Tag Archives: Milltown Castlemaine

GAA, Sport

PREVIEW: Kerins O’Rahilly’s Fight For Senior Status Against Battling Milltown/Castlemaine

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Gavin O’Connor looks forward to the Kerins O’Rahillys v Milltown/Castlemaine, Castleisland Mart Senior Club Championship, Relegation Playoff Round 1 match at Farranfore, Sunday 2:30pm…

Barry John Keane in action in the 0-9 to 0-8 loss to Legion. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Barry John Keane in action in the 0-9 to 0-8 loss to Legion. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

SENIOR championship status is on the line for both these clubs when the face off in Farranfore on Sunday.

The loser will play Kilcummin, who lost to Rathmore in the other relegation play-off to the decide who plays senior football in 2017.

Should this be O’Rahillys fate, a good County Championship run would will them from the ignominy of intermediate level competition next year.

Continued below…

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A lacklustre performance against Legion has the new management team of Micheal Quirke and Morgan Nix  facing into a relegation battle.

David Moran and Barry John Keane will be once again at the side’s disposal along with Tommy Walsh who has generated many column inches over the last few days following his shock departure from the Kerry senior panel.

Walsh can now fully focus his efforts on his club, free from the distraction of inter-county pressure, which can only be a good thing in Strand Road.

However, the Blues will be without the services of the club’s 2015 player of the year, Con Barrett, who has recently undergone surgery on his shoulder and will be out for at least a few months more.

Continued below…

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They face a Milltown/Castlemaine side who were knocked out of last year’s County Championship by O’Rahillys who played 45 minutes with 14 men and won (0-20 to 1-14)

Austin Stacks put the Mid Kerry club in this position by beating them in the quarter-finals (0-14 to 0-9).

Ever a tough nut to crack, Milltown/Castlemaine beat The Rock last year in a relegation play off that sent the 2014 Munster Champions in danger of dropping to intermediate level (only to survive at the expense of Laune Rangers).

So The Blues are very much aware that if Milltown get their tails up against you, they’ll be no pushover. Still the Tralee side has the fire power that should steer them away from relegation danger.

Verdict – Kerins O’Rahillys by 3

GAA, Sport

PREVIEW: Austin Stacks To Survive County Championship Rock Bottom

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Kieran Donaghy lays off a pass aginst Dr Crokes. Photo by Dermot Crean.
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.

Continued below…

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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