ST. PATICK’S DAY PARADE: Club Secretary, Elma Nix and John Collins of our Supporters’Club advise us that we are marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Tuesday next.

We meet in the clubhouse at 11:00am and then march to our dedicated slot for the start of the Parade. Full Black & Amber Colours, fancy dress, drums, flags please. Players and Trophies on show also.

Returning to the Clubhouse afterwards for complimentary food which will include bacon and cabbage,  stew and drinks promotion. Kiddie’s cinema in the hall with free popcorn and finger food.

There will be a re-showing of Rory Kirby’s award-winning Rockumentary followed by Supporter’s party with spot prizes galore. Music by DJ Francie Breen. The All Ireland Senior Club Hurling and Football Finals will be shown on the Big Screen also. Everyone welcome.

SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 3-10; John Mitchels 0-7.

Our Seniors had another good win in this 3rd round game of the Town League, away to Mitchels, on last Sunday (8th March).

Playing with the aid of a strong wind we were five points to one up after 20m with Darragh O’Brien on target four times (one from a free) and Shane Carroll scoring the fifth.

The first of our three goals came in the 24th minute when a perfect ball from Barry Shanahan found Seán Ryan and Seán burst his way through f or a great goal. Shane Carroll added another point before the break to leave us ahead at half time by 1-6 to 0-3.

Four minutes after the resumption Mitchels, with two good points, had reduced the deficit to four.

But, with midfielders Barry and Brían doing well in the centre and Wayne Guthrie fetching some great ball also, we stepped up the pace again, and in a ten minute spell (35th to the 45thminutes)  had put the game out of reach of the home side as we scored a further 2-2 without reply.

Our two goals came from the aforementioned Wayne and Darragh O’Brien with Darragh also pointing, as well as Seán Ryan.

The final quarter yielded two points to each side – our two coming from Brían Mangan and, almost inevitably, from wing back, Pa McCarthy.

One player who is catching the eye a lot since his long-awaited return a few weeks ago is Shane Guthrie and he gave another Man of the Match performance last Sunday.

Team: Pa Fitzgibbon, Ronan Shanahan, Shane Guthrie, John Dennis, Pa McCarthy (0-1), Fearghal MacNamara, Seamus Bastible, Barry Shanahan, Brían Mangan (0-1), Wayne Guthrie (Capt) (1-0), Seán Ryan (1-1), Eoin Colgan, Dale Counihan, Shane Carroll (0-2), Darragh O’Brien (1-5 – 2 frees).

Subs: Denis McElligott (ht), Ciarán O’Connell (38m), Eoghan McKivergan (40m), Alan Duggan (42m), Barry Walsh (48m), Paul Galvin (53m).

The 4th and final round – at home to O’Rahillys – is fixed for next Sunday (15th March) and, depending on other results, this could possibly double up as the League Final also.

BEST WISHES: All in the Club extend best wishes to Club Footballer, Paul Barrett who underwent a shoulder operation in Dublin last weekend. We all wish you a full and speedy recovery Paul and look forward to your return to the squad as soon as possible.

MINOR FOOTBALL: Spa 2-10; Austin Stacks 1-12.

We can consider ourselves most unlucky not to have won this 2nd round of the Co. League played in Connolly Park on last Saturday afternoon (7thMarch).  After playing brilliant football all through we found ourselves ahead by two points as the game went into added time with Spa on the attack.

First Daniel Kinsella brought off a point bank save and in one final attack, a minute later, by the East Kerry boys, Daniel made another splendid save only for the ball to break in the square and somehow creep over the line to give them a one point win as Referee, Tom O’Sullivan (Clounmacon) blew the final whistle immediately after the kick-out.

A very strong wind blowing down the pitch had a significant effect on this game. In the first half Spa could only manage 2 points when playing against it (we scored 1-8), while in the second half we only managed 4 points playing into the wind (with the visitors scoring 2-8 in this half)

Ferdia O’Brien put over some great scores during the hour – eight in all, three from play. Cian Liston scored our goal in the 9th minute Both Jack Morgan and Calvin Foley dominated midfield with both also getting on the score sheet.

Our defence also played well, especially in that first half with our half back line making attacking runs up-field on numerous occasions.

So while we are disappointed with the result team mentors Gene O’Donnell, Eamon O’Reilly, Brian Morgan and John O’Sullivan will be reasonably happy with our overall display, with some key players still to return from injury – Michael O’Donnell, Seán Fitzmaurice and Cathal O’Reilly among them.

Team: Daniel Kinsella, Dylan Hennebery, Colin Griffin (Capt), Pádraig Looney, Ciarán O’Reilly, Jack O’Shea, Darragh Scanlon, Jack Morgan (0-1), Calvin Foley (0-2), Louis Ryle, Seán Dukes, Philip Quilter, Cian Liston (1-0), Ferdia O’Brien (0-8 – 5 frees), Darren Bastible (0-1).

Subs used: Fergal Ryan (28m), Brandon Patterson (35m), Shane Walsh (44m), Seán Tansley (blood sub 35m-39m).

Round 3 goes ahead on next Saturday (14th March) when we travel to Dingle. Throw in 4pm.

ANNIVERSARIES: We commemorate the anniversaries of two Club greats next Saturday (14th March). Twenty five years ago on that date (1990) Rory McSweeney died in a tragic work-related accident at Tralee Railway Station.

And 10 years ago (2005) the one and only Martin Bracker O’Regan passed away at the great age of 95 – a Kerry and Austin Stacks great.

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, commencing at 9.30pm each night.

All at the Cards extend sincere sympathy to Lynn Curtin on the death of her father, Pádraig O’Leary (see sympathy).

LOTTO: Last Monday’s (2nd March) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 8, 17, 21, 24.

The €20 Prizes went to John O’Connor and Anne & Sonny Roche, c/o Charlie Healy; Gander Sullivan and Barbara Liston, both c/o Carmel O’Neill; and Siobhán Power, c/o The Ladies..

SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Pádraig O’Leary, Knocknahila, Kilflynn Cross (father of Lyn Curtin and grandfather of former Club Footballers,  Cathal, Damien and Billy Curtin Jnr,); Stephen O’Flaherty, Dromthacker and late of Booleenshare; Sandra O’Shea, Riverside, Oakpark; John Kirby, Caherslee and late of Causeway and the USA; Patrick Parnell Foley, Woodlee, Monavally and late of Ardcarraig and Ballyconry, Lisselton (father of former Club Treasurer, Dan); and Paddy Stocky O’Mahony, Kilfenora, Fenit (Uncle of Club Footballers, Ashling and Carolyn O’Mahony).