SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-8; South Kerry 2-10.
Spencer Tracy and Lee Marvin stared in an iconic film of the mid 1950s named ‘Bad Day at Black Rock’. And if the Producers of this film were in Connolly Park on this Saturday evening (28th May) and were contemplating a remake they might be tempted to rename the film ‘Bad Day at THE Rock’. Because that’s exactly what it was.
Everything was running smoothly right up to the 30th minute in the first half with nothing to separate the sides (0-6 each) with both teams matching one another in every aspect of the game.
However in the first minute of added time we seemed to suddenly switch off as South Kerry mounted one last attack and got through for the easiest of goals. David Mannix with three points (one from a free) and three from play by Pa McCarthy, Michael O’Donnell and Conor Jordan were our first half scorers.
Kieran Donaghy and Rob Wharton chase the ball during the Austin Stacks v South Kerry game on Saturday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Six minutes after the resumption the visitors breached our defence again to put away their second goal and we never recovered from that. We just managed to score two points in total during that second half – a 42nd minute free by David Mannix and, five minutes later, a point from play by Kieran Donaghy.
One thing is sure – none of our 21 players who lined out in this round 2A Co. Championship replay went out to lose this game or to non-perform. And we have no doubt that on another day that result could be reversed.
And it’s quite possible that we might meet the same opposition again later in the competition. However if this is to happen we must get over the next hurdle – round three – where we face Divisional side, West Kerry.
One of the positives of the game was to see current Kerry Minor, Ferdia O’Brien (son of former Club player of the 1980s, Ed) making, not alone his Co. Championship debut, but playing in his first ever game at Senior level.
Team: Darragh O’Brien, Barry Walsh, Fearghal MacNamara, Denis McElligott, Pa McCarthy (0-1), Jack O’Shea, Ronan Shanahan, Wayne Guthrie, Kieran Donaghy (Capt) (0-1), Fiachna Mangan, Michael O’Donnell (0-1), Conor Jordan (0-1), David Mannix (0-4 – two frees), Shane O’Callaghan, Shane Carroll.
Subs used: Seán Ryan (ht), Jack Morgan (ht), Daniel Bohan (36m), Alan Nestor (45m), Ferdia O’Brien (52m), John Dennis (57m).
In the draw for round 3 we have been paired against West Kerry with the game provisionally fixed for the weekend of July 9th, subject to Kerry’s progress in the Championship.
In the meantime we turn our attention back to the Co. League. It seems an age since we last played Co. League – and it is – exactly eight weeks ago. We travel to Derreen on this Saturday evening (June 4) to play Legion in round 4 of the competition.
Currently we lie in 4th position in the League Table on 4 points – behind Crokes, Dingle and Templenoe – all on 6 points after their three games. Our two wins came against Glenbeigh and Kenmare with our one defeat against Crokes.
On the other hand Legion are pointless after three defeats against Dingle, Kilcummin (only a one point deficit in each game) and O’Rahillys (a six points defeat).
So this round 4 encounter will be no walk-over, as Legion will be pulling out all the stops to get some points on the board and move up the League Table.
HISTORY; The last SF Co. Championship game to take place in Connolly Park was almost 25 years ago. It was the 1st round of the 1991 Championship played on Sunday, 7th July. We had a narrow one point win against Killarney (Legion/Spa) 0-11 to 0-10.
The team that lined out that day was as follows: – John Browne, Eamon O’Brien, Denny Walsh, Pat Slattery, John Galvin (RIP), Liam Liddy, Kieran Browne, Joe Smith, John Walsh (0-1), John Barry, Darren Aherne, David O’Lehan (RIP), Owen Moynihan (0-3), Liam Kearns (Capt) (0-1), David Staunton (0-5).
Subs ued: Ger O’Keeffe (0-1), Jerry Fitzmaurice.
The connections between now and then – Full back in 1991, Denny Walsh, his son Barry at right full back now; John Walsh at centrefield in 1991, current selector; Ger O’Keeffe in 1991, his two nephews, Paul and Eoin Galvin on current panel; Jerry Fitzmaurice in 1991 – his sons Shane and David currently playing with Club teams.
WELL DONE: to everyone involved in organizing and operating the arrangements for this Saturday’s Co. Championship game in Connolly Park.
Club Chairman, Liam Lynch, had no sooner left Con Keating Park last Sunday after the drawn game when he put the wheels in motion to get the replay fixed for Connolly Park – the first time in 25 years when a Co. Championship game would be played at the Rock Street venue – and only the third time in history.
