CLUB AGM: Yesterday’s (14th Dec) AGM was conducted in double-quick time. Members present observed a moment of silence at the start in memory of all those associated with the Club who died during the year.
With the Bishop Moynihan and Munster Cups on display the meeting was excellently conducted by Vice Chairman, Liam Lynch in just 50 minutes (12.40 to 1.30pm ).
Chairman, Aidan O’Connor’s concise address to the meeting covered all aspects of Club activity during the year culminating in the outstanding success by the Senior Footballers at the beginning and end of November. He thanked everyone – Teams, Mentors, Club Officials & Workers, Fundraisers, Sponsors and Supporters for their input and wished everyone continued success in 2015.
Club Secretary, Elma Nix went through her excellently produced Report which gave detail to every item of Club Activity during 2014 and Treasurer, Michael Kenny did likewise with his Financial Report, thanking his Co-Treasurer, Bernie Mannix for her contribution in bringing the Club Finances to such a healthy state at year’s end. Michael also paid tribute to Liam Lynch for his outstanding contribution to the Club during the season , including his spearheading of the Field development.
Finally Elma Nix, who is also the Administrator of the Club’s Website, was complimented for having one of the best GAA Websites in the country always up to date with Reports and relevant information.
Almost all the outgoing members of the Executive were returned unopposed. A vacancy for Assistant Secretary was filled by the welcome return of former Runaí, Catherine Ryan and the Club Registrar’s position filled by Bernie Mannix who also retains her Treasurer post.
BRIAN CODY VISIT: There was a large gathering at Connolly Park on Friday evening for Brian Cody’s visit to Tralee. The Kilkenny manager was accompanied by Dr. Tadhg Crowley (son of former Club Treasurer, Secterary of the Kerry Co. Board and Treasurer of the Munster Council, the late Tadhg) Team Doctor for the Kilkenny Hurling team.
Club Chairman, Aidan O’Connor, welcomed Brian and presented him with honorary life membership of the Austin Stacks Hurling and Football Club. Both Brian and Tadgh were also presented with club jumpers.
Brian was very gracious in giving his time for autographs and photos before he adjourned to the club function room, where he gave an excellent motivational speech to the senior football team and mentors.
Thanks to Adrienne McLoughlin for the above report. For photos click here…
REVIEW OF THE 2014 SEASON: Over the course of the next 3 weeks we will do a short summary in relation to the 5 teams covered in the Adult Notes. This week we cover Hurling and Junior Football. The Notes of 22nd Dec will deal with U21 and Minor Football while on the 29th Dec will cover Senior Football.
SENIOR HURLING: Our Hurlers got their season off to a competitive start on Monday, 28th April but before that they suffered real trauma with the death of their playing colleague, Trevor Barrett. Trevor had taken suddenly ill at the beginning of April and unfortunately died on Easter Sunday, 20th April at the young age of 29.
Everything the Hurlers did during the year had Trevor in mind, culminating in the very successful Trevor Barrett Tournament which took place on Saturday, 2nd August. The Cup Section of the Tournament was, appropriately, won by Causeway (Trevor’s family connections are in Causeway) with the Shield Section won by Lismire. In all, five teams participated with Laochra Óg and St. Pats (East Kerry) also taking part.
At competitive level we took part in six competitions – 2 at County level, 1 in the North Kerry Board and three in the South Kerry Board. In County we took part in League (Div 3) and in the Intermediate Championship. In North Kerry we were in the Intermediate League and in South Kerry we took part in the JH League, the JH Championship and the Novice Championship, winning the latter two.
Of the 12 competitive games played we won 4, drew 4 and lost 4. In all 31 players lined out during the year with Shane Fitzgerald, Seán King, Andrew Morrissey and Peter O’Regan playing in all 12 games.
Paul Daly was scorer-in-chief, both from placed balls (0-42) and from play (5-10) with the following next in line from play, John McCarthy (2-14), Peter Doyle (3-9), Joe Brennan (2-11), Ronan Gilsenan (1-13) and Danny Maguire (1-11).
