A reunion took place at Connolly Park on Thursday 29th December for the Austin Stacks U21 football team that won the County Championship in 2002. Most of that team and management were present for an enjoyable evening to catch up and recall their achievement of 20 years ago. A fair share of them are still involved in club affairs, on and off the pitch, also the next generation are enjoying football in the boys and girls academies.
The team of 2002 were: Martin Moriarty, Brendan Smith, David Leonard, Nessan Crean, Conor Carroll, Alex Donovan, Timmy Lynch, Padraig Sugrue, Jonathon Conway, Mike Finn, Kieran Donaghy, Dara Long, TJ Hogan, Keith Greensmith, David Hennebery, St.John Hegarty, Anthony Morrison, Finbarr Smith, Mikey Collins, Brian Phelan, Martin Courtney, Brian Dennehy, Mark Bracker O’Regan, Alan Sheehan, Andy McAllen (RIP.) Team Manager was John Joe Sugrue.
The following is a report on the semi final and final that appeared in the September 2002 edition of the newsletter ‘Stacks of News’ which was a popular club publication at the time (Vol.6 issue 3.)
And so it was, on Wednesday August 14th, that we finally got our hands on the County U21 Football Championship trophy. The sight of Mike Finn receiving the trophy after a 13 point to 2 goals victory over Mid Kerry produced the broadest of smiles from all concerned. And rightly so. Everybody knows the circumstances surrounding our involvement in this year’s competition so it was imperative that we left our mark. That we did and in some style too. On a wet evening in Killarney Mid Kerry were dispatched with an emphatic display of team work and some exceptional point kicking.
But the day this team arrived was Tuesday July 30th, against South Kerry in the semi-final. Every once in a while a game takes place which becomes etched in the memory forever, and becomes part of club folklore. Killorglin that night was one of those. Without Mike Finn and Brian Dennehy, we trailed by 2-4 to 2 points after 20 minutes. What followed epitomised what all great teams are about, pride-passion-heart-commitment and above all the refusal to recognise when you’re beaten. We proceeded to put 1-10 on the board without reply, eventually running out winners by 2-13 to 2-7.
The manner in which the lads turned that game around is testament not only to themselves but to the effort put in by John Joe Sugrue and his fellow selectors, not just this year, but in many campaigns past.
Beating South Kerry, our nemesis at minor level for the past couple of years, was in the words of a Kilmoyley hurler from last year “not only a monkey off our back, but the whole of Dublin Zoo.”
The subsequent win over Mid Kerry in front of a noisy and colourful Stacks contingent, showed the county what we’ve known all along – The Stacks are back and we’re here to stay. But beware, success in underage competition is no guarantee of silverware at senior level. In a time when other sports may be dangling what appear to be more lucrative carrots in front of the players, such triumphs are vital for Stacks.