He first established a meitheal of willing volunteers to assist with the operation and then made a detailed submission to the Co. Board who, after an inspection of the venue, gave their full approval without hesitation.
And while we all know this already, it takes an occasion like this to reinforce how well the Club and the local community will work hand in hand to achieve an objective.
Not alone did the Connolly Park Residents and the Club volunteers have the pitch and Club surrounds in pristine condition but the whole Estate never looked better. Men, women and children worked tirelessly all through the week and on the day of the match to ensure a perfect occasion. And everything ran so smoothly on the day with the weather also playing its part.
The one thing to round off a perfect weekend would have been a positive result. Unfortunately that was not to be the case on this occasion. But, as the old Irish phrase says, beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach.
U17 FOOTBALL; Austin Stacks 3-11; West Kerry 2-11.
This first round game (of two) in the ‘Non Exam’ League played at the John Mitchels pitch on this Friday evening (27th May) got off to a slow start with both sides registering a number of wides before eventually a great individual run by wing back Conor Lowe opened the scoring in the 9th minute.
West Kerry’s first score came four minutes later and then they took the lead in the 18th minute. Before that they could have been further ahead but for a brilliant save by Robbie Murphy.
In the 20th minute a beautiful ball in from Joe Looby was put over by Joseph O’Connor to level matters again. Two minutes later the visitors went ahead again after Robbie made another brilliant save to deflect the ball over the bar.
Five minutes before the break we leveled matters again after team captain Shane Walsh broke the ball down to Joseph O’Connor who found Michael Linnane and Michael tore through the West Kerry defence to put over.
However in the closing minutes few would have quessed what happened next. First West Kerry went two points up for the first time in the game. But worse was to come.
They also scored two goals – the first from a penalty which was initially saved by Robbie but the rebound was quickly put away and then the second came from play inside a minute. This left us adrift by eight points at half time (2-5 to 0-3).
Whatever Wayne Quillinan and his colleagues (John Murphy, Jonathan Conway, Eoin Colgan and Kieran O’Callaghan) said to the players at half time worked well in the second half.
In fact we do know what they said at the break but it cannot be repeated for fear of giving fodder to the opposition but more importantly in case the Authorities might take down any publications or websites that this item may appear on. But our players certainly responded – all fifteen who started and the four substitutes who were introduced during the second half.
During that second half we outscored the opposition – a very good opposition at that – by 3-8 to 0-5.
Bur before our comeback we found ourselves ten points down after West Kerry opened the second half scoring putting over two points in as many minutes. But then gradually we began to dominate in all sectors.
A great run by Gearóid Sheehan in the 34th minute was halted when he was fouled and Donagh McKivergan pointed the resultant free. A minute later Donagh pointed from play after good work by Joe Looby and Harry O’Callaghan and then Gearóid Sheehan put over, also from play.
The first real break-through came in the 42nd minute when a ball into the square by Joseph O’Connor was met by Conor Lowe who tapped into the net. Joe was also directly involved in our next three scores, providing the pass to Gearóid Fitzgerald who pointed and then being fouled himself on the next two occasions, both frees being converted by Donagh McKivergan.
In the 49th minute West Kerry pointed again to leave them three points ahead. But two minutes later Harry O’Callaghan put Gearóid Fitzgerald through and Gearóid was fouled in the square.
His namesake, Gearóid Sheehan put the penalty away with the skill of a veteran even though this was his very first game at this level. Two more points by Conor Lowe and Donagh Mac from a free, followed by one from the opposition left us level, as we thought, as the 60 minutes ticked over.
Afterwards it transpired that the referee had not allowed one of our second half points, so our added time goal was crucial. Again it was the quick thinking of Gearóid Sheehan whose quickly taken free landed in the square and was fielded under pressure by Gearóid Fitzgerald who turned and lashed to the net for the winner. Even thought our official score was 3-10 we are not docking the lost point from any of our players outlined in the team list.
Scoring is important but to keep our opponents quite, especially in that second half, didn’t happen by accident. The two Shanes – Kelliher and Walsh – as well as Tomás Sheehy were superb in the last line of defence and behind them Robbie Murphy made spectacular saves, not for the first time this season.
Our half line of Conor Lowe , Ciarán O’Reilly and Odhran Liston not alone defended superbly but also set up attack after attack. David Fitzmaurice and Joseph O’Connor are two of the best midfielders in the game. And as well as our scoring forwards the support play of players like Joe Looby, Harry O’Callaghan and Alan Dore is invaluable as was the contribution of our four substitutes on the evening.
So good was our second half performance that we hardly noticed the drizzle that fell for most of the second half or the midges that ate us alive on the sideline.
