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PEIL FAOI 7: Last Sunday’s U7 session in the Mercy Mounthawk Gym went very well. Come along next Sunday at 10am to be part of next week’s fun. Beidh fáilte roimh gach éinne….everybody welcome. Hoping to see you all again next weekend! Na bainisteoirí/mentors/helpers: William Kirby, Kevin O’Leary, Amy Lucid, Martin Courtney, Joe Kinsella, St John Hegarty, Liam Walsh, Séamus Mac Gabhann.
PEIL FAOI 9: (i) Our U9 training took place at the Tralee CBS Astroturf Pitch on Sunday last.Brilliant football once again! We’ll be in action again next Sunday. (ii) The big news for this U8 group (and the U10 boys) is that we will travelling to Maynooth for their club tournament on April 22nd and (iii) we’ll also go on our usual annual trip to Kilmacud Crokes (BÁC). Excitement ahead!
PEIL FAOI 10: (i) Our U10 boys will take part in the Maynooth GAA Tournament on April 22nd. (ii) We expect to take a trip to Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes (BÁC) later.
ALL-STARS: Spring is here and the Austin Stack Club All-Stars were back in action when the first week of Football-For-All commenced on Sunday last (26th). We had a great turn out as faces old and new attended our session which was held in the CBS Primary School Hall, Cluain na Lobhar. Head coach, Richie Conway, put our young players through their paces as we began the new season with fitness games and ball skills. The atmosphere was electric with our young stars full of excitement and enthusiasm, showing that they are ready to build on last year’s success.
Thanks to our coaches and volunteers and ‘well done’ to all who participated. We will continue to train in CBS Primary School Hall for the next few weeks before we move outdoors. And, of course, newcomers are always welcome. So, boys, if you want to join us on Sunday next (5th March) at 3pm just come along as we continue our start to the new season! (Cathal Ó Sé)
PEIL FAOI 11: Last Sunday’s training/coaching went very well. A lot of really good football was played by these boys. We have some great players in this group! We still encourage every U11 boy in the greater Rock area to come along to The Green CBS Astroturf Pitch on Sunday next at11am. Under 11s at 11.00! Fáilte roimh chách!
PEIL FAOI 13: (i) Team Meeting: we had a great turnout of the 2023 playing squad, their parents and the coaching team. Pre-season activities were reviewed and planning for the season ahead was discussed. Topics covered included objectives for year ahead, code of behaviour, disciplinary policy, preparation for the season ahead, parental support, membership.
(ii) Two challenge games were played with Ballymac and Firies in the Bishop’s Field on Sunday last (26th). Refreshments and big screen sport were laid on in the clubhouse after the games for the players and their parents/guardians. Many thanks to Harry and Lisa for their assistance, to Shane Lynch and John Breen for having the grass cut, having the pitch lined and having rooms available for all the teams.
Thanks to the parents who looked after the refreshments after both games, washed both sets of jerseys, took the photos, wrote the match reports, umpired the games and kept the scores. Thanks to Billy Lacey for refereeing both games and a big thanks to the visiting Ballymac and Firies teams for two good sporting contests. A whole club effort from players, coaches, parents and the club itself ensured that enjoyable day was had by all.
(iii) AdeS v Ballymac (report by Ed O’Regan): The lads had a great run out against a strong Ballymac side. The game was played in thirds and in the first period our boys started slowly as they played against a stiff breeze. Ballymac built up a good lead but as the first period progressed our lads grew into the game and were unlucky not to score a goal. With the breeze behind them in the 2nd period they started to take control, playing great free-flowing football, and picked got two goals.
Ballymac, however, never wilted and picked off some points to leave the score finely balanced at 2-5 apiece going into the final period. Even though our lads were playing against the breeze in the final period they took control of the game, scoring the crucial goals to leave the final score at 5-7 to 2-7 in favour of The Rock.
All players in the squad played their part. Thanks to Ballymac for travelling and playing their part in an excellent game of football that will be of great benefit to both sides as all prepare for the upcoming season.
