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Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Ballymac 2-13; Austin Stacks 2-11.
The Tralee/St Brendan’s District SF Championship Final (for the Roddy O’Donnell Cup) sponsored by Lee Strand and played in a cold but dry Austin Stack Park on last Sunday afternoon (4th Dec) ended in a well-deserved victory for the Ballymac side after a pulsating final quarter by them.
With 12 minutes remaining in the game they were trailing by nine points (2-10 to 0-7). But in that final period they scored 2-6 while holding our lads to just one solitary point – and that one from a free. It certainly was one of the greatest come-backs ever witnessed.
Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
We started well scoring the first three points within the opening four minutes. Wayne Guthrie won the throw-in and was fouled as he burst up field. Donagh McKivergan pointed the resultant free after just 26 seconds.
Donagh was on target again from play after three minutes to be followed by a Luke Chester minor within a minute. It took us 14 minutes to register our next score. In the meantime Ballymac had drawn level with three points of their own – two of them from frees.
Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
Our 4th point came in the 18th minute – a well-taken one by Adam Curran and it was Adam again on target, four minutes later, when he was at the end of a good move by Paul O’Sullivan and Donagh Mac to score our first goal.
Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
Ballymac added two more points thereafter but we finished the half in style with a goal and two points – the points coming from Eoghan Carroll and Donagh McKivergan and a super goal by Jordan Kissane. This left us seven points ahead at the break (2-6 to 0-5).
We extended that lead during the first quarter of the second half, outscoring the opposition by four points to two – our points coming from four different players – Michael O’Donnell (free) and three from play by Adam Curran, Paul O’Sullivan and Donagh McKivergan. But then came that come-back of all come-backs by Ballymac to deservedly win the game.
Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
It was good to see Jack Morgan playing the full hour after missing the whole season with an injury.
Prior to the game there was a Minute’s Silence in honour of the late Dolores O’Connor who passed away recently.
Team: Ben Quilter, Luke Chester (0-1), Barry Shanahan, Paul O’Sullivan (0-1), Adam Curran (1-2), Jack O’Shea, Eoghan Carroll (0-1), Wayne Guthrie, Michael O’Donnell (Capt) (0-1 free), Ciarán O’Connell, Jordon Kissane (1-0), Jack Morgan, Donagh McKivergan (0-5 – two frees), Gearóid Fitzgerald, Conor Myers.
Photo: Adrienne McLoughlin
Subs: Ruairí O’Connell ht), Cian Dillane (ht), Gearóid Sheehan (37m), Andrew Morrissey (45m), Greg Scanlon (45m).
The game saw an end to a great Management Team under the stewardship of Wayne Quillinan that has served the Club exceptionally well over the past five seasons and included house-hold names like Jonathan Conway, Eoin Colgan, Tommy Naughton, John O’Sullivan, Damien Ryall and Fionán Hallinan.
Wayne, of course, had already served as Manager for a four year period during the 2009-2012 seasons. Hopefully, we will see some, if not all, back in action again in the near future.
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.
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 (5th Dec) Jackpot, worth €2,750 was not won. The numbers drawn were 11, 16, 23, 28. The €20 winners were Mike Quirke, Nial Shanahan, Declan Breen and Carmel O’Neill, all c/o The Club; and Mark The Dub, c/o Carmel O’Neill.
Next Week’s Jackpot will be worth €2,800.
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 Inn Maguire’s Butchers Hussey’s P. Commane Books.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently: Marie O’Brien (nee O’Donnell), St. Brendans Park and formerly Clonmore (mother-in-law of former Club Hurler, Peter O’Regan and sister of Peter O’Donnell (former Club Card Player); Ted (Timothy) Breen, Annagh; Helena Coffey, Rath Oraigh, Rathass; and Thomas Lawlor, Connolly Park and Liscahane (brother of the late Jack, former Club Player).
