PHOTOS: Blues Cruise To League Victory Over Austin Stacks

Kerins O’Rahilly’s 1-15

Austin Stacks 0-12

KERINS O’RAHILLY’S claimed a six point victory in the latest instalment of Tralee’s ‘Old Firm’ derby.

The win is Kerins O’Rahilly’s first in five games in league and championship against their great rivals.

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Kerins O'Rahilly's, Danny O'Sullivan, bursts through the Austin Stacks defence with Shane Carroll in hot pursuit. Photo by Gavin O'Connor. — Kerins O’Rahilly’s Danny O’Sullivan, bursts through the Austin Stacks defence with Shane Carroll in hot pursuit. Photo by Dermot Crean.

The Rock were without eight players who started their All-Ireland semi-final last February and they were dealt a further blow when Ronan Shanahan had to be stretchered off towards the end of the first half, looking to be in a lot of distress.

Strand Road were well worth this home victory with two half forwards, David McLaughlin and John O’Connor, along with defender Danny O’Sullivan, being the stand out performers.

For Stacks, despite being on the losing side, David Mannix continued his recent good form by kicking some exceptional long range points.

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The game started in free flowing fashion, with O’Rahilly’s having the better of the opening exchanges, after ten minutes they lead by five points to one.

With the scores at 0-8 to 0-3, O’Rahilly’s were lucky to retain their full 15 after Giles O’Grady retaliated to a dubious high shoulder from John Dennis.

Unfortunately for The Rock, the referee didn’t see it and no action was taken.

The sides went in at half-time with the scores 0-9 to 0-4 in favour of Strand Road.

In the opening ten minutes of the second half, Stacks outscored their opponents by three points to one, the pick of the bunch a lovely long range effort by Mikey Collins out on the sideline.

O’Rahilly’s replied to The Rock’s resurgence, with a devastating move carved out by the ingenuity of David McLaughlin and John O’Connor. The two hooked up with some lovely one two passing, culminating with McLaughlin blasting the ball to the net.

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He enjoyed that. David McLaughlin celebrates his second half goal. Photo by Dermot Crean. — He enjoyed that…David McLaughlin celebrates his second half goal. Photo by Dermot Crean.

The goal put O’Rahilly’s seven points up and despite the efforts of David Mannix, The Rock lacked the leadership and firepower to mount any credible come back and as such the game fizzled out.

The defeat will worry the Austin Stacks faithful who have seen players leave in their droves all summer. How they would wish to have them back to face Crokes in two weeks time in the county championship.

For O’Rahilly’s, the win will boost their confidence that they can get their season back on track and dispatch Miltown/Castlemaine in the losers round of the championship.

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Scorers

Kerins O’Rahilly’s: Jack Savage 0-6 (4f), David McLaughlin 1-2, Kieran O’Mahony 0-3, John O’Connor 0-2, Gavin Duffy and Danny O’Sullivan a point apiece.

Austin Stacks: David Mannix 0-7 (4f), Mikey Collins 0-3, Shane Carroll and David O’Sullivan a point apiece.

Kerins O’Rahillys: Gary Kissane, Danny O’Sullivan, Giles O’Grady, Shane Brosnan, Mitchell Donnelly, Gavin Duffy, Cian Sayers, Kevin Walshe, Con Barrett, John O’Connor, Jack Savage, David Mclaughlin, Kieran O’Mahony, Sean Walsh, Greg O’Connell.

Substitutes: Tommy Begley for David McLaughlin, Ronan Quill for Greg O’Connell, Declan Quill for Sean Walsh, Martin Tierney for Kevin Walsh

Austin Stacks: Pa Fitzgibbon, Ronan Shanahan, Fearghal McNamara, John Dennis, Pa McCarthy, Ciaran O’Connell, Jack O’Shea, Shane Guthrie, William Kirby, Brian Mangan, David O’Sullivan, Shane Carroll, David Mannix, Darragh O’Brien, Mikey Collins

Substitutes: Barry Walsh for Ronan Shanahan, Mike O’Driscoll for William Kirby, Darragh Long for Brian Mangan.