SENIOR FOOTBALL
Austin Stacks 0-14;
Feale Rangers 0-9.
In County Championship football it’s the result that counts and after a shaky start to both halves we eventually came good to get over a tough hurdle in Listowel on last Sunday afternoon (1st June).
We failed to score from play in the first 20 minutes and trailed by 5 points to 2 at that stage – our two points coming from Shane Carroll frees, both following fouls on Mikey Collins.
But then we began to play the free-flowing football that we are capable of, and in the last 10 minutes of the half we put over four great points from play, with Shane Carroll, Barry Shanahan and David Mannix (2) on target.
Just at the short whistle Rangers pointed to leave the sides level on six points each at half time.
The second half was almost a replica of the first from a scoring point of view. After 20 minutes we had only scored another two points – a Shane Carroll free and one from play by Shane O’Callaghan. By that stage the North Kerry side had put over three from frees to give them a one point lead as the game entered the last ten minutes (0-9 to 0-8).
But, like the first half, we kept the best wine ‘till last, scoring six more points without reply – 3 Shane Carroll frees, one of them a smasher from out near the sideline and close to the corner flag, one each from play by Greg Horan and Darragh O’Brien and the last one a beautiful left footed free by Wayne Guthrie who was less than two minutes on the pitch at that stage.
Not for the first time our defence was superb, holding the opposition to just one point from play throughout the hour, and that was Rangers very first score just four minutes into the game.
It was good to see Michael O’Donnell and Joseph O’Kelly making their Senior Co. Championship debuts, Michael, at just 17 years and 15 days, must be one of the Club’s youngest debutants – a quick check has, so far, unearthed only one younger (but there probably is more), and that was the one and only Mikey Sheehy who was 17 years and three days when he made his debut back on 31st July 1971.
At the other end of the scale William Kirby was making his 45th Co. Championship appearance and Mikey Collins his 43rd and both looked as sharp as ever.
Team: Jonathan Conway, Ronan Shanahan, Fearghal MacNamara, John Dennis, Pa McCarthy, Conor Jordan, Ciarán O’Connell, Barry Shanahan (Capt) (0-1), William Kirby, Greg Horan (0-1), Shane O’Callaghan (0-1), Fiachna Mangan, David Mannix (0-2), Shane Carroll (0-7 – 6 frees), Michael Collins.
Subs: Darragh O’Brien (38m) (0-1), Michael O’Donnell (46m), Joseph O’Kelly (57m), Wayne Guthrie (60m) (0-1 free).
Our next scheduled game is against Dingle (away) in round 6 of the Co. League and, added to that, we have two back Co. League games to play as well – both at home – against Rathmore (round 4) and Milltown (round 5). No fixtures have been made as we write.
HURLING
Seven teams originally entered the Co. SH League (Div 3). That’s now down to five, before a sliothar has been pucked, as Dr. Crokes and Kilgarvan have withdrawn. So now, instead of six games, we have four games against the remaining participants – Kenmare, Crotta, St. Pats (East Kerry) and Duagh.
In the meantime the South Kerry League has to be completed. We had two back games to play – against Kilgarvan and St. Pats – but Kilgarvan have now also withdrawn from this competition. As we write we understand our game against St. Pats might go ahead on this Wednesday evening (4th June). Keep in touch with the Club Website for updates.
GOOD LUCK
Good luck to the Kerry Senior Hurlers as they take on Kildare in the Christy Ring final in Croke Park on this Saturday (7th June) at 4pm. Kerry will be seeking their 2nd title in this competition having won their 1st in 2011.
JUNIOR B FOOTBALL
So far this season we have only played one game (against Kerins O’Rahillys, which we won) in this five-game League. Two games have been postponed (against Kilcummin and John Mitchels) and we are now due to travel to Rathmore on this Friday evening (6th June) for a 7pm throw in.
After that we travel to Derreen to play Legion and then it’s those two postponed games – both away – to Kilcummin and Rathmore.
SPORTS FORECAST COMPETITION
With 12 of the 25 events completed it’s very tight at the top of the Sports Forecast Leaderboard with no fewer than six points separating the top eight contestants. Co-ordinator Michael Kenny has just published the latest leaders list which is as follows – Frank O’Donnell 66; Noel O’Regan and Michael Lynch 65 each; Mark Kirby 63; Ronan O’Regan and Kevin O’Carroll 61 each; and Mark O’Connor and Alan O’Sullivan both on 60.
Anyone wishing to view the full list may email mlkenny@eircom.net.
BEST OF LUCK
Best of luck to the Kirby Family (Fergal, Fiona and husband Kevin Cotter) as they embark on the reopening of the Brogue Inn at the bottom of The Rock. Restoration work is in progress at present with the venue likely to open next month. Everyone in the local community and indeed further afield are looking forward to this.
CLUBHOUSE
As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. Phone Ian from 7pm at 066 7126942 for bookings.
BINGO
The Bingo session will continue on this and every Saturday night at 8.30pm in our Clubrooms.
CARDS
The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse every Monday and Thursday nights at 9.30pm.
LOTTO
Last Monday week’s (26th May) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 6, 23 and 31.
The €20 prizes went to John Breen and Denis Bracker O’Regan, both c/o Club Rockies; Liam O’Connor, c/o The Club; Bertie Flynn, c/o The Ladies; and Brian Collins, c/o Martin Collins..
SYMPATHY
Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of Michael Haulie O’Regan, Castletroy, Limerick and late of Tralee; Annette Murphy (nee Stack), Stack’s Villas; Sheila O’Flaherty (nee Quirke), Rock Cottage, Racecourse Road and late of Curraheen; Tommy Brosnan, Seafield, The Spa and late of Lassinagh (one of Kerry’s great Scór Officers with his Club, Churchill and his District Board, St. Brendans) and Breda Bulman (nee Walsh), Árd Na Lí who died during the past week.
