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Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 3-9; Templenoe 0-4.
After a low-scoring first half (0-4 to 0-2 in our favour) we upped the ante in the second half, scoring a further 3-5, while keeping the visitors to just another two points, to qualify for our third Club Championship Final in a row.
After a measured start by both sides on a summers-like afternoon (Sunday, 10th Oct) in Connolly Park it was Templenoe who opened the scoring after four minutes.
Eight minutes had elapsed before we opened our account when Paul O’Sullivan’s perfect ball into the square was fielded brilliantly by Kieran Donaghy who found Shane O’Callaghan for our opener. Less than two minutes later the opposition went ahead again from a pointed free.
This, however, was the last time they were ahead in the game. We added two more points before the first water-break, from a Seán Quilter free and one from play by Joseph O’Connor after good work by Ronan Shanahan and Jack O’Shea. The second quarter yielded just one more score.
It came in the 27th minute, started and finished by Fiachna Mangan with good work from Brendan O’Sullivan and Seán Quilter.
Ten minutes into the second half it still looked anybody’s game when we were ahead by 0-6 to 0-3 – our two points coming from a super one from play by Shane O’Callaghan two minutes after the resumption and from a 35th minute free by Michael O’Donnell after a foul on Shane.
The score that put us on the road to victory came in the 41st minute. Michael O’Gara was less than two minutes on the pitch when he lofted a perfect ball into that man Star again who put Calla through for our first goal.
Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
Points were then exchanged before the second water-break – Michael O’Gara on target for us which left us ahead by 1-7 to 0-4 at that stage.
We were in complete control during the final quarter, holding the opposition scoreless while we added a further two goals (Brendan O’Sullivan from play after brilliant work from Jack O’Shea and Armin Heinrich and one from a Darragh O’Brien penalty) and two points (both from play by Shane O’Callaghan and Joseph O’Connor). Paul O’Sullivan was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match award after the game.
Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
We now play Kenmare Shamrocks in the final on next Sunday (17th Oct) after their narrow one point victory (0-17 to 1-13) over Dingle.
The game is fixed for Fitzgerald Stadium at 3pm. We will be seeking our 6th title in total and our 3rd in a row. We won the very first staging of the competition away back in 1979. Kenmare will be seeking title No. 2 – they won their first title in 1983.
Team: Wayne Guthrie, Colin Griffin, Dylan Casey (Capt), Jack O’Shea, Paul O’Sullivan, Conor Jordan, Ronan Shanahan, Joseph O’Connor (0-2), Brendan O’Sullivan (1-0), Greg Horan, Shane O’Callaghan (1-3), Fiachna Mangan (0-1), Seán Quilter (0-1 free), Kieran Donaghy, Michael O’Donnell (0-1).
Subs used: Michael O’Gara (39m) (0-1), Armin Heinrich (47m) Darragh O’Brien (49m) (1-0 pen), Adam Curran (56m), Barry Shanahan (58m).
FITNESS CLASSES: The Individual Pod Fitness Training sessions continues in the Clubhouse every Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm to 8pm. All are welcome. Contact Diane at 087 7940531 for further information.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Fixtures for the two Co. Championship quarter finals have come to hand. We have drawn East Kerry which goes ahead in Milltown on next Saturday (16th Oct) at 3pm.
North Kerry and St. Brendans will contest the other quarter final at the same time in Cordal. The winners of both games will play either St. Kierans or Mid Kerry in the two semi finals on the following Saturday (23rd Oct).
CONGRATULATIONS: to former Club Footballer, Billy Sheehan who has been appointed Manager of the Laois Footballers for the new season. Billy of course was one of the outstanding Laois players for many years from the mid 2000s.
CONGRATULATIONS: also to Deirdre Barry, daughter of John (former Club Hurler and Footballer) and Liz (who was New York’s Rose of Tralee a few years ago) on her exciting new venture – a 13 part Cartoon TV series to be made here in Tralee and shown on RTE. The project will create up to 40 new jobs in the county.
SEPTEMBER IN THE PAST (08/10 to 14/10). On the field of play we had three significant victories during this week in the past. Our Senior Footballers continued to make history during our first Golden Era, winning our 2nd Co. Championship in a row in 1929 (13th Oct.) defeating Boherbee by 3-4 to 0-4 and three years later winning our 4th title (9th Oct 1932) defeating North Kerry by 2-3 to 1-5.
The third significant victory occurred over fifty years later when our Minor Hurlers won our 3rd Co. Championship title (our first two wins were in 1955 and 1967) on 12th Oct. 1986. They defeated Kenmare in a replay in Fitzgerald Stadium by 1-7 to 0-8.
Team: Paul O’Connor (Capt), Brendan Dillane, Pat Dowling, Georgie Lowe, Martin McKivergan, Pádraig Teahan, John Dillane, Anthony Gleeson, Mikey John O’Shea, David O’Regan, Maurice McNamara, Seanie O’Leary, Fergal O’Regan, Maurice O’Carroll, Mark Greer. Subs: Liam Galvin, Kevin O’Carroll, Eamon O’Brien, Eddie Dowling, Joe Murphy, John Herbert, Donie Carmody.
Team Management: Brian Neenan, Brendan Reidy, Mike Carmody, Michael Mullane, Pat Murphy.
Finally on the field of play the Kerry Lady Footballers won their 11th All Ireland SF title with our own Marina Barry Walsh winning a record 10th All Ireland Medal on 10th Oct. 1993.
Two deaths of note during this week in the past included two former players – Colm Harty, who was a member of our 1936 SF Co. Championship winning team died in Dublin on 8th Oct. 2017 at the great age of 100 and two years later a former player of the 1960s, Charlie Chang O’Hanlon died in Listowel on 12th Oct. 2019.
ONLINE CLUB SHOP: A reminder that our Club shop is open 24/7. 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 We would also like to introduce the new Austin Stacks Ganzee Club Clothing Collection, available in Mens/Unisex, Womens & kids check out all the style ranges in hoodies, t-shirts and sweatshirts on www.ganzee.ie/austin-stacks-gaa-clubs/
CLUB LOTTO: Monday Night’s (11th Oct) Jackpot, worth €3,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 3, 13, 15, 28. The €20 winners were Rachel Dunne, Caroline Hutchinson and Martina Hurley, all c/o On-Line; and Armin Heinrich and John O’Reen, both c/o The Club.
Next Monday’s Jackpot will be worth €3,050.
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: There was great sadness in the Club and in the wider community on last Thursday afternoon (7th October) when news broke of the sudden death of Emmet Lucey.
Coming from a family who were steeped in Gaelic Football at County and Club level Emmet himself was a brilliant Minor player with the Club during the mid nineties. He was only 17 when he won a Co. League medal in 1994 when the Rock defeated a very good Kilcummin team in that season’s Final (5-10 to 3-7).
Playing most of his football at corner back and wing back many of the mature members of the Club often commented that his skills didn’t come from nowhere when they learned he was a son of Paul and a nephew of his three outstanding uncles, Noel, Jimmy and Vincent who all played with Kerry in the mid sixties.
We extend the Club’s deepest sympathy to Niall, Pamela and Ciara and to all Emmet’s extended family and friends, including his young nieces and nephews currently playing for the Club.
Sincere sympathy is also offered to the families of the following who died recently: Zelda Condon, Balloonagh Estate and formerly Cahersiveen and Killorglin; Patrick Tierney, Lohercannon and formerly Birr; P.J. McCrohan, Doon; and Ita Ryall (nee McElligott), The Kerries and formerly Permboke Square and The Munster Warehouse.