Special thanks to team mentors, Mark Power and Ger Scollard for their time and commitment, ably assisted on occasions during the year by Brian Shanahan.
JUNIOR B FOOTBALL: Our B team, under the guidance of Tim McMahon, Colm Mangan and John O’Sullivan, had a reasonably successful season. They took part in three competitions, winning one (The Tralee Town League), reaching the final of another (Co. League) and bowing out at the semi final stage of the third (Co. Championship – The Molyneaux Cup).
In all they played 18 games, scoring a whopping 38 goals and 215 points – winning 10 drawing 4 and loosing 4. Darren Tiernan was by far the scorer-in-chief with at least 12-30 to his credit (Scoring stats not available for two games due to a clash of fixtures) And that figure excludes the hat-trick he scored for the Seniors in their last game of the season just over a week ago. Second in line was Eamon McAllen (5-13) with Darragh Long in 3rd spot with 4-10.
Forty nine lined out with the Bs during the season and it provided some very valuable game time for a number of players who later went on to contribute much to the Senior team’s success in the latter part of the year.
2014 – A ROCKUMENTARY: Our thanks to Club Secretary, Elma Nix who sent the following Report -Lights, Camera, Action . . . ‘A Rockumentary’ – Rory Kirby’s brilliant documentary of how Austin Stacks regained the Co. Championship and Munster championship and much much more was premiered on the big screen at Siamsa Tire last Wednesday night in front of a sell-out audience. This was the first event of it’s kind by the club and it was everyone agreed a wonderful success.
The evening opened with a welcome address from Club Chairman Aidan O’Connor and then the lights dimmed and the audience was treated to an epic 90 minutes of film. This Rockumentary – covers all aspects of the Austin Stacks year – detailing the personal commitment of the players, an insight into the management philosophy, messages of support from past players and supporters, an opportunity to share in the banter between the players & an attempt to explain the mindset of a Super Rockie Supporter.
One common denominator runs through the documentary and that is the startling love of “The Rock” shared by one and all. There was some teary moments thrown in for good measure but the overall emotion was one of absolute joy for the achievements of this wonderful team. Rory fittingly received a standing ovation for his excellent production at the end of the screening.
Copies of the double DVD also featuring Co. Championship Final Replay Win V Mid Kerry are now on sale for €20 from the Clubhouse, Garvey’s Supervalu, Barry’s Rock St., Terry’s Butchers & O’Connell’s Pharmacy. It’s sure to be a collector’s item so get your copy while they last.
CONGRATULATIONS: Just over 130 years after the establishment of the GAA (in November 1884), the first woman has been elected Chairwoman of a County Committee with Róisín Jordan assuming the post in Co. Tyrone. And in Cork Tracey Kennedy becomes the first woman to assume the Vice Chair position of the Cork Co. Board. Congratulations to Róisín and Tracey.
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.
All at the Cards were saddened to learn of the death last week of Christy Hurley who was a regular card player every Monday and Thursday until ill health in recent times prevented him from attending (see sympathy).
LOTTO: Last Monday’s (8th Dec) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 11, 15, 17, 20.
The €20 Prizes went to Tom Leonard and Kevin Lynch, both c/o The Club; Tom Healy and Neil O’Shea, both c/o Charlie Healy; and Anne Hutchinson, c/o The Bingo.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Christy Hurley, St. Brendan’s Park (see Cards); Noreen Bentley (nee Doran), Balloonagh Estate; Michael O’Connor, St. Anne’s Bungalows and late of Connolly Park; Dermot Quinn, Oakview; Laura Hussey (nee O’Brien, Listellick North and late of The Spa (daughter of John and Martina and first cousin of current Club Footballer, Darragh O’Brien); Irene Hobbert (nee Reidy), Mountain Close, Balloonagh Estate; and Michael Madden, Railway Terrace and late of Dundrum (Co. Dublin).