.
Launching the Austin Stacks – Denis O’Connor – Lee Strand U14 Invitational Football Tournament were, in front; Jake Carmody and Barry Laide. At back; Pa Laide, Gearóid Linnane of Lee Strand, Chairperson of Austin Stacks Shane Lynch, Eamon O’Reilly and Morgan O’Connell of Austin Stacks. Photo by Dermot Crean
AFTER an enforced break of three years due to Covid-19 Restrictions, the Austin Stacks Denis O’Connor U14 Invitational Football Tournament sponsored by Lee Strand, returns on Saturday, September 3.
This popular event, which is an important landmark in the club calendar, started out in 1986 as a 4-team competition for Under 13 football.
The home team won the first edition, captained by Armin Heinrich, father of current club senior player of the same name.
Continued below…
.
The tournament attracted widespread interest and soon expanded to eight teams. Then, in 2001, the tournament widened further to 16 teams and the Billy Breen Memorial Shield and Abie Allen Plate Competitions were added to the Lee Strand Cup Competition.
In re-launching the tournament in 2022, the Tournament Committee decided to change the competition to U14 and to proceed with a 12-team format which will be run entirely on Saturday, 3rd September at the club grounds in Connolly Park.
The Committee is delighted that Lee Strand have come on board again as sponsors and look forward to welcoming friends, old and new, on the first Saturday in September.
Clubs taking part are Austin Stacks; Na Gaeil; Kerins O’Rahillys / St. Pats; Churchill; An Ghaeltacht; Nemo Rangers, Cork; Ennistymon, Co. Clare; Stradbally, Co. Waterford; Oranmore Maree, Co. Galway; Salthill/Knocknacarra, Co. Galway; Ballyboden St. Endas, Dublin; Clontarf, Dublin.
Cup Winners 1986-2019 and captains
1986 Austin Stacks — Armin Heinrich
1987 Austin Stacks — Brian Shanahan
1988 An Ghaeltacht — Aenghus O’Cinneide
1989 Na Piarsaigh — Padraig de Puinse
1990 Na Piarsaigh — Jason Flynn
1991 Na Piarsaigh — Nigel McNally
1992 Kilcummin — John Herlihy
1993 Na Piarsaigh — Sean O’Conaill
1994 Austin Stacks — Conor Carroll
1995 Austin Stacks — Andy McAllen (RIP)
1996 Austin Stacks — Martin Courtney
1997 Na Piarsaigh — Colin Hourigan
1998 Austin Stacks — Stephen O’Mahony
1999 Na Piarsaigh — Stewart Coakley
2000 Nemo Rangers — Ciaran McGrath
2001 Salthill/Knocknacarra — Aenghus Hanley
2002 Salthill/Knocknacarra — Cian McBrien
2003 Austin Stacks — Craig O’Hara
2004 Austin Stacks — Fergal Maunsell
2005 Nemo Rangers — Jordan Philpott
2006 St. Michaels, Galway — Shane Maughan
2007 Salthill/Knocknacarra — Joseph O’Brien
2008 An Ghaeltacht — Eanna O’Conchuir
2009 Dunboyne, Co Meath — Paul Coss
2010 Ballyboden/St. Endas — Conor Kennedy
2011 Kerins O’Rahillys — Gavin Doody
2012 Austin Stacks — Robbie Murphy
2013 Nemo Rangers, Cork — James Allen
2014 Salthill/Knocknacarra, Galway — Cathal Sweeney
2015 Salthill/Knocknacarra, Galway — Evan Nolan
2016 Austin Stacks — Shane Bastible
2017 Naas, Co. Kildare — Daniel Lenihan
2018 Ballyboden/St. Endas — Daniel McCarthy
2019 Clontarf, Dublin — Luke O’Boyle
