On this date 40 years ago (Sun, 2nd Dec 1979) we won our 5th Co. League title overcoming a strong Beaufort outfit with just two points to spare in the Final (1-7 to 0-8) in Fitzgerald Stadium. It was the culmination of one of the most successful seasons in the Club’s history when we won all three Senior County Titles.
Club Championship Final – Austin Stacks 4-14; Valentia 0-9.
It began on the week-end of the Festival of Kerry when we travelled to Killorglin (Friday, 31st August) and won the very first running of the inaugural Club Championship, defeating a Mick O’Connell led Valentia by 4-14 to 0-9. While Marita Marron (the Belfast Rose) was capturing the main headlines in that week’s ‘Kerryman’ after being crowned the 21st Rose of Tralee, the main headline in the Sports Section read –‘Not Even Micko Could Halt Stacks’ – referring of course to Mick O’Connell’s brave effort in that final.
Team: Teddy Brick, Tony O’Keeffe, Billy Curtin, Denny Walsh, Fergus Dillon, Ger O’Keeffe, Seán O’Callaghan, John O’Keeffe, John L. McElligott, Ger Power (Capt), Brian O’Sullivan, Billy O’Carroll, Jackie Power, Mikey Sheehy, Paudie McCarthy.
Subs used: Timmy Sheehan, Colm Mangan, Con Hussey.
Referee: Tom Keane (St. Marys).
Co. Championship Final – Austin Stacks 1-11; Castleisland 0-9.
Then just over three weeks later (Sunday, 23rd Sept.) we captured the Club’s 9th Co. Championship title – defeating Castleisland by 1-11 to 0-9 in Austin Stack Park.
The pivotal moment in the game was described as follows in the following week’s ‘Kerryman’ – The game was in the 60th minute when Mikey Sheehy made a dashing run through the middle, found team captain, Ger Power who in turn set up substitute Fionán Ryan and Fionán lashed the ball to the net for the game’s only goal to the sheer delight of every Stacks supporter in the crowd of 7,000 who watched the game in ideal conditions.
Team: Teddy Brick, Tony O’Keeffe, Billy Curtin, Denny Walsh, Seán O’Callaghan, Ger O’Keeffe, Paddy Whack Moriarty, John O’Keeffe, John L. McElligott (0-1), Ger Power (Capt) (0-3), Brian O’Sullivan, Billy O’Carroll, Jackie Power (0-1), Mikey Sheehy (0-6), Denny Long.
Subs used: Fergus Dillon, Fionán Ryan (1-0).
Rest of Panel: Fintan Lawlor, Noel Power, Paudie McCarthy, Con Hussey, Brendan Reidy, Seán Daly, Pat Sugrue, Aidan O’Connor, Timmy Sheehan, Colm Mangan, Ned O’Neill.
Referee: Jerome Conway (Laune Rangers).
Co. League Final – Austin Stacks 1-7; Beaufort 0-8.
Then, to close a perfect year, on this date forty years ago (Sunday, 2nd Dec), we had a narrow two points victory over a very good Beaufort side to win our 5th Co. League title to capture all three Senior titles in the one season.
Team: Teddy Brick, Tony O’Keeffe, Billy Curtin, Denny Walsh, Paddy Whack Moriarty, Ger O’Keeffe, Seán O’Callaghan, John O’Keeffe, Pat Sugrue, Ger Power (Capt), Denny Long (0-2), John L. McElligott, Jackie Power (0-1), Mikey Sheehy (0-2), Billy O’Carroll (1-2).
Sub used: Brian O’Sullivan.
Referee: Michael O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh).
See ‘Street of Champions’ History book – pg 87