AUSTIN Stacks prevailed in a tough encounter in Connolly Park but Kerins O’Rahillys came up short in the Senior Club Championship Round 2 games played in town on Sunday afternoon.
Stacks hosted An Ghaeltacht and won by 0-16 to 1-9. The Rockies went ahead in the opening minute and never went behind during the encounter.
They were five points up after 10 minutes before the visitors opened their scoring. However, the westerners staged a comeback and there was the bare minimum between the sides at half-time — 0-7 to 0-6.
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An Ghaeltacht equalised within minutes of the restart but Stacks hit six without reply to put them in a commanding position.
A goal for the visitors on 46 minutes brought them right back into it but points from Kieran Donaghy, Ronan Shanahan and Darragh O’Brien ensured the points and two wins from two. SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME BELOW
Over in Strand Road, Kerins O’Rahillys hosted the mighty Dr Crokes in a very entertaining encounter.
The two teams fielded a number of Kerry stars, past and present, and it was a keenly contested affair with just a kick of a ball between them at the end, the visitors winning by 1-14 to 2-13.
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The Killarney side’s ability to hit the net kept them in it in the first half with goals in the fifth and fifteenth minutes by which they were 2-2 to 0-4 to the good.
They wouldn’t score again for the rest of the half as the Blues picked off a further five points with a brace each from Jack Savage and Barry John Keane, while John Ferguson also got on the scoresheet.
Savage put O’Rahillys two up soon after the restart, but Dr Crokes showed why they are county champions with some lovely scores from distance to lead by 2-6 to 0-10 after just six minutes of the second half.
A Savage free reduced the deficit but Dr Crokes pulled away again to lead 2-10 to 0-12 by the 51st minute. Then, John Ferguson’s fisted a cross to find Gavin O’Brien who punched the ball to the net to leave the scores 1-12 to 2-10.
Ferguson had a fine point two minutes later and the sides were level. But Dr Crokes kept their composure and some fine points from play steadied the ship and they ran out two point winners.
Kerins O’Rahillys have now lost two from two (as have An Ghaeltacht) and are out of the running. SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME BELOW
Elsewhere in games involving Tralee area clubs, on Saturday night in the Intermediate Championship John Mitchels were beaten at home by St Mary’s on a 1-14 to 2-12 scoreline.
In the Junior Premier Club Championship, Ballymacelligott beat Listowel Emmets by 1-17 to 3-7 while St Pat’s travelled to Keel only to lose by two points, 1-13 to 1-11.
On Sunday, the game between Na Gaeil and Finuge was abandoned due to two Finuge players sustaining injuries in an accidental collision (see report here).
In the Junior Championship, Churchill and Skellig Rangers played out a draw 1-17 to 3-11 in Churchill’s pitch. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS FROM STACKS AND O’RAHILLYS GAMES
