SENIOR FOOTBALL

Austin Stacks 0-15; Ballincollig 1-9.

After a hard fought game in Austin Stack Park on Sunday afternoon (16th Nov), which had to go to extra time, we qualified for our 4th Munster Club Final in total and our first since December 1976 with three points to spare after an energy-sapping encounter.

We had two half chances early on but it was the Cork boys who settled best and led by 1-2 to no score after eight minutes. Our first score came in the 14th minute when Shane Carroll converted a free after a foul on Kieran Donaghy. By the 20th minute we found ourselves six points down (1-4 to 0-1).

But we then took the game by the scruff of the neck and in a five minute spell (21st to 26th) had put over five brilliant points, all from play, one each from Greg Horan, Pa McCarthy and Shane O’Callaghan and two from David Mannix, to leave us one adrift at half time (1-4 to 0-6).

Two minutes into the second half we suffered a blow when Ronan Shanahan, who had a very good first half,  had to be replaced following an injury, but John Dennis did well when introduced.

Two more pointed frees by Shane Carroll after five minutes of the restart put us in the lead for the first time, but a point by the visitors two minutes later saw the sides level again.

Then we went two up again after 48 minutes with Greg Horan and Denis McElligott on target. Ballincollig got one back again two minutes later and then they brought the game to extra time when they leveled deep in added time. (0-10 to 1-7).

Not for the first time this season out greater commitment and level of fitness paid dividends in extra time. By half time we had kept the opposition scoreless while we added three points ourselves – a Darragh Long free and two from play by Pa McCarthy and David Mannix.

In the second half of extra time both sides scored two each  – our two coming from a punched effort by Star and another pointed free by Darragh Long.

Greg Horan won the TG4 Man of the Match Award.

Team: Darragh O’Brien. Conor Jordan, Ronan Shanahan, Barry Shanahan (Capt), Pa McCarthy (0-2), Fearghal MacNamara, Denis McElligott (0-1), Wayne Guthrie, Greg Horan (0-2), Mikey Collins, Shane Carroll (0-3 frees), Daniel Bohan, David Mannix (0-3), Kieran Donaghy (0-1), Shane O’Callaghan (0-1).

Subs used: Fiachna Mangan (ht), John Dennis (32m), Darragh Long (52m) (0-2 – 1 free), Ciarán O’Connell (53m), William Kirby (59m).

The Final against The Nire is fixed for Sunday week (30th Nov) at Pairc Ui Rinn in Cork city.

JUNIOR B FOOTBALL: Legion 3-12; Austin Stacks 0-7.

Legion were deserving winners of the Co. League Trophy after this Co. Final replay at Caherslee on last Saturday afternoon (15th Nov).

We began well and after 20 minutes both sides shared the spoils on three points each. Then a minute later we gifted the opposition an easy turn-over and they took full advantage by bursting through to score the first of their three goals. We never really recovered from that and Legion added a further three points, to one for us, before half time to leave the Killarney boys five up at the break (1-6 to 0-4). Darren Tiernan, with two from frees, and Seán Purcell and Calvin Foley with one each from play were our scorers in this half.

All our three second half points came from the boot of Darren (two frees) while the visitors scored a further 2-6 to give them a comprehensive 14 points victory at the end.

We had to play without our strongest starting 15 for a variety of reasons and it didn’t help when wing back, Paul Barrett had to retire with a shoulder injury after just 8 minutes. Likewise we lost goalkeeper, Paddy Fitzgibbon and Seán Purcell late in the game to injury also. We wish all three a speedy recovery. Neither did it help to have a gap of nine weeks between the drawn game and the replay.

However, Team Mentors Tim McMahon, Colm Mangan and John O’Sullivan can feel pleased with their progress with the team reaching a League final and the semi final of the Co. Championship and in the process making a significant contribution to the success of our Senior team this season – eight of the 26 players who have played Senior Championship football all this season played at one stage or another with the B team during the year.

Team: Patrick Fitzgibbon, Paul Galvin, Eoghan McKivergan, Nicholas Gogarty, Seamus Bastible, Jack O’Shea, Paul Barrett, Alan Duggan, Seán Purcell (0-1), Dale Counihan, Eoin Colgan (Capt), Calvin Foley (0-1), David O’Sullivan, Darren Tiernan (0-5 – 4 frees), Eamon McAllen.

Subs: Tom McLoughlin (8m), Shane Crowley (22m), Niall Carroll-Cane (39m), Seán Dukes (42m), Ciarán Flanagan (50m), Breandán Caball (53m).

We now have one more game to play and that’s the final of the Town League against Na Gaeil which is due to be played in Killeen on next Sunday (23rd Nov) at 12 noon.

ANNUAL MASS

A reminder that our annual November Mass for Deceased Members will take place at Our Lady & St. Brendan’s Church on next Saturday November 22nd at 6.30pm.  All are welcome to attend including we hope many of our juvenile members.  Please wear your club colours for this very special service of remembrance.

CHURCH GATE COLLECTION

The annual church gate collection will be taken up at all masses on this weekend (Nov 22/23).

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 at 9.30pm.

LOTTO: Last Monday’s (10th Nov) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 2, 23, 24, 27.

The €20 Prizes went to Brian Tess, c/o Charlie Healy; Pat Costelloe and Peggy King, both c/o The Club; and Paudie McQuinn and John Collins both c/o Club Rockies.

SYMPATHY

Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Seamus Murphy (who died in England and late of Tralee – brother of JJ – current Club Vice President); Patrick Kirby, Racecourse Lawn and late of Chicago and Ballyduff; Willie Ryle, The Spa and late of Racecourse Road and Castle Street (grandfather of current Club Footballer, Louis); Thomas Woods, Ashgrove; Agatha Scannell (nee McGovern), St. Brendan’s Park and late of Dowra (Co. Cavan); and Mary O’Connor, Laurel Court and late of Kilmaniheen.