Austin Stacks GAA Club News

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Austin StacksMEMBERSHIP 2015:  is now due. Anybody wishing to pay their membership may do so by contacting Bernie at 086 0767415, Mairead at 087 2941470 or online at austinstacks.ie. Membership forms are also available in the Club Bar.

SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-14: Ballymac 0-5.

This round 2 game in the Town League started in Connolly Park on Sunday morning (1st March) with a cold gale-force wind blowing down the pitch but it soon abated and, despite the heavy conditions, there were some very good passages of play by both sides all through.

We started well – and after ten minutes were five points to no score up, with three very good efforts by Shane O’Callaghan – and Dale Counihan and Seán Ryan also on target – all from play. Shane added two more in the second quarter with Brían Mangan and Dale also adding one each. The first of our goals came in the 28th minute. Shane took a quick free to Dale who passed back to Shane on the run and his shot across goal was finished to the net by Alan Duggan. We led at half time by 1-9 to 0-2. That half also yielded only three wides – two for us.

With both sets of defenders excelling early in the second half, it took eight minutes for the first score to come – a point by team captain, Fiachna Mangan after good work by Paul Galvin. A minute later Wayne Guthrie added another when placed by Alan Duggan. Then in the 42nd minute the game was really put to bed when Dale Counihan finished off Shane O’Callaghan’s shot to the net. Ballymac, however, put over the next three scores during a ten minute spell. Having taken our legs off the pedals for a while we did finish the stronger – converting three more points in the last five minutes – Shane O’Callaghan putting over his 6th of the game, with Ronan Shanahan and Theo Diggin also on target.

It was good to see Theo back with the Seniors again – playing his first game since May 2012. And also good to see season debuts for Ciarán O’Connell, Alan Duggan and Paul Galvin.

All our two goals and fourteen points came from play.

Team: Pa Fitzgibbon, Barry Walsh, Shane Guthrie, John Dennis, Pa McCarthy, Ronan Shanahan (0-1), Seamus Bastible, William Kirby, Brían Mangan (0-1), Seán Ryan (0-1), Fiachna Mangan (Capt) (0-1), Ciarán O’Connell, Dale Counihan (1-2), Shane O’Callaghan (0-6), Alan Duggan (1-0).

Subs: Wayne Guthrie (ht) (0-1), Paul Galvin (ht), Theo Diggin (43m) (0-1), Alan Griffin (55m).

Rounds 3 – away to Mitchels is scheduled for next weekend with the possibility, as we write, of the game going ahead under lights on Friday night (6th March) instead of the Sunday (8th March) which was the original date. The 4th and final round – at home to O’Rahillys is fixed for Sunday (15th March).  Then on the Sunday after that (22nd March) the Co. League is due to commence with a home game against Waterville.

CONGRATULATIONS: to Kieran Donaghy who did his first stint as Kerry captain in yesterday’s NFL R3 game in Fitzgerald Stadium. And to come out on the winning side against a good Dublin outfit, even better. And to do it on his 32nd birthday, better still. Happy birthday Star.

MINOR FOOTBALL: The Town League game against Na Gaeil, due to take place last Saturday, had to be postponed for the second time due, on this occasion, to unplayable pitches. It has been refixed for Saturday, 21st March.

Before that we are due to play two more rounds of the Co. League. The first of these is in round 2 against Spa (East Kerry) on next Saturday (7th March) in Connolly Park at 4pm. And then on the following Saturday (14th March) we are due to travel to Dingle to play in round 3.

AOIFE FOR MUNSTER: Oifigeach Scór, Brian Caball, informs us that the Munster semi-finals of Senior Scór will be held on Saturday 21st March in Cappamore, Co. Limerick, and our Aoife Uí Dhonnchú is in full preparation with her ‘Sliabh Geal gCua’ and has high hopes of making her third Munster final.

HURLING: All in the Club, and in particular the Hurling Section, extend sincere sympathy to Club Hurler, Kieran McCaughley and family on the death of his father, Shell (see Sympathy Column).

HURLING TOURNAMENTS: County Hurling Officer, Ger McCarthy, informs us that the launch of the Garry Scollard/Todd Nolan/O’Connell Cup Tournaments will take place at the John Mitchels Complex on Friday, 20th March at 8.30pm.

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 (23rd Feb) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 9, 12, 25, 29.

The €20 Prizes went to Tom Tansley, c/o Club Rockies; Liam O’Connor and Ian Carroll, both c/o The Club; Kitty Healy, c/o Charlie Healy; and N & J Ashe, c/o The Bingo.

SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Val Murphy, Hertfordshrte, UK and late of St. Brendan’s Park; Sheila McMullan, Connolly Park and late of Mitchel’s Avenue; Richard Tolan, Cahermoneen and late of Skerries; and Shell McCaughley, Shanakill and late of Belfast (father of current Club Hurler, Kieran).

 

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