Austin Stacks GAA Club News

Posted by

STRICTLY COME DANCING – Festival Dome – this Saturday night (27th Aug) – Tickets now on Sale

Ticket News The hottest tickets in town are on sale now Tickets are available from Garvey’s Supervalu, Kevin Barry’s shop, Rock Street, O’Connell’s Pharmacy, St.Brendan’s Park & The Clubhouse at Connolly Park. Get your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

Stacks Strictly 2016 1

The participants in the Austin Stacks Strictly Come Dancing pictured earlier this month.

SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-19; John Mitchels 1-6.

Officially, according to the meteorology definition of the seasons, it’s still summer until the end of this month, but in Austin Stack Park on last Saturday evening (20th Aug) it felt more like winter. A gale force wind and driving rain made conditions difficult for this Town League Final but it didn’t stop our lads from registering their biggest win since May 2015 (see Footnote below), their highest score of the year, so far, and capturing the John Kissane Memorial Cup for the 3rd season in a row.

We played with the aid of that howling gale in the first half and led by 13 points to one at half time. Our points scoring was absolutely superb, all but two of them from play, and many coming from long distance. Also, most of the scores came from patient build-ups from our full back line. David Mannix (4 – 2 from frees), Jack Morgan (2), Fiachna Mangan (2), Darragh O’Brien (2), Shane O’Callaghan (2) and one from Shane Guthrie were our first half scorers.

It was obvious that Mitchels, now playing with the aid of the elements, would come more into the game in the second period. But we matched them stride for stride and added a further 2-6 in this half to 1-5 for the opposition. David Mannix with three (two from frees), and one each from David O’Sullivan, Pa McCarthy and Wayne Guthrie were our point scorers, with our two goals coming in the closing five minutes – a blaster from an acute angle by David O’Sullivan and the second tucked away beautifully by Jack Morgan.

Team Captain, Wayne Guthrie, in the presence of the Town Board Chairman, Pat McAuliffe, was presented with the Cup by Seán Kissane in memory of his late father, John.

It was good of Wayne, in his speech, to urge his fellow players to stay off the booze during the Festival. Afterwards however some malicious people said that he himself was the first to be seen walking into the Greyhound Bar after the Match, but we can confirm that his only purpose was to relay the result of the game to Aidan O’Connor (no lads, he couldn’t have sent a text as he had mislaid his phone).

Team: Darragh O’Brien, Ronan Shanahan, Conor Jordan, Seán Ryan , Pa McCarthy (0-1), Fearghal MacNamara, Jack Morgan (1-2), Wayne Guthrie (Capt) (0-1), Shane Guthrie (0-1), Fiachna Mangan (0-2), Shane O’Callaghan (0-2), Jack O’Shea, David Mannix (0-7 – 4 frees), David O’Sullivan (1-1), Darragh O’Brien (0-2).

Sub used: Daniel Bohan (42m), Ciarán O’Connell (54m), Michael Collins (54m), Denis O’Neill (57m), Barry Walsh (57m), Seán Dukes (58m).

FOOTNOTE: The last time our winning margin was higher was some 36 games ago, the postponed round 1 Co. League game played in Connolly Park on the 2nd May 2015. The winning margin that day, against Waterville, was 20 points (3-15 to 0-4).

GOOD LUCK: to Ferdia O’Brien and Kieran Donaghy and their Kerry colleagues as they take on Kildare and Dublin in their respective All Ireland semi finals in Croke Park on next Sunday (28th Aug). And even though they just came up short to Mayo last Sunday let us congratulate Liam Kearns and his Tipperary footballing stars on a brilliant season, taking them to where no one has taken them in the last 81 years.

SENIOR HURLING: Austin Stacks 3-13; Kenmare 0-8.

Our Hurlers won the first silverware of the season with a brilliant display against a determined Kenmare side at a damp Connolly Park on last Wednesday evening (17th Aug). While it stayed dry during the game, the earlier afternoon drizzle really didn’t affect the play as we thought it might.

Two early points from Colm Ó Giollagáin and one from Kerry Minor Hurler, Ciarán Breen saw us ahead by 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes.

But a lay-off of 47 days since our last competitive outing made us look a little ring-rusty in the opening quarter and Kenmare, with five unanswered points, led by 0-6 to 0-3 after 20 minutes.

However once we got into the rhythm of things we began to dominate and in the closing ten minutes of the half we outscored the visitors by 1-4 to 0-1, which left us a goal ahead at the break (1-7 to 0-7). Three points from Colm (two from frees – one from a massive 80 meters) and a lovely effort from an acute angle by Ciarán Breen after a perfect pass from Johnny Downey, were our point scorers. Our goal came from a Paul Daly pass which found Ronan Gilsenan and Pip rounded his man beautifully to slash to the net.

