Austin Stacks GAA Club News

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CLUB SHOP:  Austin Stacks Club Shop will be open for one night only this Thursday (Dec 8th) at the Clubrooms Connolly Park from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Pick up the perfect Christmas gift for the Rockie in your life – plenty to choose from and great bargains on offer.

STEPHEN STACK: While the rumours were floating around over the past week or so, very few were certain as to what might happen until Elma’s text arrived late last Wednesday night (30th Nov) informing us that, after four brilliant years, Stephen Stack was stepping down as SF Team Manager and advising us to go to the Club Website for the official Press Release, which contained Club Chairman, Liam Lynch’s well-deserved tribute.

Stephen first came to the notice of the wider Kerry GAA fraternity when he was a member of the Kerry Minor team in 1984.

The following year he made his Kerry SF debut in a NFL game in Castleblayney against Monaghan and the year after made his Championship debut in Clonmel, against Tipperary. Later that year (1986) he was on the Kerry panel, winning the first of his 2 All Ireland Medals.

Then came Kerry’s barren years but Stephen was still there 11 years later (in fact he was the only one of the 1986 panel to survive to 1997) to win his 2nd medal. The following year he stepped down from the Kerry scene.

When he took over the reins of the Rock SFs at the start of the 2013 season he was inheriting a very solid base left by Wayne Quillinan. But season by season Stephen added to and strengthened the system.

From the start he brought two stalwarts, with years of experience, on his Management team – John Joe Sugrue and Paul Lucey.

He also brought Pa Laide on board in 2013 and in the following years supplemented it with men like Ciarán McCabe, John Walsh, William Kirby, Micheál Dillon and Tommy Naughton.

And then this year he added two more whose credentials could not be surpassed, Billy Lee and Pat Flanagan. Behind the scenes then he had people like Ger Mannix, John Tobin, Timmy Sheehan, Paudie McQuinn and Fionán Hallinan.

Few would question that he is the Club’s most successful Manager, at least in modern times. Trophies won in his four year stint will confirm that.

We won 3 Town Leagues; 2 Town Championships; 1 Co. League (Runners up in 3 more); 1 Club Championship; 1 Co. Championship (runners up in one more); and finally a Munster title. The only title that failed us was the All Ireland Club Championship.

He presided over 99 competitive games in those four seasons – winning 70 and drawing 8 – that’s a 75% success rate.

So a huge thank you Stephen for a great four years and any Club or County team that will get you in the future will be fortunate indeed.

END OF YEAR SUMMARY: With the Hurling and Senior Football already completed next week we will do a summary of B Football and the week after we will conclude with the U21F and Minor Football.

WELL DONE: to Glenbeigh-Glencar on their big win over Gabriel Rangers (Cork) (2-16 to 0-10) in the Munster Club JF Final last Sunday (4th Dec) to add to the Provincial titles won the previous the week by Dr. Crokes and Kenmare Shamrocks.

CONGRATULATIONS: to Club Member, James O’Connor, who always had dual GAA membership, being also a member of the Ballyheigue Hurling Club. James was recently bestowed with The Hall of Fame Award by the North Kerry Hurling Board. Well deserved James.

BINGO: continues in our Clubhouse, Connolly Park, on this and every Saturday night, commencing at 8.30pm.

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 (21st Nov) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 5, 17, 21. The €20 winners were: John O’Riordan c/o Club Rockies; Denis O’Connor, c/o The Club; Earl McMahon, c/o Carmel O’Neill; and Siobhán Power and Jackie Power, both c/o The Ladies.

SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Nora Leahy (nee Mulvihill), Ashgrove, Ballyvelly and late of Ballygologue, Listowel; John Moriarty, Stacks Villas and late of Glenbeigh; Sheila O’Keeffe (nee Fahy), Racecourse Lawn and late of Ballinasloe; and Lizzie McGowan who passed  away in her native Mayo (Claggan, Ballycroy) on Saturday night (3rd Dec). Lizzie celebrated her 104th birthday just two months ago and was an ardent follower of the Rock Club always enquiring about the latest news and results. She was grandmother of our own Kevin O’Carroll (former Club player and, most recently, a winning C Team Manager in 2011).

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