CHURCH GATE COLLECTION: Our thanks to everyone who generously supported our Annual Church Gate Collection at the weekend, and to all our Collectors who, as usual, gave their free time on Saturday night and Sunday morning to do the collection.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-15; St. Michaels Foilmore 1-2.
Played amidst some heavy steely showers on a Lewis Road pitch that was relatively remarkable, despite the recent adverse weather, we never really looked in trouble as we had ten points to spare in this Co. SF Championship relegation play-off on last Saturday afternoon (21st Nov).
We led at half time by 0-6 to 0-1 with the St. Michaels only score of the half coming deep in added time from a free. Two of our first half points came from play, both by Shane O’Callaghan, while David Mannix put over three frees and Wayne Guthrie pointed from a forty five.
Kieran Donaghy in action on Saturday. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
David was on target again straight from the restart – this time from play, and then fifteen minutes elapsed before our next score – another point from play – by Greg Horan. Then in the 48th minute Bally/Foilmore gave themselves a lifeline when they tapped in the only goal of the game to reduce the deficit to four.
But in the final quarter we went on to score seven more points without reply, while St. Michaels only point of the half came, as in the first half, deep in added time.
Our remaining seven points of this half came from three more David Mannix efforts (2 frees), two by Denis McElligott and one each from Shane O’Callaghan and Pa McCarthy.
Apart from the win it was pleasing to see Daniel Bohan making an appearance half way through the second half – his first game in over 6 months (he last lined out in a Co. League game against Waterville on the 2nd May last).
It was also good to see David Mannix back after injury. David hadn’t played since the 8th August, missing the last six games, including that vital Co. Championship game against Crokes.
And we didn’t need reminding, by his seven points last Saturday, what a difference he would have made in that Crokes game. And it was also good to see Shane Carroll back in the fold again – the only place where he belongs.
Team: Darragh O’Brien, Barry Walsh, Barry Shanahan, Conor Jordan, Denis McElligott (0-2), Fearghal Mac Namara (Capt), Shane Guthrie, Wayne Guthrie (0-1 – forty five), Kieran Donaghy, Greg Horan (0-1), Michael Collins, Shane Carroll, David Mannix (0-7 – 5 frees), Shane O’Callaghan (0-3), Fiachna Mangan.
Subs: Pa McCarthy (ht) (0-1), Seán Ryan (41m), Daniel Bohan (45m), Jack O’Shea (54m), Jack Morgan (55m), Brían Mangan (56m).
We still have one more hurdle to cross in order to maintain our Senior Championship status for next season and that will require a win in our round 3 game against Laune Rangers.
It’s ironic that two of the leading Co. Championship Clubs are now to battle it out, possibly next weekend, with the loser going out of the Senior Championship for the next season at least. This was hardly foreseen by the architects of the new system.
A date has also been fixed for our Co. League play-off against Killarney Legion. The game is due to go ahead on Sunday week (6th Dec) at a venue to be confirmed. The winners will play Dr. Crokes in the Co. League Final.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Our Minor Central League semi final, against An Ghaeltacht, did not go ahead last weekend. No new date has been fixed as we write. Dingle await the winners in the Final.
HURLING: Our Hurlers are due to travel to the Killeedy Club (about twelve miles beyond Abbeyfeale) to play Cork’s Shanballymore in the first round (quarter final) of the Munster JH ‘B’ Championship. The game is fixed for next Sunday (29th Nov) at 2pm. The winners will go through to a semi final encounter against Broadford (Clare) on Sunday, 13th December at the same venue. The Munster Final then goes into the new year with Sunday, 31st January fixed for that game.
WELL DONE: And mention of Hurling let us congratulate our Hurling Manager and former Club Hurler, Mike O’Halloran who is now going from strength to strength as a Playwright.
His new Play (A Queen’s Speech) is due to be premiered by the Tralee Theatre Group at Siamsa Tíre on this weekend – Friday and Saturday, 27th and 28th November. Seasoned Theatre-goers tell us it’s well worth attending and a steal for the €16 entrance fee .
U21 FOOTBALL: As we write no date or venue has been fixed for the U21F Co. Club Final (Shield Section) between ourselves and Templenoe.
ANNIVERSARY: It’s amazing how, sometimes, history repeats itself. Yesterday (22nd Nov) South Kerry won their 10th Co. Championship Final after a reply against Killarney Legion. Almost 40 years ago to the day (16th Nov 1975) Austin Stacks won the Co. Final against Mid Kerry (1-7 to 1-4), also after a replay.
That Stacks team lined out as follows: Teddy Brick (RIP), Garry Scollard (RIP), John O’Keeffe, Paul Lucey, Fintan Lawlor, Tony O’Keeffe, Ger O’Keeffe, Denny Long (0-1 – a fifty), Timmy Sheehan, Ger Power (1-1), Mikey Sheehy (0-1 free), Jackie Power (0-1), Colm Mangan, Jo Jo Barrett (Capt) (0-1), Tommy Kennington (0-2). In the drawn game both Paddy Whack Moriarty and Tommy Bracker O’Regan also lined out for the team.
Billy Curtin, who captained the team to glory in 1973, was the team Trainer in 1975 and the late Jackie Power Snr., who was also there in 1973, was also involved as Mentor in 1975.
CONGRATULATIONS: to Sabina Heinrich (sister of former Club Footballer and current Juvenile Mentor, Armin) and Ryan Twomley who were married last Friday.
BINGO: continues on this and every Saturday night commencing at 8.30pm.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings phone Des at 066 7126942 after 8pm any evening.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse every Monday and Thursday Nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last week’s (16th Nov) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 4, 6, 8 and 31.
The €20 Winners were: Luke McNeice, Teresa O’Connor and Pascal Power, all c/o Carmel O’Neill; Sonny Healy, c/o Richard Healy; and Denis Foley, c/o Denis O’Connor.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Dervil Townsend (nee Fleming), Monalee; and Eva Maguire (nee O’Hara), Perth (Scotland) and late of Oakpark Terrace and Spring Lodge, Ballyard (aunt of Adrienne McLoughlin of our PR Committee).
