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SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-13; West Kerry 1-8.
On a perfect occasion for football in Connolly Park on last Saturday evening (17th Sept) our Seniors notched up their second win in this three game Co. Championship qualifier with a good eight points victory.
West Kerry opened the scoring after two minutes and a further seven minutes had elapsed before we opened our account with a David Mannix pointed free following a foul on Michael O’Gara. This was followed by three quick points, all from play, by Conor Horan, Cian Purcell and Shane O’Callaghan.
But West Kerry always looked dangerous on the attack and by the twentieth minute had added a goal and two points to just one point for us – Conor Horan again with a super effort. This left us trailing by a point at that stage (1-3 to 0-5). But as it turned out we really won the game in the four closing minutes of the first half when we went on to score two goals and two points while holding the opposition scoreless. Those four scores came from four different players. The points came from Greg Horan and Conor Jordan and the two goals from Conor Horan and Michael O’Gara. This gave us a seven points cushion at the break (2-7 to 1-3).
The second half was fairly evenly contested with six points coming from us and five for the opposition. Two of our six came from Shane O’Callaghan (who later received the Celsius Mensware Man of the Match Award) with the other four coming from goalkeeper, Wayne Guthrie on one of his usual runs down-field, which got the cheer of the night, and Cian Purcell, Seán Quilter and Dylan Casey. Great to see Dylan and Ronan Shanahan back after injury. And mention of injury let us hope Brendan O’Sullivan will be back soon after he had to come off just before half-time and of course all our continuing thoughts are with Joseph O’Connor at this particular time.
Team: Wayne Guthrie (0-1), Colin Griffin, Conor Jordan (0-1), Niall Fitzmaurice, Greg Horan (0-1), Jack O’Shea, Paul O’Sullivan, Michael O’Donnell (Capt), Michael O’Gara (1-0), Armin Heinrich, Brendan O’Sullivan, Conor Horan (1-2), Cian Purcell (0-2), Shane O’Callaghan (0-3), David Mannix (0-1 – one free).
Subs used: Seán Quilter (28m) (0-1), Dylan Casey (44m) (0-1), Ronan Shanahan (44m), Barry Shanahan (49m), Kieran Donaghy (49m).
Our 3rd and final round in this round-robin series will be against Mid Kerry next weekend. With both sides already gone through to the quarter finals the game will just determine first and second position on the Group 3 table. Dr. Crokes and Kenmare have gone through from Group 1 and Dingle and East Kerry from Group 2. Feale Rangers have gone through from Group 4 with the second position between Templenoe and South Kerry yet to be decided.
B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-15; Laune Rangers 1-16 (aet).
Any neutral who attended this Molyneaux Shield semi final, played in Cloon (Killorglin) on this Friday evening (16th Sept) would have considered it to be a Co. Championship Final, such was the brilliance displayed by both sides in a game that went to extra-time. Seventeen of our players travelled to the game and any of the 17 could have got the Man of the March Award. After a slow start Rangers led by three points to one after ten minutes, Conor Myers on target for us from play. But we dominated the rest of the half, scoring the next six points without reply. Conor again scored two more with three from Shane Bastible and the sixth from team captain, Paul Barrett. This left us ahead at half time by 0-8 to 0-5.
The home side took control during the second half and held us to just three more points during this period – our two mid-fielders, Shane Bastible and Paul Barrett and one of the scores of the game from Conor Myers. This left the sides level at 11 points each at full time and sent the game to extra time.
Like the first half of normal time we also dominated the first half of additional time, scoring 1-3 to 0-2. Luke Chester was the man in charge, scoring a goal and a point, with our other two scores coming from frees by Conor Myers and Donagh McKivergan.
This left us ahead by four points at that stage (1-14 to 0-13). Three Rangers points in the opening minutes of the second half of extra time left us ahead by just one point at that stage (1-14 to 0-16). But Shane Bastible scored a goal and a point in the closing minutes of the game to put us five points ahead again. Rangers goaled from a penalty in the last minute of extra time but it was too little too late and we progressed to next week’s final against Kerins O’Rahillys.
Luke Chester had an outstanding game and was presented with the Celsius Mensware Man of the Match Award followed closely by Shane Bastible who also had an outstanding game throughout the 80 minutes plus.