(iv) AdeS v Firies: A keenly contested battle went right to the wire but the visitors shaded it on a score of 1-10 to 2-12. The opening quarter set the tone for the hour and there was very little between the teams as the players got used to the conditions. An athletic Firies midfield paring ensured that the visitors countered the strong wind helping The Rock boys and they led by two points…1-1 to 0-2…at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was again nip and tuck with The Rock coming to grips around the middle third; they should have scored more than the three points but it was the visitors who got the rub of the green and scored a fortuitous second goal to lead at half time…2-5 to 0-5.
Our lads faced an uphill battle in the 2nd half against a strong breeze; they took the fight to Firies and showed great character in keeping in touch and indeed were very unlucky not to gain parity.
Going into the final quarter the score was 2-5 to 0-7 in Firies’ favour. The final quarter was again very close and, just when as it seemed that The Rock would reel in Firies, the visitors, aided by the breeze, kept their noses in front with some fine long range points. An hour of chasing the game caught up with the Rock St boys, particularly those who were also involved in the first game, and Fires had five points to spare in the end.
(v) The Rock U13 panel: David Ahern, Blake Bowler, Shane Carey, Eliot Calleja, Gearóid Corcoran, Tom Dawson, Mark Foley, Albi Gaxha, Conor Hanafin, Diarmuid Hennessy, Oisín Horan, Luke Kavanagh, Séamus Keenan, Billy Kirby, Danny Lane, Harry Maguire, Zac Moore, Darragh Moriarty, Conor Murphy, Matthew Murphy, Jayden O’Dowd, Ryan O’Flaherty, Joe O’Halloran, Oran O’Regan, Tadhg O’Regan, Noah Reidy, Mark Riordan, Liam Swords, Ediart Topali. (vi) Training: Tuesday 28thFebruary from 5pm to 6pm in Connolly Park and Friday 3rd March from 7pm to 8pm in MTU North Campus. (vii) Tralee/St Brendans Board U13 League fixtures as follows: DIVISION 1….Sunday (5th March) at 4pm….AdeS v Ardfert; Sunday (12th March) at 4pm….Na Gaeil v AdeS; Sunday (19th March) at 4pm….Na Mistéalaigh v AdeS. DIVISION 3….Sunday (5th March) at 4pm….Ardfert B v AdeS B; Sunday (12th March) at 4pm, AdeS B v Na Gaeil B; Sunday (19th March) at 4pm, AdeS B v Na Mistéalaigh B. (Dan Ahern)
CÚL CAMPS: (i) Our club will host a Kerry Cúl Camp (football) in Connolly Park in July (3rd~7th). (ii) A hurling camp will take place in Tralee in August (7th~11th).
IRELAND LIGHTS UP ~ CLUB WALK: A new initiative, under the patronage of Irish Life, will commence on March 1st. It will continue for a month during which time people will be encouraged to reach a daily target of 10,000 steps….deich míle coiscéim! People with a high standard/rating will be entered in a worthwhile draw for holiday vouchers. More details later.
FAOI 15: (i) Training continued during the week and there was good attendance by the boys; so, well done, boys, and let’s keep up the work in preparation for the season ahead. (ii) Training continues this week; keep an eye out for the group messages. (iii) Congratulations to U15 coach, Frankie Murphy, on the birth of his daughter on Saturday. (iv) We can’t wait for the Nemo Rangers Tournament (in Cork) in March. (Ger Hobbert)
FAOI 17: ‘Well done’ to our U17 lads v Laune Rangers in the County League. Games still to be played v Killarney Legion, Keel/Listry (4th March), Kenmare Shamrocks (11th March) agus An Ghaeltacht (18ú Márta). Our lads: Steven Conway; James Fisher, Pádraig O’Halloran, Tomás Ó Conaill; Alex Touhy, Seán Heaslip, Ciarán Kavanagh; David Lucid, Fionnán Ryan; Jack Barrett, Tomás Deregee, Liam Ó Conaill; Cormac Bastible, Oiliver Lata, Ryan McMahon; Rory Lynch, Jake O’Connor, Bao Foley; Barry Nagle, Rory Ó Loinsigh, Gavin Ó Cathasaigh, Donnacha Horgan, Jack Barrett, Cormac Bastible, Oliver Lata, Ryan McMahon, Max Maszorek.