As well as Gearóid Sheehan it was also good to see Cian Holden, Evan Maher and David Couchman playing their first game at this level. It was also good to see Pádraig Looney back on the sideline again after his operation in Santry last week.
Team: Robbie Murphy, Shane Kelliher, Shane Walsh (Capt), Tomás Sheehy, Conor Lowe (1-2), Ciarán O’Reilly, Odhran Liston, David Fitzmaurice, Joseph O’Connor (0-1), Gearóid Sheehan (1-1 – penalty goal), Michael Linnane (0-1), Joe Looby, Alan Dore, Donagh McKivergan (0-5 – 4 frees), Harry O’Callaghan.
Subs: Gearóid Fitzgerald (40m) (1-1), Cian Holden (42m), Evan Maher (47m), David Couchman (57m).
Our thanks to the John Mitchels Club who, not for the first time, facilitated us with their pitch as our own facilities were under preparation for this Saturday’s SF Co. Championship game.
Our second and final round game in the group stage is fixed for next Friday (3rd June) when we are away to St. Brendans. The semi finals are fixed for 10th June with the Final scheduled for the 17th June.
SENIOR HURLING: Still no new fixtures have come to hand for our Hurlers as we write.
BEST WISHES: to former Club footballer, Bryan Kearney, who is still playing football down in Auckland (Australia). Unfortunately, Bryan picked up a nasty leg injury recently while playing with his local Club which will sideline him for some time.
All here in the Rock wish him a full and speedy recovery. Bryan progressed from our Juveniles to play with our Minors (2003) and U21s and was full back on that great C team when they last won the Barrett Cup in 2011, managed at that time by the equally great Seanie Power, Kevin O’Carroll and Don Shanahan.
WELL DONE: to Club Member, Stephen Fernane, former Club footballer, who nominated the Club for the Irish Times ‘Best Sports Club in Ireland’ Award. From the thousands of entries received by the Newspaper, 20 Clubs now remain in contention for the overall award which will be named in three weeks. Only 6 of the 20 Clubs remaining in the competition are GAA Clubs. As well as ourselves Tralee Parnells are also in contention as well as the Cuala GAA Club (Dalkey, Dublin). Seán McMahon, brother of Club Secretary, Elma Nix, is a member of the Cuala Club.
TIM ROUNDY LANDERS: was one of the greatest footballers of his time or of any time and we remember him at this time on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his death last Thursday. Roundy died at the age of 80 on 26thMay 1991.
He was just 18 when he played in the Rock’s first ever Co. Championship game on the 6th May 1928 and played his last Championship game with his Club some 17 years later on the 5th August 1945.
Likewise, with Kerry, he made his first Championship appearance with the Senior team on the 9th August 1931 in the first round of that year’s Championship against Tipperary. He played his last Championship game on the 8thJuly 1945 in that season’s Munster Final against Cork. During his illustrious career he won a total of 27 major medals (18 with Kerry, one with Munster and 8 with his beloved Rock Street).
The 18 with Kerry were 5 All Irelands, 8 Munster at Senior Level; 2 All Irelands and 2 Munster at Junior level (1928 and 1930). One Railway Cup with Munster. With the Rock he won 5 Senior Football and 3 Senior Hurling medals.
In 1931 alone he won five major medals – Munster and All Ireland SF with Kerry, that Railway Cup medal with Munster and a Co. Championship SF and SH medal with Stacks – the second time to do the County double – the first in 1928. He also served as Club Chairman in the mid 1940s and, with his brothers John Joe (Purty) and Bill, brought 12 All Ireland SF medals into their family home at Urban Terrace, Rock Street – Roundy (5), Purty (5) and Bill (2).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: to Paul O’Connor (son of Denis) who celebrated a significant birthday last week
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings, phone Maurice McNamara at 086 3747 642.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions will continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last week’s (23rd May) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 4, 15, 18, 29.
The €20 Winners were: Emmanuel Boucay and Mike Shea, both c/o Carmel O’Neill; John O’Callaghan, c/o Club Rockies; Brian McKivergan, c/o John Breen; and Chloe & Charley, c/o Richard Healy.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Sister Mary De Montfort OP, Dominican Sisters, Our Lady of Fatima Convent, Oakpark and late of Tyrone and Scotland; Jean Paul Duwoye, Marian Park and late of France; Agnes Kilgallen (nee Dalton), Lisbeg, Oakpark and late of Carlow (mother of former Club footballers, Rory and Gearóid and grandmother of current U13 player, Gearóid); and Thomas Lindsay, Woodview Park and late of Portlaoise and Scotland.
