Shane Carroll scores one of his seven points for Austin Stacks despite Brian Maguire’s efforts. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
Austin Stacks prevailed on a wet and breezy day in Frank Sheehy Park, Listowel, against a Feale Rangers side who threw in the towel in the closing stages as Dermot Crean reports
Feale Rangers 0-9
Austin Stacks 0-14
THOSE seeking to know if Stacks have the credentials to be title contenders will have been disappointed in Listowel yesterday, as Feale Rangers did a disappearing act with ten minutes to go in this Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SFC first round tie.
One thing is for certain though: the Tralee side do have some dangerous forwards to threaten any side in the competition.
Feale Rangers will have some serious soul-searching to do as many of their star players had an off day, while no Finuge player started the game. They also managed just one point from play in the whole game.
The Rock played against the wind in the first half and started well when Mikey Collins was fouled 30 yards out from goal, leaving Shane Carroll to slot over the free in the second minute.
Rangers got into the game with points from David Sheehy and Conor Cox after five and eight minutes respectively and there followed a period of sloppy play from both sides with passes going astray and poor finishing.
Conor Cox steadied the Rangers ship on the 15th minute with a beautiful free from 45 yards out only for Stacks to peg one back three minutes later when Collins was fouled after some lovely link up play between William Kirby, Barry Shanahan and Shane Carroll. Again it was Carroll who put over the free from 30 yards.
But Rangers were getting on top now and should have had a goal a minute later when Noel Kennelly received a long ball from midfield only for the Stacks goalie to save from close range. Conor Cox, with the aid of the breeze, slotted over the resultant 45 to leave the scores 0-4 to 0-2 on 20 minutes.
Cox was again on target straight after the kick out when Rangers won a free 50 yards from goal and sweetly struck it over. But then Stacks burst into life.
Kirby and Fiachra Mangan set up Shane Carroll in front of goal and, while the three points were on, he struck it over from about ten yards out. They had another a minute later. Collins was fouled again and a quickly taken free set up Barry Shanahan for another score.
He turned provider a minute later, when he won a free 13 yards out on the far right hand side. He opted to pass it to David Mannix who pointed from a more scoreable angle to level the game.
Rangers were struggling and they lacked cohesion all over the pitch. Stacks went ahead in the 31st minute through David Mannix again but that was cancelled out a minute later when Cox again pointed a free from 30 yards out to leave the sides level at the break, 0-6 apiece.
The start of the second half was marked by poor play from both sides with neither willing to put their stamp on the game.
The first score came in the 37th minute when David Mannix was fouled 20 yard out on the right hand side and Carroll slotted it over.
Stacks’ forwards were buzzing now and a minute later, some superb play from Carroll, Collins and Kirby set up Shane O’Callaghan who went on a mazy run, beating three defenders before passing the ball over the bar for the score of the game.
Rangers were finding it tough playing against the wind, but they finally put some fluid passing together to score three points without reply. First, Conor Cox pointed a free from 30 yards out on the left, this was quickly followed by Noel Kennelly floating a beautiful free almost from sideline on the 13 yard line.
Then Cox again scored a cracker of a free 40 yards out on the left hand side with just 12 minutes to go, but that would be their final score as the Tralee side took over and Rangers’ defenders switched off.
Two frees from Carroll, one of which was carbon copy of Kennelly’s sublime strike from an angle at the other end, put the Rockies back in front. Then a quick sideline ball from Kirby set up Greg Horan for a lovely point from distance.
Fellow substitute Darragh O’Brien got in on the scoring act minutes later when he received a quick ball from midfield and he duly pointed to put them three clear with five minutes remaining.
There would be no fightback though, as Stacks were winning the midfield battle and when O’Brien was fouled 13 yards out in the 61st minute, Carroll struck over the insurance point. The Tralee side tacked on another score just before the final whistle to secure a five point win much to the delight of the sizeable amount of supporters who made the journey over from Tralee.
A good victory then for Stacks who played at times with great cohesion in all areas of the field, but Feale Rangers capitulation leaves questions unanswered as to whether the Rock can emulate last year’s final appearance.
Teams and Scorers
Feale Rangers: Brendan Galvin; Brendan Guiney, Jack McGuire, Sean T Dillon; Sean McCarthy, Jake Moriarty, Brian McGuire; Anthony Maher, Damien Somers; Padraig Quille, David D Sheehy (0-1), Cormac Mulvihill; Noel Kennelly (0-1), Conor Cox (0-7f), Ger McCarthy.
Austin Stacks: Jonathan Conway; Ronan Shanahan, Ferghal McNamara, John Dennis; Pa McCarthy, Conor Jordan, Ciaran O’Connell; Barry Shanahan (0-1), Shane Carroll (0-7 6f); Greg Horan (0-1), Mikey Collins, Fiachna Mangan; David Mannix (0-2), William Kirby, Shane O’Callaghan (0-1).
Subs: Darragh O’Brien (0-1), Michael O’Donnell, Joseph O’Kelly, Wayne Guthrie (0-1 free).
