SENIOR FOOTBALL: Slaughtneil 1-14; Austin Stacks 2-10.

Sport is cruel. There has to be winners and losers. And when you lose it is heartbreaking. Hearts are broken in the Rock now, but we must remember that to get to Sunday’s semi final we broke some hearts too in the teams we defeated – in the Kerry and Munster Championships. The late Cork footballer, Paddy Harrington (father of Golfer, Pádraig) summed it up beautifully. He is reputed to have said – ‘Never get to high in victory or too low in defeat’. How true.

Playing with the aid of a strong breeze we had a very good start to this All Ireland semi final, and when Shane O’Callaghan was fouled after just a minute, Shane Carroll popped over the resultant free. Two minutes later Pa McCarthy slotted over our second.

Then Slaughtneil took control and landed four points on the trot between the 5th and 11th minutes. In the 13th minute Kieran Donaghy was brought down in the square and Pa McCarthy put away the rebound after his initial shot was parried by the keeper. A minute later Shane O’Callaghan pointed after being placed by David Mannix.

We were awarded a second penalty in the 16th minute after Kieran was fouled again and this time Pa drove an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net to leave us five points clear. Points were then exchanged, with ours coming from a superb effort from an acute angle by David Mannix.

But the Northerners regrouped again, and put over three good points late in the half. Then right on the 30th minute they got through for their only goal of the game to put them back in the lead. But in one last attack before half time Shane Carroll pointed the equalizer from play which left the sides at 2-5 to 1-8 at the break.

Like the first half we had a very good start to the second period. Again Shane O’Callaghan was fouled and Shane Carroll pointed the free after just 50 seconds. Two minutes later the opposition pointed a free to be followed by two quick points from play by Star and Greg Horan, The Derry boys, with two points, were level again by the 38th minute and that’s the way thinks stood until David Mannix pointed us back in the lead from a 43rd minute free. Two more points from play by Slaughtneil saw the lead change hands again as the game entered the final quarter.

With both sides giving their all in poor weather conditions it was understandable that the remaining sixteen minutes (three of added time) only produced two more points. The first came in the 53rd minute when Shane Carroll pointed the equalizer from a free after Greg Horan was fouled and two minutes later the opposition took the lead again. Two minutes into added time we had an opportunity to level it again but Shane Carroll was most unlucky to see his shot slice off the upright and go agonizingly wide.

No Mentors or group of players could do anything more with every ounce of energy left on O’Moore Park at the end of a pulsating game, And as for the level of support in the Portlaoise pitch we have ran out of superlatives to describe it. No Club can produce the likes. Special thanks to one and all.

Team: Darragh O’Brien, Conor Jordan, Barry Shanahan (Capt), Ronan Shanahan, Pa McCarthy (2-1 – one penalty goal), Fearghal MacNamara, Denis McElligott, Wayne Guthrie, Greg Horan (0-1), Michael Collins, Shane Carroll (0-4 – 3 frees), Daniel Bohan, David Mannix (0-2 – one free), Kieran Donaghy (0-1), Shane O’Callaghan (0-1).
Subs used: Darragh O’Brien (ht), William Kirby (38m).

CONGRATULATIONS: to Ardfert and Brosna, on their fantastic wins in the Intermediate and Junior Championship Finals in Croke Park last Saturday – a 3rd All Ireland victory for Ardfert,

MEMBERSHIP 2015: is now due. Anybody wishing to pay their membership may do so by contacting Bernie 086 0767415, Mairead 087 2941470 or online at austinstacks.ie. Membership forms also available in club bar.

SENIOR HURLING: Our Hurlers, in preparation for the new season, are currently seeking new recruits for the Senior squad. Anyone who is currently free and interested in joining may leave a message on our Hurling Facebook page.

MINOR FOOTBALL: Kerins O’Rahillys 4-11; Austin Stacks 1-2.

Missing at least 7 from what would be our strongest starting 15, our Minors played second fiddle to a very good O’Rahillys team in Strand Road last Saturday afternoon (14thFeb) in our second outing (of 3) in the Town League.
Our only score of the first half came in the 12th minute from Calvin Foley while the opposition notched 2-7 during the opening 30 minutes. Our 2nd point came in the 12thminute of the second half, a lovely effort by Louis Ryle, and three minutes later our third and final score came from another good move by Calvin and his low shot was initially saved by the Strand Road keeper with the rebound finding the net via a defender.

