GAA

“We Haven’t Taken Our Foot Off The Pedal” Says Stacks Boss

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Stephen Stack. Photo by Dermot Crean
Austin Stacks manager, Stephen Stack.

Gavin O’Connor caught up with Austin Stacks boss, Stephen Stack, to find out how preparations are going for the All-Ireland semi-final next month…

THE countdown is well and truly on for Austin Stacks date in the All-Ireland semi-final against Ulster champions, Slaughtneil, which is now just five weeks away.

A great challenge for Austin Stacks manager, Stephen Stack, is keeping the momentum going with the huge layoff of 11 weeks from Munster final to All-Ireland semi-final.

“We’ve been working hard over the Christmas. I think we took three or four days off, but the lads have been working away very diligently over the Christmas period. We’ve never taken our foot off the pedal after taking ten days off after the Munster Final, which I think the lads needed,” he said.

The match against the Derry men will take place over Valentine’s weekend, but whether it is to be played on the Saturday or Sunday is still up in the air.

Before Christmas, Slaughtneil put in a request to the GAA for the game to be switched to the Sunday because of a wedding. At this point there has been no news on whether the request has been accepted.

The venue at this point has also still not been clarified, despite the general assumption it will be played in Portlaoise.

Austin Stacks have a number of players who will be balancing inter-county and club commitments over the coming months, chiefly Kieran Donaghy with the seniors, Greg Horan and Conor Jordan with the U21’s and Denis McElligott who will be on Sigerson Cup duty with IT Tralee.

“I’ve been talking to Eamonn Fitzmaurice and I will be speaking with Darragh O’Se this week along with the lads who are playing with college teams. We have an arrangement with all of them to have them most of the time, but not exclusively, but that’s only fair to them as well,” said the Stacks boss.

“Obviously when it comes closer to the semi-final we’ll have them. There will be games with other teams our lads will be available for and other games where they absolutely won’t, but we’re not going to be falling out over it,” he said.