We continued our dominance in the second half, holding the opposition to just one more point while adding a further 2-6 to our first half total. Kenmare, on another day, could have breached our defence on at least four occasions.  But Michael O’Leary was outstanding in goals, with his front men coming to the rescue also on a number of occasions, especially Kevin O’Leary, Peter O’Regan and Andrew Morrissey, saving certain goals.

Our two second half goals came from Colm Ó Giollagáin (who also added two more points from play) and Seán Hartnett with our other four points also coming from Kieran McCaughley, Ciarán Breen, Robert Byrne and from a last minute 65 by Paul Daly.

Andrew Foley, Ian Moynihan and Killian O’Riordan also performed well throughout and it was also good to see both Eddie Barry and Seán King making their first appearances of the season.

After the game team captain Andrew Foley was presented with South Kerry SH League Cup. As well as being the South Kerry SH League Final the game also doubled up as the South Kerry SH Championship semi final.

Team; Michael O’Leary, Kevin O’Leary, Peter O’Regan, Eddie Barry, Ian Moynihan, Paul Daly (0-1 – 65), Andrew Morrissey, Ciarán Breen (0-3), Robert Byrne (0-1), Andrew Foley (Capt), Killian O’Riordan, Johnny Downey, Ronan Gilsenan (1-0), Seán Hartnett (1-0), Colm Ó Giollagáin (1-7 – 2 frees).

Subs used: Kieran McCaughley (20m) (0-1), James Smullen (55m), Seán King (55m), Tadhg Meehan (57m).

So now our Hurlers are about to contest three more finals in the space of the next few weeks – the South Kerry SH Championship Final, the South Kerry JH Championship Final (confined to our second 15 players) and finally the Co. League (Div 3) Final. As we write no dates have been fixed for these games. Keep in touch with Club Website for updates.

Footnote: We all know the exceptional contributions made by players in every Club throughout the country. An example of this was witnessed in Connolly Park on last evening by one of the great veterans of Kenmare Hurling, Gerald O’Sullivan-Morgan. Gerald played the full 60  minutes in this game – nothing unusual about that –  except for the fact that, earlier in the day, he severely injured his right arm in an accident on his family farm, but still came up to Tralee to help out his Club in a District Final.

B FOOTBALL: We are due to travel to Killarney on this Thursday evening (25th Aug) to play Dr. Crokes at Lewis Road on the semi final of this season’s Co. Championship (The Molyneaux Cup).  We were due to play Na Gaeil on Monday evening (22nd Aug) in the semi final of the Town League. Check Website for details.

We also await a date for our postponed round 10 Co. League game, away to Ballyduff.

MINOR FOOTBALL: Also on Thursday evening (25th Aug) our Minors are due to play Kerins O’Rahillys in the 4th and final round of the Central League. To date we have had wins in our previous three games –  against Dingle (1-14 to 1-9), Laune Rangers (3-12 to 0-9) and Na Gaeil (a walk-over).

THE CROKE PARK HALL OF FAME: as many will remember, was originally initiated in February 2013 with the induction of a group 16 Footballers and 16 Hurlers. The 16 Footballers included 6 from Kerry – Dan O’Keeffe, Joe Keohane, Seán Murphy, Mick O’Connell, Pat Spillane and, of course, our own Mikey Sheehy.

Since then five more have been added to the list, including two from Kerry – Mick O’Dwyer in April 2014and the latest, last Thursday (18th Aug), our own John O’Keeffe. Congrats Johnno.

CONGRATULATIONS: to two former Club Footballers who got married recently. Rickey Moloney married  Catherine Walsh and Billy Dennehy (currently, along with his brother Darren, playing League of Ireland Football with St. Patrick’s Athletic) tied the knot with Rose O’Sullivan last week.

Also last week current Club Hurler, Peter Bella Doyle married Carmel Moynihan. We wish every health and happiness to all three couples.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: to current Co. Board Delegate, Eddie Barrett, who celebrated a significant birthday last weekend.

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 (15th August) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 3, 6, 12,  29.

The €20 Winners were: Brian Collins, c/o Martin Collins; Pat Cleary, c/o The Club; Fr. Seán Hannafin, c/o Club Rockies; Fionn O’Regan, c/o Brendan O’Regan; and Kitty Healy, c/o Richard Healy

SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Jed Myers, Clonmore Terrace, Ballymullen; Anne Moriarty (nee Crowley), The Kerries and late of Bandon; and Sr. Mary Jo (Alban) Kenny OP, Dominican Sisters, Our Lady of Fatima Convent, Oakpark and late of Ballina.

Comments are closed.

image