There were Minor debuts for Jonathan Myers, Pádraig Looney and Jason Roche with all three doing well.
Team: Daniel Kinsella, Brandon Patterson, Dylan Hennebery, Shane Walsh, Louis Ryle (0-1), Ciarán O’Reilly, Seán Fitzmaurice, Philip Quilter, Calvin Foley (1-1), Seán Dukes, Ferdia O’Brien, Jonathan Myers, Darren Bastible, Cian Liston, Shane O’Neill.
Subs: Pádraig Looney (24m), Jason Roche (40m).

We now have one more game to play in the Town League and this is the postponed round 2 game against Na Gaeil, which has been refixed for Connolly Park on Saturday, 28thFebruary.
In the meantime the Co. League is due to start next Saturday (21st Feb) when we travel to Collard to play Ballydonoghue . Throw in 4pm.

SCÓR NA SINSIR: Scór Officer, Brian Caball submits the following Report – Senior Scór took place on Wednesday 11th in Kielduff. Results/Torthaí: Amhránaíocht Aonair:Cumann Aibhistín de Staic – Aoife Uí Dhonnchú; Na Gaeil – Helen Uí Shiochrú; Ceol Uirlise: Cumann Naomh Pádraig – Séamus Allman, Milo Ó Briain, Tomás Ó Conchúir;Léiriú: Na Gaeil – Colm Ó Súilleabháin, Mairéad Uí Dhúda, Sinéad Mhic an tSíthigh, Gearóid Mac Adaim, Mícheál Ó Loingsigh, Helen Uí Shiochrú; An Seit: Baile MhicEileagóid – Máire Ní Sheoighe – Uí Laighin, Dáithí Ó Lúing, Fiontán Ó Ceallaigh, Colette Ní Chomáin – Uí Choileáin, Tomás Ó Dálaigh, Carmel Uí Mhaolomhnaigh, Criostóir Ó Maolomhnaigh.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS: to former Club Camogie player, Sister Jessica Doyle, who celebrates her 103rd birthday on this Thursday (19th Feb).
In a Co. Championship game on Wednesday, 17th July 1929 Rock St. defeated Boherbee 3 gls to nil.
Team: (13 a-side) Dolly Kelter (Capt), H. Lenihan, Dolly Mulchinock, Jessica Doyle, M. Doyle, J. Callaghan, M. Callaghan, B. Collins, M. Collins, N. Murphy, Eily Lynch, Esther Lynch, M. Dunne.

CONGRATULATIONS: We extend congratulations all the way down to Sydney to Eoin and Selina (O’Regan) O’Shea on the recent birth of a baby girl – Molly – a first grand-daughter for Brendan and Laura O’Regan. Congratulations also to Club Footballer Darragh Healy and Danielle Bodell on the recent birth of a baby girl – Éabha Grace Healy – a grand-daughter for Michael Nappies and Brenda Healy.

BINGO: continues on this and every Saturday night commencing at 8.30pm.

CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. Phone Ian from 7pm at 066 7126942 for bookings.

CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse every Monday and Thursday Nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
All at the Cards extend sincere sympathy to Pat Skeff Sheehy on the recent death of his sister, Sheila; to Angela Weir on the tragic death in a car accident of her grandson, Maurice O’Donoghue and to Joan Kenny on the death of her cousin Peggy O’Connor (nee Kenny) (see Sympathy).

LOTTO: Last Monday’s (9th Feb) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 17, 21, 26, 32.
The €20 Prizes went to Michael Kenny, Kevin Cotter and Paudie McQuinn, all c/o Club Rockies; Derry Sugrue, c/o The Club and Danny Walsh, c/o John O’Riordan.

MONTHS MIND MASS: The Month’s Mind Mass for the late Seamus O’Mahony will take place at Our Lady and St. Brendan’s Church on this Friday night (20th Feb) at 7.30pm. All friends and colleagues of the late Seamus are welcome to attend.

SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Philomena O’Brien (nee Coffee), Rahoonane; Myra Trant (nee Howard), Listellick North and late of Ballintobeenig; Sheila Bonnie Sheehy, Connolly Park and late of Gas Terrace (sister of former Club Footballer, Pat Skeff Sheehy); Mary Agnes Hayes (nee Lyons), Meadowlands and late of Knockalougha, Knocknagoshel; Bridie Kerins (nee Lawlor), Donegal, Dublin and Mitchel’s Avenue; Maurice Brick, Caherbreagh; Maurice O’Donoghue, Mountcoal, Listowel; and Peggy O’Connor (nee Kenny), Ballyheigue..