SCÓR na nÓG: Competitions in Scór na nÓg ’23: a four-person table quiz team, a grúpa ceoil, solo singing, a five-person (boys or girls) ballad group, a figure dance, a set, a recitation/dán/scéal.Any club member under 17 years of age on 1st January 2023 is eligible to participate in Scór na nÓg.
If interested, please contact Carmel O’Neill immediately. Eolas: Tralee District Board must have its competitions finished by March 12th and successful candidates will go forward to the county finals on Saturday March 25th at 6pm in Currow.
The Munster finals will take place on April 6th and the venue has yet to be confirmed. The All-Ireland finals will be held on Saturday April 15thin the Gleneagle National Events Centre i gCill Airne. Seans mór do dhaoine óga le bua an cheoil, na hamhránaíochta, na haisteoireachta nó an rince!
SCÓR na bPÁISTÍ: This is for primary school pupils who’ll perform in the name of the club. Eolas: A Tralee area competition will be held and the Tralee qualifiers will proceed to the county semi-finals on the weekend of 14th/15th/16th April.
The county final will take place on Sunday April 30th.Competitions: a four-person table quiz team, a grúpa ceoil, solo singing, a five-person (boys or girls) ballad group, a figure dance, a set, a recitation/dán/scéal and, for this year only and on a trial basis, two new categories will be added to Scór na bPáistí (only!), namely, solo music (one tune only) and solo dancing (3 minutes). Will you have a go? Why not? Bheadh sé go hiontach dá mbeadh baill dár gclub páirteach!
2023 AUSTIN STACK CLUB MEMBERSHIP: Please, (i) purchase on line via your Club Foireann account or (ii) pay on line via Clubforce (see austinstacks.ie for link) or (iii) sign up for a monthly DD payment or (iv) pay by cash. Club contact/registrar: Bernie Mannix (086 0767415).
CLOTHES ~ ATHCHÚRSÁIL: Mórbhuíochas ó chroí le gach éinne a thug tacaíocht don fhiontar fiúntach seo.
OUR CLUB LOTTO: (i) Meabhrúchán: we remind all Rock supporters once again to support the Rock Street Post Office club lotto competition. If The Rock wins the ‘competition,’ our club lottery tickets will be for sale in Rock Street Post Office for the next 3 years. This would greatly help our growing club.
Club supporters need only ask for a token for each transaction completed at the post office…but one must ask…between now and Friday 31st March (less than 4 weeks left)! One puts the token into the Austin Stack Club collection bucket in the post office. By the end of March all the tokens will be counted and the club with the most tokens will be deemed the winner.
Tokens can be requested for the following transactions: €4 tv licence saving stamps, registered letters, parcel postage, bill payments, phone top-ups, phone sales, dog licences, foreign exchange dealings, bank lodgements and withdrawals. (A single postage stamp doesn’t count as a transaction).Please support your club.
Thanks to all who support and/or promote the club lotto: (i) O’Flynn Interiors (Malachy Nagle), Lower Rock Street, (ii) The Brogue Inn, Lower Rock Street, (iii) Husseys’ Deli, Prince’s Quay, (iv) Carmel O’Neill and others, (v) Barrys’ Supermarket, Upper Rock Street, (vi) Paudie Commane’s Bookshop, Rock Street, (vii) The Burger Shack, Monavalley, (viii)www.austinstacks.ie (ix) and/or on https://play.clubforce.com/play_newa.asp?ll_id=X529#Anchor
CLUB SHOP: Official Austin Stack Club merchandise – available to order on www.oneills.com
AN RAIBH ‘FHIOS AGAT? Appearances in National Football League finals: Kerry…30; Dublin…28; Mayo…20; Cork…14; Meath…13; Derry…12; Galway…10; Down…8. We’re still the best!
SINSIR CHIARRAÍ: (i) ‘Well done’ to our county footballers v Ard Mhacha Dé Sathairn seo caite. (ii) Sympathies to our county hurlers v Uíbh Fhailí….1-18 to 0-22.
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