Gavin O’Connor looks at the Austin Stacks v Kerins O’Rahillys Senior Town Board Championship Final, Ballymacelligott, Sunday 2pm
THOUGH both sides have exited the county championship, their seasons are not quite over yet.
Still, no matter the time or place, Tralee’s big derby is always worth winning for either teams.
Confusion surrounds this strange time of year, there’s still one round of the County League to be played which could see either side in the final. Also looming on the horizon is the first dreaded SFC relegation knock-out match.
Eight clubs will fight it out for the senior status through a series of knock-out games which will eventually see two teams relegated.
The four winners of the first games will go through to next year while the four losers will play-off, with two losers of those games relegated.
Austin Stacks manager, Stephen Stack would have been planning for a a longer SFC run. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Injuries were beginning to take their toll on Kerins O’Rahilly’s, before they went out of the championship two weeks ago at the hands of Legion, so there still could be a chance players carrying knocks such as, Barry John Keane, David Moran and Jack Savage to maybe sit this match out.
Austin Stacks championship ended abruptly with that loss to Crokes three weeks ago. They welcomed their American contingent back into the fold, but it wasn’t enough to get past Crokes in Killarney.
Austin Stacks, David O’Sullivan, is tackled by Cian Sayers when the sides last met in the County League this year. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Barry O’Shea, will be happy with the progress that was made this year by his side, despite only making it a round further than last year.
Though a Town Championship title would not have been high on their list of priorities, a bit of silverware is always welcome in any dressing room.
When the sides last met in the County League back in June, O’Rahilly’s ran out five point winners in Strand Road.
Hard to know what sort of teams will be put out, but O’Rahilly’s could be still nursing wounds.
Verdict – Austin Stacks by 2
