Austin Stacks 1-11
Milltown/Castlemaine 0-10
Report by Martin Collins (from Austin Stacks notes)
Was it over the line? Austin Stacks’ Mikey Collins bears down on the Milltown/Castlemaine goalkeeper for what was a decisive goal in the match on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
THIS replay of round 1 of the Club Championship played in ideal conditions in Milltown on Saturday evening was as intense and as tight as the drawn game six days previously.
With both defences excelling early on, the first four points of the game (two to each side) came from frees – Shane Carroll on target for Stacks after fouls on Fiachna Mangan and Greg Horan.
The first score from play came in the 12th minute for the home side, followed by two more in quick succession to leave the Tralee team trailing by 0-5 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter.
Stacks held the opposition scoreless in the second quarter but only added two points themselves in this period – another Shane Carroll free after a foul on himself and, before that, the only Stacks score from play in this half by Shane O’Callaghan. Milltown led at half time by 0-5 to 0-4.
Things get heated at the game on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Milltown went further ahead inside the second minute of the resumption with another pointed free. However, the introduction of William Kirby and Darragh O’Brien (forward) at the start of the second half seemed to give the Rockies more impetus and, consequently, they got the next three points – one each from play by Shane O’Callaghan and Mikey Collins and another pointed free by Shane Carroll.
This put them back in the lead for the first time since the second minute of the game. Another pointed free for Milltown saw the sides on level terms again as they entered the final quarter.
Stacks were now dominating play and, in the space of four minutes, they took command for the first time in the game with two more Shane Carroll points and a goal finished off by Mikey Collins, who was making his first start of the season.
They were now five points up, but Milltown, as is their wont, never gave up and, by the 55th minute were back in the game with three points on the trot.
This left for a nervous finish but two more Shane Carroll points closed out the game and they now move on to meet Dingle in the quarter final on a date to be announced.
Team: Jonathan Conway, Ronan Shanahan, Fearghal MacNamara, John Dennis, Pa McCarthy, Daniel Bohan, Ciarán O’Connell, Barry Shanahan (Capt), Wayne Guthrie, Greg Horan, Denis McElligott, Fiachna Mangan, Michael Collins (1-1), Shane Carroll (0-8 – 6 frees), Shane O’Callaghan (0-2).
Subs used: William Kirby (ht), Darragh O’Brien (ht), Barry Walsh (42m), David Mannix (50m).
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Action from the game on Saturday night. Photo By Dermot Crean
The injured Kieran Donaghy shouting encouragement to the players from the sideline on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Going for the ball at the game on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Shane Carroll turns away after scoring the ‘insurance point’ to put the Rockies four points clear at the match on Saturday. Photo by Dermot Crean
