David Mannix, hit 1-4 to ensure Austin Stacks playing senior county championship in 2016. Photo by Gavin O’Conor.
Gavin O’Connor reports on the Senior Football County Championship Relegation Play-off game at Lewis Road, Killarney, on Sunday…
Austin Stacks 2-10 (16)
Laune Rangers 1-6 (9)
IN the end, it was a comfortable seven point victory for Austin Stacks that guarantees them senior football in 2016, but the final score belies what was an, at times, nervy outing for the Rock faithful.
David Mannix was once again the go to man in attack, scoring 1-4 in total 1-2 from play.
At half time, with Laune Rangers in touching distance only a point behind, Stephen Stack, made three changes at the break.
Ultimately, Rangers lacked the quality up front to really trouble Stacks. The moves at half time had the desired effect, Stacks outscored the Killorglin side by 0-7 to 0-2 in the second half.
The defeat for a heartbroken Laune Rangers means that next year will be the first time since 1969 the great Mid Kerry club will not play senior championship football.
“I feel really sorry for Laune Rangers,” said Austin Stacks manager, Stephen Stack, speaking to TraleeToday.ie directly after the final whistle. “I’m just appalled that a team with the pedigree of Laune Rangers should be in this position, it’s unbelievable.”
“From our perspective we’ve played 56 games in the last two years and lost on six occasions and we’re in this position, all because of one result, I just don’t understand it.”
“The way we looked at the game was it was the first round of the championship next year with no knock out. That was the mindset we had going into it,”
Continued below…
Kieran Donaghy, lays off a pass with Laune Rangers Ciaran Doona tracking closely behind. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
With regard to staying on for a third year in charge, Stack said; “we’ll let the dust settle after tonight and we’ll see after that”.
Compared to recent weather it was almost perfect conditions for football at Lewis Road.
Laune Rangers hit the first score of the game, veteran Mike Frank Russell knocking over a free for the Killorglin side who started with a lot of intensity and were up for the battle.
The reply to that was a breakaway goal by Stacks on two minutes from the boot of Mannix. The corner forward charging at the goal from deep and executing a shot to the net.
A lot of the play early on was in the Stacks half of the pitch. Colm O’Shea made that count for Rangers when he got their second score.
Continued below…
Mike Frank Russell, is tackled by John Dennis, Jack O’Shea and Fiachna Mangan. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Rangers managed to poke their nose in front with ten minutes gone, a goal from David Costello raising the possibility that we could have a shock on our hands.
On 14 minutes though, The Rock hit back with the perfect reply. On the counter once more, wing back Denis McElligott charged through to net a second Stacks goal. The score 2-0 to 1-2.
Stacks went on to score the next two points, Donaghy showed his leadership, capitalizing on space to steady himself and point from 35 yards. Mannix backed that up that score with one from a dead ball.
A proud club, Rangers had the stomach for a fight however. They got the last two scores of the half to bring them within a point. the score at the break 2-2 to 1-4.
Continued below…
Shane Carroll, bursts passed John Tyther. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
In the second half, Laune Rangers worked tirelessly, but really Stacks had more quality and were it not for some wayward shooting in front of goal the margin would have been much more.
Stacks got the first three scores of the half, stretching their lead to six ten minutes in. The scores came from Mannix, McElligott and Shane O’Callaghan with his only score of the hour.
Mike Frank Russell knocked over another free, but Stacks showed their dominance, swallowing up any attack Rangers could muster and scored four without reply – one from substitute Conor Jordan, two from Mannix and another by Donaghy.
Laune Rangers and ex-Kerry player John Sheehan, gets on the ball. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Now with the match petering out, Pa Sheehan for Rangers got their final score and second of the half after being introduced as a late sub.
Another one of those half time substitutes for Stacks, Darragh O’Brien, made his mark when he was rewarded for his effort with the final point of the match.
A rousing reception was given to the Stacks players by the 300 or supporters who made the trip out to Killarney. Commiserations too for Laune Rangers who must now bear the agony of relegation.
More photos below…
Scorers
Austin Stacks: David Mannix 1-4 (2f), Denis McElligott 1-1, Kieran Donaghy 0-2, Shane O’Callaghan 0-1, Conor Jordan 0-1, Darragh O’Brien 0-1
Laune Rangers: David Costello 1-0, Mike Frank Russell 0-3 (3f), Colm O’Shea 0-1, Ciaran Doona, Pa Sheehan 0-1
Austin Stacks: Darragh O’Brien, Barry Walsh, Barry Shanahan, Jack O’Shea, Denis McElligott, Fearghal MacNamara, John Dennis, Shane Guthrie, Shane Carroll, Pa McCarthy, Shane O’Callaghan, Greg Horan, David Mannix, Kieran Donaghy, Fiachna Mangan
Substitutes: Daniel Bohan for Shane Guthrie (Half Time), Darragh O’Brien for Fiachna Mangan (Half Time), Conor Jordan for John Dennis (Half Time), Sean Ryan for Pa McCarthy (52), Brian Mangan for David Mannix (60)
Laune Rangers: Tony Lyons, Chris Riordan, Michael O’Sullivan, Johnny Carey, Kieran Crowley, Ronan Sayers, Ryan Keane, John Sheehan, John Tyther, David Costello, Shane McSweeney (C), Pa Joy, Mike Frank Russell, Colm O’Shea, Ciaran Doona
Substitutes: Shane Daly for Colm O’Shea (55), Pa Sheehan for Pa Joy (28), Liam Quirke for Johnny Carey (28)
Referee – Eddie Walsh
Shane Carroll, attempts to go past Laune Rangers players, Ryan Keane and Chris Riordan.
Austin Stacks Jack O’Shea, puts in a tackle on John Tyther. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Austin Stacks, Fiachna Mangan, comes away with the ball. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
