PHOTOS: Five Talking Points From The Big Game

Gavin O’Connor looks at the main talking points in yesterday’s Austin Stacks v Slaughtneil AIB All-Ireland Club Semi-final in Portlaoise…

1. The Referee

It’s such a pity that, in what was such an enthralling game, the main topic of conversion at the end is the referee which the Austin Stacks team and fans can feel rightly hard done by.

On three occasions, Kieran Donaghy, was dragged to the ground by his marker, Chris McKaigue, twice this resulted in a penalty and even though McKaigue had committed a black card offence three times in a row he remained on the park.

The Slaughtneil number six eventually was moved off Donaghy, but he would go on to score a point in the final quarter of the second half.

Another glaring decision was in the dying moments of the match, Shane O’Callaghan, was adjudged to have picked the ball off the ground when he was clearly pushed in the back before hand.

This would have resulted in a 20 yard free on the left hand side which would have levelled the game. Slaughtneil on balance were marginally the better side, but the Stacks and their legion fans did not deserve some of the poor officiating.

Continued below…

Kieran Donaghy, is halled to the ground in the square for a third time by Christopher McKaigue. Photo by Dermot Crean. — Kieran Donaghy, is pulled to the ground in the square for a third time by Christopher McKaigue. Photo by Dermot Crean.

2. Missed opportunities

Of course one will stick out in people’s minds above all others.

In the lead up to Shane Carroll’s late miss, it was felt the game had turned in the Rock’s favour.

Donaghy floored Chris Bradley with an unmerciful shoulder which sent the Derry man to the sidelines. Bradley been one of Slaughtneil’s best players so it would have been a major loss for the Derry side going into extra-time, but it was not to be.

I’m not going to dwell on them, but there were plenty of missed chances in the match which would have brought the Rock safely into extra-time.

To scape-goat Shane Carroll, would be just wrong, considering he was one of the few players who could get the ball close to the Slaughtneil goal-mouth and chipped in an excellent point in the first half.

Shane Carroll is also Stacks top scorer across the entire campaign, so he did his bit to get them there in the first place.

Shane O'Callaghan, put's his hand's on his head after his goal attempt goes wide of the post, Daniel Bohane, watches on. Photo by Dermot Crean. — Shane O’Callaghan, put’s his hands on his head after his goal attempt goes wide of the post, Daniel Bohane, watches on. Photo by Dermot Crean.

3. Outplayed in midfield

It was clear Austin Stacks were losing the battle in midfield early on. With the Rock coughing up a lot of possession in the centre of the park in the first ten minutes, the move to switch an isolated, Kieran Donaghy, back into the mixer was certainly on the cards.

But Stephen Stack, held firm to his convictions, keeping ‘the Star’ outside the square and was duly rewarded with two penalties to put the Stacks in the driving seat.

At one stage in the first half, Stacks led by six points, but that was trimmed back when Slaughtneil’s Barry McGuigan rebounded the ball to the net with a minute left in the half.

It was setup, by Patsy Bradley, who typified their domination in the middle third by winning a Stacks kick out and bursting forward in the lead up to the goal. An older more experienced head around the centre may have tipped the scale back in the balance for Stacks.

Kieran Donaghy, attempts to create something under the close watch of Brendan Rodgers and Karl McKaigue. Photo by Dermot Crean. — Kieran Donaghy attempts to create something with David Mannix under the close watch of, Slaughtneil’s Christopher and Karl McKaigue. Photo by Dermot Crean.

4. The incredible support and atmosphere

It was a last hurrah for the Austin Stacks support who have been the talk of the championship. The players and management showed their gratitude when they stayed to clap the raucous crowd in the stand in Portlaoise who were broken, but unbowed.

Though they didn’t possess the razzmatazz of the Rock, the Derry champs brought with them a great support as well. With the two sections segregated in the stands it almost brought a soccer feel to the occasion with fans trading cheers, as committed to their cause in the stand as the players were out on the pitch.

Time to take a breather now, who knows what 2015 will bring?

Austin Stacks fans make there way through Portlaoise before the match on route to O'Moore Park. Photo by Gavin O'Connor. — Austin Stacks fans make their way through Portlaoise before the match on route to O’Moore Park. Photo by Dermot Crean.

5. Be proud

Austin Stacks have made incredible strides since losing to Dr Crokes by 16 points in the 2013 county final. The side got noticeably leaner and meaner in the intervening months that ticked by. They added steel to their game and gave as good as they got on the highest stage in club football.

To finally win a county title after a 20 year famine, restored a lot of pride on Rock Street, to go on the journey they have since is nothing short of legendary. The old photos of Sheehy, Power and O’Keeffe have new company on the walls of the Connolly Park clubhouse and rightfully so.

Scroll down for match action photos…