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SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-14; Na Gaeil 1-8.
On a dry Friday evening (9th Sept) in Austin Stack Park our Seniors began the defence of their Co. Championship crown in an historic first Co. Championship meeting with Na Gaeil, And what a contest it turned out to be. After a measured start by both sides Na Gaeil opened the scoring in the 6th minute followed by the only goal of the game a minute later. We then began to settle and had drawn level by the 20th minute with four unanswered points, all from play and from four different players – Seán Quilter, David Mannix, Paul O’Sullivan and Conor Horan. Na Gaeil went back in the lead in the 26th minute and two further points by Shane O’Callaghan and a futher one by Conor Horan gave us the lead for the first time in the game in the 30th minute. A point each by both sides in added time – ours by Shane O’Callaghan again – left us ahead at half time by that single point (0-7 to1-3).
Straight from the throw-in Na Gaeil leveled the game again but within a minute we restored our lead with a rasper of a shot from team captain, Michael O’Donnell that could have gone under the bar as well as over. This was followed by two super points from David Mannix to give us a three points lead for the first time in the game (0-10 to 1-4). That was still the difference between the sides at the end of the game after both sides had put over four each – ours coming from two by David Mannix (one from a free) and one each by Shane O’Callaghan and Michael O’Donnell. That last score of the game came in the 61st minute and with a further seven minutes of additional time added we held on for the victory after a fantastic display by both sides.
We suffered two serious injuries during the game – the first in the 18th minute when Joseph O’Connor had to be substituted and ten minutes into the second half when Jack O’Shea had to retire. While Jack will be back shortly unfortunately the news about Joe is not great as he could out for the rest of the season at least. We wish him the very best in his recovery.
It was great to see Brendan O’Sullivan, Dylan Casey and Ronan Shanahan back in the fray again after recovering from injury and great to see both Ben Quilter and Conor Horan making their Senior Co. Championship debuts and Star himself steadying the ship when introduced late on in the game to extend his record breaking appearances to 64.
Congrats also to Greg Horan who was deservedly voted the Celsius Mensware Man of the Match on the night.
Team: Ben Quilter, Colin Griffin, Barry Shanahan, Paul O’Sullivan (0-1), Greg Horan, Jack O’Shea, Conor Jordan, Joseph O’Connor, Michael O’Donnell (Capt) (0-2), Armin Heinrich, Michael O’Gara, Conor Horan (0-2), Seán Quilter (0-1), Shane O’Callaghan (0-3), David Mannix (0-5 – one free).
Subs used: Brendan O’Sullivan (18m), Dylan Casey (40m), Ronan Shanahan (40m), Wayne Guthrie (43m), Kieran Donaghy (53m).
We now have a home game against West Kerry in round 2 with the 3rd and the final round robin game away to Mid Kerry on the following week-end.
B FOOTBALL: After going down to Rathmore in the Molyneaux Cup (B Co. Championship) quarter final our B Team will now have an away game against Laune Rangers on this Friday evening (16TH Sept) at 6.15pm in the Molyneaux Shield semi final. Our last meeting against Rangers was in the opening round of last season’s Co. League (Div 5A), also played in Killorglin, where we had a good win (6-10 to1-7).
MINOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-9; Dr. Crokes 1-6.
When these two sides last met (1st Aug) in round 3 of the Co. Championship in Lewis Road the game ended level (1-9 to 0-12). When the sides met on this Sunday afternoon (11th Sept) in Connolly Park in the semi final of the Club Championship a brilliant performance by our lads gave us a well-deserved six points victory and a place in the first MF Club Championship Final against Keel/Listry.
After a measures start by both sides it was Paddy Lane who opened the scoring in the 6th minute with a pointed free after a foul on Ryan O’Driscoll. Crokes then got going and in the space of the next three minutes scored three unanswered points, all from play. They only scored one more point between then and half time and that was just two minutes before the break. In between we were dominating play scoring a goal and three points – the points coming from Paddy Lane again – two from frees – and the goal in the 17th minute by Ryan O’Driscoll. Just then on the stroke of half time good work by team captain, Luke Casey and Ben Murphy put Damien Hogan through for the last score of the game to leave us four points ahead at that stage (1-5 to 0-4).
Seven minutes had elapsed into the second half before the first score came – a point for Crokes which was cancelled out immediately by a Paddy Lane point from play following good work by Daniel Kirby and Noah Townsend. Two minutes later Crokes were back in the game with a goal to cut our lead to the bare minimum. We could have gone further ahead half way through the half but our penalty was well save. E still had the upper hand as the game went into the final quarter, adding two more points – another Paddy Lane free and one from play by Ryan O’Driscoll, to one for the opposition. But the game changer came in the 53rd minute when Damien Hogan was at the end of a good move to net our second goal and put us on the road to victory. The last score of the game came in the 61st minute from another Paddy Lane free to give us a twogoal winning margin at the end.
Team: Michael Tansley, Seán Moynihan, Colm Browne, James Fisher, Pádraig O’Halloran, Luke Casey (Capt), Seán Heaslip, Daniel Kirby, Ben Murphy, Thomas Deregee, Ronan Carroll, Ryan O’Driscoll (1-1), Aaron Nolan, Paddy Lane (0-7 – five frees), Damien Hogan (1-1). Subs used: Noah Townsend (27m), Jack Murphy (ht), David Lucid (42m), Donnacha Horgan (54m), Gavin Casey (61m).
SCÓR NA SINSEAR: Brian Caball informs us the Scór Sinsear will be starting shortly. The Co. Final is fixed for 7th October (Fri) and the Munster Final for 18th Oct (Tues). The disciplines required are 4-person table quiz, solo singer, ballad group, dancers, ceoltóirí and sketch, recitation.
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: Our Card sessions continue in the Clubhouse on Monday and Thursday nights with the starting time at 9pm sharp.
CLUB LOTTO: This week’s (12th Sept) Jackpot, worth €2,150 was not won. The numbers drawn were 5, 9, 16, 26. The €20 winners were Eugene Lee, c/o On Line; Brian Morgan and Pat McElligott, both c/o The Club; Jade Enright, c/o Husseys; and Mags Reidy, c/o The Burger Shack.
Next Week’s Jackpot will be worth €2,200.
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., 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: John O’Brien, Caherslee and formerly Paddington (London); Mary Horgan (nee O’Carroll), Ballyhorgan and formerly Rathscannell (mother of former Club Footballers, Lil, Tess and Jimmy); Brendan Hennessy, New York and Ballyduff (uncle of Tony, former Club Player and Administrator); Gerry O’Leary, Clogherbrien; and Mary Church, Leedale, Caherslee.
