Gavin O’Connor reports on the Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday…
AUSTIN STACKS navigated their way safely through to the semi-final of the Super Valu County Senior Football Championship, when they overcame West Kerry in a miserable Fitzgerald Stadium by double scores, 0-14 to 0-7.
In all the quarter-finals played out over the weekend, Austin Stacks were the team that came closest to a complete performance. With a healthy blend of youth and experience, they really are nicely poised to finally bridge that gap of 20 years and lift the Bishop Moynihan Cup.
Before the 3:30pm throw in, it was mild day in Killarney, but as soon as the last strains of the national anthem rang out around Fitzgerald Stadium, a gale kicked up, quickly followed by a torrent of rain which swept across the pitch and was a constant throughout.
Kieran Donaghy and Shane Carroll contest a kick out with a West Kerry player. Photo by Dermot Crean.
The opening exchanges were spent dealing with the squally conditions with both sides ratcheting up a couple of wides. It was West Kerry who got off the mark first, which was followed by a great goal chance in the 7th minute, when wing back, Nollaig O hUigin, blasted towards goal, but his shot was expertly saved by Stacks keeper, Darragh O’Brien.
After that initial early scare it was pretty much smooth sailing for the rest of the game, West Kerry looking every bit a divisional side that had not played with each other in quite a while.
Kieran Donaghy was selected at full-forward, but spent the game roving the play as a link man to Stacks attacks and covering back.
Stacks first scores came from frees with midfielder, Shane Carroll, who kicked three in quick succession. All frees were won off the back of Stacks dominance – they were dominating kickouts thanks to the Rock’s half back and half forward line hoovering almost every break.
Action from the Austin Stacks v West Kerry game in Killarney. Photo by Dermot Crean.
After 20 minutes of the match the score was 0-8 to 0-2 when Wayne Guthrie pointed impressively from a 45. Guthrie was having a starring role in the centre of the park. Despite the conditions, he was looking to supply the Stacks forward line with quality kick passes. Moving the ball so quickly that it caused even more trouble for the beleaguered West Kerry rearguard.
Though most of the scores in the first half came from close in frees, there were two scores from play that stood out. The first coming from Shane O’Callaghan on 15 minutes, when he jinked outside a defender and curled it over the bar from 30 yards. Fiachna Mangan, then followed that up with his only point of the game, a fine effort just inside the 45 on the run.
Wayne Guthrie reaches for Austin Stacks in the senior football county championship match against West Kerry. Photo by Dermot Crean.
At the resumption of the second half, there was to be no let up from Stacks; Guthrie kicking a long range point to quell any thoughts of a West Kerry fight back. Shane Carroll added another free which was followed by a point from centre back, Greg Horan, who was excellent throughout, to put his side nine points ahead, almost a third of the way through the second half.
The game also saw the return of Daniel Bohane from injury who came on to replace Darragh O’Brien in the second half. There was also the appearance of veteran, William Kirby, who has been pitching in as an impact sub this year.
Stacks had a terrific goal chance in the last quarter of the half when Greg Horan broke out of the defence and laid off a perfect pass to Guthrie who was coming up the wing unmarked. He shot straight at the keeper, the ball then fell to Donaghy who tried to layoff a pass, but it was snuffed out just about by the West Kerry defence who managed to get a few bodies back in the nick of time.
Kieran Donaghy tries to find a teammate to finish off a goal chance. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Dingle rallied in the last ten minutes, kicking three points on the trot to bring them within six. Maybe if they got a goal in this period they could have made it a nervy finish, but really, Stacks had far too much of a hold on this game for it ever to come to that. The final score 0-14 to 0-7.
Now, The Rockies, look forward to their 28th appearance in a senior county championship semi-final. They will face a youthful Dingle side in what will be a fascinating encounter.
Austin Stacks: Darragh O’Brien, Fearghal McNamara, Barry Shanahan, Ronan Shanahan, Pa McCarthy, Greg Horan, Conor Jordan, Wayne Guthrie, Shane Carroll, Shane O’Callaghan, Micheal Collins, Fiachna Mangan, David Mannix, Kieran Donaghy, Darragh O’Brien.
Scorers: Shane Carroll (1p 5f), Wayne Guthrie (2p), Shane O’Callaghan (2), Micheal Collins (2) Greg Horan (1), Fiachna Mangan (1).
Substitutes: Daniel Bohane (Darragh O’Brien), Denis McElligott (Fiachna Mangan), Daniel Bohan (David Mannix).
West Kerry: Tomas Mac an tSaoir, Gearoid O’Shea, Caoimhin O Beaglaoich, Cathal O Luing, Padraig O Se, Colm O Gealbhain, Nollaig O hUigin, Alan Fitzgearld, Emmet Kennedy, S.M O Conchubhair, Deaglain O Suilleabhain, Garreth O Nuanain, James Crean, Eanna O’Conchuir, Jason Hickson.
Scorers: Deaglain O Suilleabhain (5f), Colm O Geaibhain (1), Colm O Muircheartaigh (1).
Substitutes: Colm O Muircheartaigh (Nollaig O hUigin), Shane Foley (Emmet Kennedy), Brian O Raoil (S.M O Conchubhair)
Mikey Collins shoots for a score in the game on Sunday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Shane Carroll slot over a point during the first half against West Kerry on Sunday. Photo by Dermot Crean
