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.
SCÓR NA SINSIR: Congratulations to Aoife Ní Choileáin-Uí Dhonnchú, who won the County Scór Singing Competition in the home of the All Ireland JF Champions, Brosna, last Saturday. Scór Officer, Brian Caball, reminds us that Aoife has now won 4 Kerry County Solo Singing titles in Scór na Sinsear – 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015. Go h-iontach ar fad.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 6-9: Na Gaeil 1-8.
With some of the Management team and 13 of last Sunday week’s starting 15 taking a well-deserved break, the squad really came into play on Sunday last (22nd Feb) at Killeen in the 1st round of the SF Town League. Ronan Shanahan and Wayne Guthrie, who started in Portlaoise and William Kirby and forward Darragh O’Brien, who both came on as subs against Slaughtneil, were the only four from that day to line-out on Sunday.
And Sunday’s team showed how sharp that squad were – going in at half time with a lead of 3-6 to 0-4 and scoring a further 3-3 to 1-4 in the second half.
We have to go back to July 1994 (the first round of that year’s Co. Championship against Beale) to find our Seniors scoring 6 goals in a game. And we haven’t found any player at Senior level scoring four goals in the one game – Darragh O’Brien achieved that on Sunday (to follow the hat-trick he scored in a Co. League game against Sneem in May 2012) and also added seven points for good measure.
Our other goal scorers were John Dennis – a beautiful lobbing ball that dipped under the cross-bar just coming up to half time, and a lovely effort from Seán Ryan in the 55th minute.
Not alone was William Kirby starting his 21st playing season with the Club but he was also part of Sunday’s Management team and, to cap it all, celebrated his 40th birthday on Sunday also. Happy birthday William.
Finally it was good to see Shane Guthrie lining out with a Rock team again after many years away plying his trade with Association Football and also good to see Brían Mangan back in a Black and Amber jersey after missing much of last season with that nasty shoulder injury and also good to see new man, Alan Griffin making his Club debut when coming on as a second half substitute.
Team: Pa Fitzgibbon, Ronan Shanahan, Shane Guthrie, Eoghan McKivergan, Nicholas Gogarty, John Dennis (Capt) (1-0), Seamus Bastible, William Kirby, Brían Mangan, Seán Ryan (1-1), Fiachna Mangan, Eoin Colgan, Dale Counihan, Wayne Guthrie (0-1), Darragh O’Brien (4-7 – 3 pointed frees).
Subs: Barry Walsh (ht), Alan Crean (37m), Alan Griffin (56m).
Round 2 of the League, against Ballymac, is scheduled to go ahead in Connolly Park on next Sunday (1st March). Check Web for starting time.
Rounds 3 and 4 are down for the following Sundays – away to Mitchels (8th March) and at home to O’Rahillys (15th March). Then on the Sunday after that (22nd March) the Co. League is due to commence with a home game against Waterville.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Ballydonoghue2-13; Austin Stacks 0-11.
Our Minors travelled to Coolard last Saturday (21st Feb) for their first round game of the Co. League and although still not at full strength put up a good performance against a very accomplished Ballydonoghue side, who are competing in Division 1 of the competition for the first time and have already justified the tag of favourites to win the League outright.
We were unfortunate to lose the services of Colin Griffin after three minutes following a blood injury and Colin had to leave the pitch for good after 13 minutes. Darragh Scanlon had transferred at this stage to full back and had a very good game.
After a slow start we were trailing by four points to one after 13 minutes – our point coming in the 11th minute from Ferdia O’Brien.
However in a nine minute spell (16m to 25m) we put over four without reply to go into a one point lead – our scores coming from two pointed frees by Ferdia and one each from play by Cian Liston and Darren Bastible. But our lead was short-lived as Ballydonoghue got through almost immediately for a goal and added a point deep in injury time to leave them ahead by 1-5 to 0-5 at the break.
We had a very good start to the second half with a second Darren Bastible point after just 25 seconds, followed a minute later by a Calvin Foley effort. But that was the closest we got to the North Kerry side as they went on to score a further 1-8 to 0-4 for us between then and the final whistle. Our remaining four points came from another converted free by Ferdia O’Brien and three good efforts from play by Seán Dukes.
It was good to see 16 year old Tomás Sheehy making his Minor debut on the day.
Team: Daniel Kinsella, Shane Walsh, Colin Griffin, Pádraig Looney, Seán Tansley, Jack O’Shea, Ciarán O’Reilly, Jack Morgan, Calvin Foley (0-1), Philip Quilter, Ferdia O’Brien (0-4 – 3 frees), Seán Dukes (0-3), Darren Bastible (0-2), Cian Liston (0-1), Darragh Scanlon.
Subs: Brandon Patterson (3m to 12m blood sub and full sub from 13m), Fergal Ryan (24m), Anthony Lonergan (38m), Jason Roche (44m), Rory Forbes (52m), Tomás Sheehy (55m).
In round 2 we have a home game against Spa (East Kerry) on Saturday, 7th March but before that we are due to play Na Gaeil in the final round of the Town League and this has been refixed for Connolly Park on next Saturday (28th Feb) at 4pm.
SIGERSON CUP FINAL: Did it happen before? We are not sure – that two Club players were members of the two teams that contested the final last Saturday. Congratulations to David Mannix who was part of the DCU panel who had a one point win over UCC (1-14 to 2-10) after extra time. And tough luck on Fearghal MacNamara who lined out in his usual corner back position for UCC.
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.
LOTTO: Last Monday’s (16th Feb) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 14, 18, 31.
The €20 Prizes went to Colin Teahon, c/o Club Rockies; Peter O’Regan, c/o Brendan O’Regan; Sonny Healy and Frances Quirke, both c/o Charlie Healy; and C. Regan, c/o The Bingo.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Kathleen Flanagan (nee Enright), Walsh’s Terrace, Strand Road and late of Tarbert; Vincent Lyons, Midlands UK and late of Tralee and Ardfert; Teresa Rohan (nee Smith), Meadowlands, Oakpark and late of Lavey (Co. Cavan) (mother of former Club Footballer, Mike); Lily Healy (nee Walsh), St. Brendan’s Park; Elizabeth Foley, Leith West; Owen McPolin, Kearney’s Road, Ballyard Cross; and Peggy Diggins (nee Foley), Rockpark Avenue and late of St. Brendan’s Park and Ballymullen.
