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SENIOR FOOTBALL: St. Finbarrs 2-9 (15); Austin Stacks 1-10 (13).
On a fine sunny afternoon Sunday (16th Jan) in Semple Stadium our lads just came up short at the end after putting in a fine second half performance in this season’s Munster SF Club Final.
The Barrs had the ideal start with a goal which was timed at 19 seconds by TG4. They went on to dominate the first half, ending up with a six points lead at the interval (1-7 to 0-4). Team captain, Dylan Casey, opened our account in the 4th minute.
Then Seán Quilter had two good points from play, both in quick succession, just after the start of the second quarter with Darragh O’Brien pointing a free in the 26th minute after a foul on Joseph O’Connor.
We came out a different team in the second half and held the Cork boys scoreless during that third quarter while we added five more points (four of them from play) to cut their lead to just one point at the second water-break (1-7 to 0-9).
Two points by Greg Horan and one each by Shane O’Callaghan and Fiachna Mangan were our four from play with Seán Quilter pointing from a free after another foul on Joseph O’Connor.
Joseph had picked up an injury at that stage and couldn’t resume for the final quarter and that, together with an injury that side-lined Brendan O’Sullivan have-way through the first half, did not help our cause.
The Barrs added a point after the resumption and then nine minutes had elapsed with one minute of normal time remaining when they got through for their second goal to extend their lead to five points and the game looked ‘done and dusted’.
But we never gave up and deep in added time it was Seán Quilter with a pointed free and a great goal, seconds later, which cut their lead to just one point. However they had the final say when they added another point from a free to give them a two points winning margin at the end.
Understandably the Management, the whole squad and all our brilliant supporters will be disappointed by the result but we still had a fantastic season winning the two major trophies at county level – the Club and County Championship.
Team: Wayne Guthrie, Colin Griffin, Dylan Casey (Capt) (0-1), Jack O’Shea, Paul O’Sullivan, Conor Jordan, Ronan Shanahan, Joseph O’Connor, Greg Horan (0-2), Michael O’Gara, Fiachna Mangan (0-1), Brendan O’Sullivan, Seán Quilter (1-4 – two frees), Kieran Donaghy, Darragh O’Brien (0-1 free).
Subs used: Shane O’Callaghan (17m) (0-1), Barry Shanahan (ht), Michael O’Donnell (ht), Armin Heinrich (50m), Adam Curran (59m).
CONGRATULATIONS: And while we didn’t come up trumps ourselves let us congratulate both Na Gaeil and Gneeveguilla who had big wins in their respective Munster finals at the weekend. On Saturday Gneeveguilla defeated Ballina (Tipp) by 4-18 to 1-6 in the Junior Final, while on Sunday Na Gaeil had eighteen points to spare in their Intermediate Final victory over Corofin (Clare) by 6-15 to 1-12.
CLUB AGM: All is set now for this year’s Club AGM will goes ahead on next Sunday morning (23rd Jan) at 11.30am.
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.
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 CARDS: Good news seems to be on the way with Covid restrictions about to be eased from the beginning of next month for Bar and Restaurant hours. If that’s the case then our Card Sessions should, hopefully, be up and running again from Thursday, 3rd February.
CLUB LOTTO: Monday Night’s (17th Jan) Jackpot, worth €3,700 was not won. The numbers drawn were 21, 24, 26, 27. The €20 winners were James Henry, c/o Joe Naughton; and John Murphy, Pádraig Breen, Fergus Dillon and John King, all c/o The Club.
Next Monday’s Jackpot will be worth €3,750.
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=X529#Anchor Kirby’s Brogue InnMaguire’s Butchers Hussey’s P. Commane Books.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently; Nora Nunan (nee O’Brien), St. Brendan’s Park; Eileen Broderick (nee O’Sullivan), Oakpark Cross and formerly Gortbrack, Ballyseedy; Kieran Keane, Páirc Na Dún and formerly Sackville, Ardfert and Liscullane, Lixnaw; Madeline Dunne (nee O’Hanlon), Farmers Bridge and formerly Market Place; and Eileen Moloney (O’Sullivan) (nee Lehane), Balloonagh Estate and formerly Rathmore.
