CLUB SOCIAL:
Club Secretary, Elma Nix sends the following report: Rockies gathered at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night last for our annual Club social which was excellently organised as always by Noreen Power & Mary Mc Quinn.
The event was a great success with our Senior Players – Hurlers, Ladies & Senior Men – awards presentations being the highlight of the evening. The hurling team were especially successful winning the South Kerry League, the County Junior Championship and the Trevor Barrett Memorial Shield. The 2 individual hurling player awards went to Sean Hartnett & Colm Ó Giollagáin.
Austin Stacks Senior Ladies football team finished runners-up in the Kilmacud Crokes Sevens tournament and won the North Kerry Intermediate Championship. The senior footballers won the 2015 Town League and Town Championship and the County League 2014 final which was held last May.
Barry Walsh, playing his first year at Senior grade, was awarded “Club Player Of The Year Award”. A fantastic achievement indeed for the young footballer.
Club Chairman Liam Lynch in his address said “From a juvenile perspective, we won the Féile Under 14 competition for the first time. That was phenomenal for us and shows the strength coming up. The club is about as much off the field as on the field and we’ll be opening our new Nun’s Field soon, with new floodlights installed this year.
The success of our Jobmatch initiative among other things has been spectacular and we’re very conscious that we provide a social outlet for people. 2017 is our centenary year and we’ve big plans” he concluded.
Maura Shanahan won Best Dressed Lady with William Kirby fighting off stiff competition to claim the Best Dressed Man’s prize. Thanks to all the businesses who provided beautiful spot prizes.
Those attending enjoyed a great meal, followed by music from the band ‘Celebration’ before DJ Francie Breen ‘rocked’ the crowd into the wee hours.
FAREWELL:
While there was great joy at the Social on Saturday night there was also some sadness when friends and colleagues learned that Nicholas Gogarty will be leaving us, at least for the time being, to take up a position with his Employer (Kerry Group) in Naas.
Nicholas has been with us for the past two seasons, and in that time has played a total of 25 games, mostly with the B team but a few also with the Seniors. Added to that, Nick immersed himself in other Club activities, including Coach with the U16s.
While you will be greatly missed around the Club, Nick, everyone wish you all the best in Lilywhite territory and, who knows, you might find your way back to the Kingdom again some time soon. You will always be most welcome in the Rock Club.
MINOR FOOTBALL:
The Austin Stacks minor team which beat Kerins O’Rahillys on Saturday. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
Austin Stacks 0-12; Kerins O’Rahillys 1-5.
Healy Park, Ballyrickard was the venue for this first round of the Town League played in cold and wintry conditions on last Saturday afternoon (30th Jan).
Great credit goes to both sides for braving such adverse conditions and for putting on such a good display.
Only four points separated the sides at the end, even though we were nine points ahead five minutes into the second half.
The home side had failed to score by that time, but in a ten minute spell they had fought their way back to within two points, when they scored 1-4 without reply (0-9 to 1-4).
At half time we led by seven points to no score after taking full advantage of the strong wind that favoured us in the first half.
The wind, of course, was not the only factor that contributed to such a good performance by our boys,. We defended superbly with four of our debutants playing superbly – Robbie Murphy, Kieran Pierse, Shane Kelliher (son of Kieran) and Cian Talbot.
Philip Quilter and David Fitzmaurice dominated midfield, while up front four more new debutants were outstanding – Odhran Liston (brother of Cian), Alan Dore, Simon Draghici and Donagh McKivergan (son of Martin). On his debut Donagh scored six of our twelve points. I
n addition the remaining nine players who lined out have shown how much they have progressed as they start their second season in the Minor grade (it’s a 3rd season for Fergal Ryan).
Team: Robbie Murphy, Keelan Pierse, Brandon Patterson (Capt), Shane Kelliher, Pádraig Looney, Ciarán O’Reilly, Cian Talbot, Philip Quilter, David Fitzmaurice, Conor Lowe (0-1), Fergal Ryan 0-3 – one free), Odhran Liston, Alan Dore (0-1), Cian Liston, Donagh McKivergan (0-6 – 5 frees).
Subs used: Simon Draghici (45m) (0-1), Jason Roche (59m).
