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Kieran Donaghy in action in the County Championship loss to Dr Crokes. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Gavin O’Connor looks at the Austin Stacks v Milltown/Castlemaine, Senior Football County Championship Relegation Play-off match in Castleisland on Saturday at 1pm
THE 2014 champions will feel very hard done by that a year on instead of fighting for a Munster crown they’re fighting for their championship survival.
It hardly seems believable, but even after a whole lot of rancour from club sides, eight teams in total are looking to avoid the chop.
The Rock avoided the other heavy hitters in the draw – Kerins O’Rahilly’s and Rathmore – but did draw the next best side if you were to go on County League form.
When the two sides faced in the league this year, they played out a draw in Milltown. Last year, with Stacks winning all around them, the Mid-Kerry side took The Rock to a replay in the club championship after earning a hard fought draw after extra-time in Connolly Park.
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So Milltown have proved to be sticky opposition in the recent past. You might say, given the enormity of the match it’s unlikely Stacks will be as complacent, but that works the other way too. Milltown/Castlemaine are fighters and if the conditions conspire on Saturday lunch-time, The Rock could be in for a nervy afternoon.
In the opening round of the county championship, Milltown/Castlemaine, drew with this year’s club championship winners, Dingle, who knocked Austin Stacks out of that competition.
Over the last year or so, the Mid Kerry side have had the ability to really put it up to the bigger clubs, but crucially have not been able to seal the deal with a win.
Stacks find themselves in this predicament after losing to Dr Crokes by one point in Fitzgerald Stadium in Round 3.
A fortnight ago, The Rock did manage to pick up one trophy this year (they’re also still in with a county league title shout) when they retained the town league championship against Kerins O’Rahilly’s.
That match lacked the intensity you would expect from both sides who may have been taking it handy knowing the importance of the matches ahead.
There’s no doubt Austin Stacks are the better side and with no championship title to get tuned in for this year this match will have to take its place.
No way will Stephen Stack and his charges allow the complacency that would see them lose this match.
A year on from Munster glory it would be unthinkable.
Verdict – Austin Stacks by 5
