Dingle 4-07
Austin Stacks 1-10

Dingle knocked Austin Stacks out of the Club Championship yesterday afternoon in blustery, but sunny Dingle.

Three second half goals were the Rock’s undoing, carved open by a fluid and effective Dingle attack.

In the first half Dingle played with a strong breeze to begin with, but that advantage dissipated as the half wore on. It was Dingle who got on the scoreboard first when Marc MacEibhin scored a close range free.

With the next attack, Stacks struck for a goal when they carved up the Dingle rearguard with some fast interchanges of hand passing – Shane Carroll started the move off which was eventually palmed to the net at close range by Darragh O’Brien.

Stacks increased their advantage 12 minutes in when Shane Carroll tipped over a free from 20 metres to make the score 1-1 to 0-1.

At this point it was going quite well for Stacks, both Wayne Guthrie and Greg Horan were impressing around the middle of the field, the former with some excellent fielding.

On 18 minutes Carroll tapped over another free, but Dingle were starting to look dangerous, the Stacks goalkeeper Jonathon Conway was forced to make a fine save from Kerry senior Paul Geaney’s shot.

Soon after Micheal O’Geibheannaigh knocked over a good point from play which was followed by an very nice score by Gavin O’Currain who shot with his back to goal.

After 25 minutes of play the score was 1-02 to 0-4 to Stacks.

Stacks wing-back Ciaran O’Connell scored a tremendous solo effort when he ran at the heart of the Dingle defence and with gusto, blasted over for a point.

Dingle would end the half much better. Stacks were having to defend much more and Dingle were starting to get the better of them.With a few minutes to go in the half Dingle, pointed and it wasn’t long before Kerry minor Micheal O’Flannabhra hit the back of the net.

Much the same as the Stacks goal, Dingle cut open the Rock with some quick and precise passing to put Dingle in front at the break 1-05 to 1-03.

Stacks started the second half well and it wasn’t long before they were back level when Carroll pointed twice from frees in close succession.

But the decisive moments in the match were just around the corner in the shape of two Dingle goals. The first came when Paul Geaney blasted a shot at Jonathan Conway who saved well only for the onrushing Marc Mac Eibhin to tap the ball in from the rebound.

Geaney again orchestrated the second when he crossed the ball into the square which was won by the hefty O Dubhain who made no mistake in smashing the ball to the net to put his 6 points ahead and you felt out of reach.

Dingle were well on top and turning on the style, centre-forward Micheal O’Geibheannaigh especially, who Stacks could not curtail one bit, his running causing havoc with their midfield and defence.

Despite this, Stacks kept chipping away with points from Carroll and Mannix to bring them back to within four points, but that would be as close as they would get, with five minutes remaining Dingle hit the net again when the impressive Mathu O’Flaitheartaigh sprinted at the Stacks defence and slotted the ball past the keeper to put this game beyond doubt.

The closing exchanges saw Carroll kick two more frees for Stacks and O’Flaitheartaigh pointing for Dingle to leave the scores at the final whistle 4-07 to 1-10.

A six point win for the men from the west and Stacks out of this year’s club championship.

Dingle: Gavin H O Currain, Sean B Brosbachain, Padraig O Conchubhair, Micheal O Flannabhra, Rian O Beaglaoich, Brendan O Ceilleachair, Mark O’Conchubhair, Darragh O’Sulleabhain, Barra O’Suilleabhain, Gavin O Currain, Micheal O Geibheannaigh, Mathu O’Flaitheartaigh, Marc Mac Eibhin, Pol O Geibheannaigh, Tomas O Sulleabhain.

Scorers:  Mathu O’Flaitheartaigh (1-03), Marc Mac Eibhin (1-02), Micheal O Flannabhra (1-01), B O Dubhain (1-0), Micheal O Geibheannaigh (0-2)

Austin Stacks: Jonathon Conway, Ronan Shanahan, Ferghal McNamara, Sean Bastible, Pa McCarthy, Conor Jordon, Ciaran O’Connell, Barry Shanahan, Wayne Guthrie, Greg Horan, Denis McElligott, Fiachna Mangan, David Mannix, Michael Collins, Shane O’Callaghan

 Scorers: Shane Carroll (0-8), Darragh O’Brian (1-0), Ciaran O’Connell (0-1), David Mannix (0-1)

Subs Used: Barry Walsh (blood sub 11m-15m and full sub at ht), David Mannix (38m), Denis McElligott (38m), William Kirby (47m), Eamon McAllen (53m).