After an absence of three years it is good to see Wayne Quillinan back managing a Stacks team again. Wayne’s first venture into Management was with our Minor team in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
He also managed the U21 team in 2007 and 2008 and then went on to manage the Senior team for four seasons (2009-2012). This year Wayne is accompanied by John O’Sullivan (this is John’s 3rd successive season with the Minors), Ciarán McCabe, Kieran O’Callaghan, Jonathan Conway and Eoin Colgan – and we wish all six and the whole squad the best of luck for the rest of the season.
In the remaining two rounds of the Town League we are away to Na Gaeil on Saturday next (6th Feb) at 3.30pm and in the 3rd and final round we have a home game against Ballymac on the following Saturday (13th Feb).
The top two teams qualify for the Final, the date for which has yet to be fixed.
MINOR FOOTBALL – CO. LEAGUE:
This season will see three new Clubs in Division 1 – together with ourselves, Kerins O’Rahillys and Dr. Crokes who have been Div. 1 participants for many years.
The three newcomers are Firies and Gneeveguilla, who will be in Div. 1 for the first time, and Listowel Emmets who are back in Div. 1 for the first time since 2001.
They replace Dingle, who have stepped down to Div 2, and Ballydonoghue and Spa who have opted for Div. 3A this season. As we write we still await the actual fixtures list from Co. Board.
SENIOR FOOTBALL:
Our Seniors are due to get their season underway on Sunday week (14th Feb) with a home game against John Mitchels in round 1 of the Town League. Throw in 12.30pm.
In the remaining three rounds we have another home game against Na Gaeil (21st Feb) and then two away games against Ballymac (28th Feb) and Kerins O’Rahillys (13th March). The top two teams qualify for the Final, on a date to be confirmed.
The week after that (Sun, 20th March) it’s our first major game of the season – the Final of the 2015 Co. League away to Dr. Crokes which will double up as the opening round game of this season’s Co. League.
ROAD RUNNERS:
Elma Nix also informs us that the Austin Stacks team that participated in last Sunday’s Kerins O’Rahilly’s 10K road race were Catriona Barry, Michelle Hoare, Eileen Egan and Pat Dunworth and suffice to say they did us proud.
Catriona Barry was 1st in the lady’s race with Pat Dunworth claiming 2nd place in the men’s race in a super time of 36.10. The 3 ladies cumulative running times won the Austin Stacks team 1st place in the Ladies Club team event.
A huge thanks for flying the Austin Stacks flag with such distinction and well done to our neighbours Kerins O’Rahillys in organising a superb event.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS:
Nora O’Connor, Connolly Park (wife of Denis) celebrated a significant birthday last week (26th Jan). Happy birthday Nora.
CONGRATULATIONS:
To the Kerryman Newspaper, who were lauded in many quarters during the week, including a very worthy commendation from John O’Connor in his weekly review of the Provincial Papers on Radio Éireann last Friday, for their excellent 32 page Historical Supplement on Kerry’s role in the 1916 Rising.
WELL DONE:
Also to Kieran Donaghy, Michael O’Donnell, Wayne Guthrie and the rest of their colleagues on the St. Brendan’s Basketball Team that won the All Ireland Intermediate Cup last Saturday (30thJan) in Dublin. And for good measure Star also received the MVP (aka Man of the Match) Award.
CLUBHOUSE:
As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings phone Des Griffin at 086 402 0808.
CARDS:
The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO:
Last week’s (25th Jan) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 12, 22 and 28.
The €20 Winners were: Brian Collins, c/o Martin Collins; Mary O’Connell, c/o John O’Riordan; Mary Shanahan, c/o The Bingo; Jackie Power, c/o The Ladies; and Eleanor Carmody, c/o The Club.
SYMPATHY:
Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently –
Joseph Kenny-Herrity, Togher (Cork) and late of Tralee; James Keane, Woodview, and late of Upper Castle Street; Stella O’Sullivan, Tobar Naofa, Dean’s Lane; Rita O’Sullivan (nee Moloney), Killerisk and late of Old Marian Park; Derry Laffan, Cratloe (Co. Clare) and late of Blennerville; and Maurice Lucey, Woodbrook Lawn and late of Chicago and Teeromoyle, Cahersiveen;
