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Sarah Fitzgerald, Orla Fitzgerald, Caoimhe Barry Walsh, Sinead Curtin and Eimear Dillane at the Austin Stacks awards on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
IT might not have been a vintage year for Austin Stacks GAA, but there was still much to celebrate for the great club in the Rock.
They were well represented on the All-Ireland winning panel, including captain Joe O’Connor, while Aoife Dillane played for the Kerry Ladies and Darragh Long was joint coach in their League winning season and journey to the All-Ireland final.
This was all celebrated at a supporters night held at the clubhouse on Saturday, where the aforementioned were presented with a memento to mark their achievements.
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The night was also an occasion to introduce new senior team head coach Billy Lee and a launch of sorts for what lies ahead in 2023.
“It’s well documented that 2022 was a tough year for us in the black and amber — less so in the green and gold it has to be said,” club chairman Shane Lynch told us.
“It’s a big challenge for us this year. We’re at intermediate level and it’s our top priority to get back to senior level. We know it’s a very tough championship — only one team (Kilcummin) has managed to bounce back to senior level at the first attempt in the past 20 years — so we’re under no illusions about the challenge that lies ahead.
“But there’s great optimism here. We have some injuries at the moment and we there’s eight players involved with Kerry teams, but that’s a great opportunity for our young guys coming through. The club has been very united since that dark day against Kenmare.”
“We’re part of St Brendans in the championship later on this year and we should have some players involved there, so we’ll be competitive in that too,” said Shane.
Knowing the club that Austin Stacks is, we can expect them to bounce back fairly quickly! Scroll down for photos…
The new Austin Stacks senior team manager Billy Lee (third from right) with the recipients of special awards at the Austin Stacks Supporters Club Night at the Clubhouse on Saturday night. From left; Dylan Casey, Greg Horan, Aoife Dillane, Darragh Long, Jack O’Shea and Joe O’Connor. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Jim Connor and Francie Breen at the Austin Stacks awards on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Jimmy Browne and Ciaran O’Connell at the Austin Stacks awards on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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John Tobin, Cathal Healy, John Collins, John Healy, Richard Healy and Emma Conway at the Austin Stacks awards on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Dave Scanlon, Joan Casey, Lorraine Scanlon, Siobhan Power and Mike Casey at the Austin Stacks awards on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Catherine McKivergan, Trevor Houlihan and Brian McKivergan with the Munster SFC Cup at the Austin Stacks awards on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Debbie Cunnigham, Jonathan Lynch and Bobby Breen at the Austin Stacks awards on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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