Team: Brian Horgan, Ruairí O’Connell, Shane Walsh, Luke Chester (1-1), Cian Dillane, Barry Walsh, Andrew Morrissey, Paul Barrett (Capt) (0-2),Shane Bastible (1-5), Donagh McKivergan (0-2 –one free), Gearóid Sheehan, Dean Scanlon, Ciarán O’Reilly, Conor Myers (0-5 – two frees), Billy Stack.
Subs: Tom McLoughlin (39m), Anthony Moynihan (52m).
The Molyneaux Shield Final, between ourselves and Kerins O’Rahillys, has been fixed for this coming Saturday (24th Sept) at 5pm at a venue yet to be decided.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 3-17 (26); Keel/Listry 2-5 (11).
Forty one years ago (in1979) when the Senior Club Championship was established our Senior team were the first winners of that competition. On this Saturday (17th Sept) in Derreen (Legions pitch) our Minors repeated that victory becoming the first Champions of this inaugural MF Club Championship.
Winning the throw-in, only 22 seconds had elapsed when Ryan O’Driscoll opened the scoring with a well-taken point. Two minutes later, however, Keel/Listry goaled and it was that way for the next eight minutes. Our boys then came to grips with the game and in the space of four minutes scored two goals and two points – the goals coming from a Noah Townsend penalty and one from play by Ronan Carroll with our two points coming from Paddy Lane, one each from play and a free. Then between the 14th and 19th minutes Keel scored a goal and two points to cut our lead to the minimum at that stage (2-3 to 2-2).
We then dominated the remaining of the half, scoring a further goal and four points to just one point for the opposition. Paddy Lane scored 1-2 with the other two points coming from Ronan Carroll and Colm Browne. This left us ahead at half time by 3-7 to 2-3.
We totally dominated the second half holding the opposition to just two more points, both scored inside the first six minutes of the half. We added a further ten points during this second period. Paddy Lane scored four from frees with the other six coming from play – three by Ryan O’Driscoll and one each by Colm Browne, Noah Townsend and Daniel Kirby.
This was an all round brilliant display by our lads with our defence, including keeper, Michael Tansley holding a very determined Keel/Listry forward-line at bay on several occasion. So well done lads on a great victory and for bringing another trophy back to the Rock. Well done also to those outstanding Mentors Kieran Browne, William Kirby, Shane Lucid, Richie Conway, Damien Ryall and Rob Shanahan, our physio on the day. Noah Townsend received the Celsius Mensware Man of the Match after the game.
Team: Michael Tansley, Seán Moynihan, Luke Casey (Capt), James Fisher, Pádraig O’Halloran, Ben Murphy, Seán Heaslip, Ryan O’Driscoll (0-4), Colm Browne (0-2), Noah Townsend (1-1), Daniel Kirby (0-1), Thomas Deregee, Ronan Carroll (1-1), Paddy Lane (1-8 – six frees), Damien Hogan. Subs used: Jack Murphy (21m), Donnacha Horgan (37m), David Lucid (48m), Aaron Nolan (56m), Dylan Cunningham (57m).
LANDERS BROTHERS REMEMBERED: A unique function was held in the Clubhouse on last Sunday morning to remember the Landers Brothers of Rock St, Austin Stacks and Kerry Football and Hurling fame. Family members who travelled from all over were there to celebrate their sporting history. The function, organized by Tim Landers, was addressed by Club Chairman, Shane Lynch and by Tim Tiger Slattery who gave a detailed run-down of all their wonderful achievements over three decades – the nineteen twenties, thirties and forties.
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 (19th Sept) Jackpot, worth €2,200 was not won. The numbers drawn were 3, 4, 13, 31. The €20 winners were Brendan C. O’Neill, Jason Courtney and Ger Mannix, all c/o Carmel O’Neill; Eoin Muckian, c/o The Club; and John Commane, c/o Kevin Barrys.
Next Week’s Jackpot will be worth €2,250.
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: Mary Church, Leedale, Caherslee (grand-daughter of one of the founding members of the Club in 1917- Jeremiah Church ); Richard Greer, Connolly Park (father of former Club Hurler, Mark); Brighid McSweeney, Ballinorig and formerly Ballymullen; Mary Roche (nee Murphy), Killeen Road and formerly Kevin Barry Villas; Mike Farmer, Lohercannon; and Mary Sheridan (nee Keane), Collis Wood, Oakpark.
