all for one in our determination to bring success to the club.
Let the players know that their efforts are appreciated. Let them know that an off-target scoring attempt or a missed tackle won’t be faulted. Remember that every player who dons the black & amber jersey gives his all for the team. Every mentor wants his team to win.
Every supporter can help the effort by not criticising players or mentors during the course of a game. By standing shoulder to shoulder with our teams and mentors, we will a dd more titles to those that were so well won last week. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireean Na Stacaigh!
SENIOR FOOTBALL: The 5th and final round of this season’s Co. League goes ahead in Connolly Park on next Sunday (1st Aug) at 2pm. Like ourselves our opponents Kilcummin, along with John Mitchels, are at the bottom of the Division 1A table on two points each. Crokes who top the table on six points play Spa who are joint second on five points. The other team on five points, Dingle, are at home to Mitchels. So with two semi final and a final to come, next Sunday’s results could have a lot to say.
B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-10; Kerins O’Rahillys 0-5.
On a warm but overcast evening (Tuesday, 20th July) in ConnollyPark our B team won the first trophy of the season when they captured the inaugural Tralee/St. Brendans League title in a low-scoring game that was evenly contested right up to the start of the final quarter. We led by four points to three at half time our points coming from three by Donagh McKivergan (two frees) and one from play by Luke Chester.
During the third quarter we added a further four points to two for our neighbours. Three of these points came from Adam Curran with Luke Chester adding the fourth. This was as good as it got for the opposition as we held them scoreless during the final quarter while adding two more ourselves – another from a Donagh McKivergan free and one from play in added time by Seán Ryan. Good displays by both sets of defenders as well as some fine saves by both goalkeepers contributed to the low scoring – good to see Ben Quilter back with the squad again after his sojourn with Kerry Minor 2020 team.
Team captain Shane Walsh received the Cup while Luke Chester received the Man of the Match award.
Team: Ben Quilter, Luke Chester (0-2), Ruairí O’Connell, Rory Forbes, Shane Walsh (Capt), Paul Galvin, Dara Barry Walsh, Conor Horan, Adam Curran (0-3 – one free), Tom O’Farrell, Gearóid Sheehan, Evan Foley, Daniel O’Rourke, Cian Purcell, Donagh McKivergan (0-4 – three frees).
Subs used: Seán Ryan (ht) (0-1), Ciaran O’Connell (42m), Dean Rusk (42m), Andrew Morrissey(52m).
Our B Team have had a fantastic Co. League season so far – winning all four games and topping the Co. League table on eight points. St. Michaels/Foilmore and Ballyduff share 2nd spot on six points each. So our trip to Foilmore on this coming Saturday evening (31st July) for a 7pm start will be the game of the season so far for our B team. A win would take us back up to Division 4 and 1990 was the last season that our B team competed in that Division.
U20 FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 6-15; Na Gaeil 4-10.
After going down to Kilcummin/Rathmore in round one and conceding round two to Legion this 3rd round (of 5) Co. League game played on a warm summers evening in Connolly Park (Sat. 24th July) ended up with an eleven point victory for our lads after a high-scoring attacking game by both sides.
The sides were level at 1-2 each after 12 minutes. A minute later Na Gaeil went ahead but an Adam Curran goal in the 14th minute gave us back our lead and we never lost that lead for the remainder of the game. We led by 2-3 to 1-3 at the first water-break and by eight points (4-6 to 2-4) at half time.
We led by nine points (5-10 to 3-7) at the end of the third quarter and, as already stated, finished the game with eleven points to spare. Having our Kerry U20 contingent back with the squad was, of course, an added bonus and they all played exceptionally well with Sean Quilter contributing 2-8 to the final total.
It was also good to see Conor Myers back after missing a game or two with a slight injury. Conor added 2-2 to our total with Adam Curran just one behind on 2-1.
Na Gaeil could have been closer but for a number of great saves by Ben Quilter and some great defending by our six man defence which included Joey Nagle, Armin Heinrich and Luke Chester.
Team ( 13 aside): Ben Quilter, Ruairi O’Connell, Joey Nagle (0-1), No Number 4, Luke Chester, Armin Heinrich, Niall Fitzmaurice, Dean Scanlon, Dara Barry Walsh (0-1), Daniel O’Rourke, Conor Horan (0-2), Adam Curran (2-1), Seán Quilter (2-8 – six frees), Conor Myers (2-2), No Top of the Left.
Subs used: Tom O’Farrell (38m), Evan Foley (38m), Greg Scanlon (46m), Matthew Browne (50m).
Cian Purcell would normally be on the first 15 but unfortunately he spent most of the day in what is now a very busy Intensive Care Unit in Tralee General Hospital waiting to be treated for an injury picked in a recent game. We all wish Cian a full and speedy recovery as well as the Staff in ICU all the best in this difficult time.
Our next game – in round 4 of this five round Co. League – is another home game against Laune Rangers and is fixed for next Saturday week (7th August). The 5th and final round is an away game against Dr. Crokes on the week after that (14th Aug).
JULY IN THE PAST (22nd to 26th). On the field of play in 1967 (23rd July) our Senior Hurlers had a big win over Abbeydorney in the 2nd round of the Co. Championship (10-7 to 8-3) in Austin Stack Park. Stacks scorers: Niall Sheehy (7-2), Pat Curran 2-1), Joe O’Sullivan (1-1), John Barry (0-2), Kevin Barry (0-1).
In 2002 (26th July) the C Team under the management of none other than Aidan O’Connor and the late Charlie Healy won their 3rd Co. League in a row – defeating John Mitchels by the narrowest of margins (0-12 to 0-11). Team: Philip Healy, Keith Greensmyth, Kevin Barry, Nessan Crean, Gordon Kerins, Kenneth Leahy, Jonathan Magnier, Timmy Lynch (0-1), Kieran Donaghy (0-1), Martin Courtney (Capt) (0-3 – one free), Seamus Smith (0-5 – two frees), Liam Walsh (0-1), David Conway, Tommy O’Connor, Anthony Moriarty (0-1).
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 (26th July) Jackpot, worth €2,450, was not won. The numbers drawn were 7, 11, 14, 19. The €20 winners were Ronan Shanahan and Dave Hill, both c/o The Club; Simon & Carmel Draghici, c/o Club Rockies; Rachel Dunne, c/o On Line; and Emer Ní hOgháin, c/o Husseys.
Next Monday’s Jackpot will be worth €2,500.
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: Frank King, Blennerville (brother of former Club Hurler, Donal); Mairead Gregory (nee O’Shea), Highfield Grove, Caherslee and formerly Greystones, Bristol and Annascaul; Yvonne Blennerhassett (nee Mason), Farmer’s Bridge and formerly Caherleheen; Christiana Obilana-Oluwadare, Rath Óraig, Rathass; Tom Bailey, Tonevane; Margaret (Peg) O’Connell (nee Dillane), Rathscannell, Abbeydorney and formerly Listellick; Myra Horgan (nee McCaffrey), Mitchel’s Avenue; Sister Bridget Kelly OP, Fatima Home, Oakpark and formerly Chancery Street, Dublin; John Griffin, Shanakill and formerly Cromane Lower; and Eileen Ryall (nee Egan), ‘Tír na nÓg’, Caherslee.
