A ‘Long’ Road that finished on a High

U14 North Kerry Ladies Div 1 Shield Final Replay

FT Austin Stacks 5-10 Abbeydorney 0-4.

The final game in the Austin Stacks Club year took place at John Mitchels GAA Grounds under lights last Monday evening (Nov 21st) and saw our U14 girls take on Abbeydorney in a replay of the North Kerry Div 1 Shield Final. The sides had played out a pulsating draw just one week earlier, finishing on a score line of 4-5 each, so expectations were high for another classic encounter.

Abbeydorney were quick out of the blocks and had a point scored within the starting minute of the game and indeed could have had a goal scored in those opening minutes but for the heroics, not for the first time this year, of Stacks goal keeper Chloe Fitzpatrick who brought off a point blank save. Grainne Carmody levelled the score from a free kick before Abbeydorney duly converted a free of their own to go back into a 1 point lead. From this point on Stacks took the game by the scruff of the neck and never looked back. Points from play by Rebecca Conway, Aoife Dillane and another Grainne free had pushed the Stacks girls into a 2 point lead before sharp shooter Aisling O’Shea was at the end of a well worked move to get in for Stacks first goal of the evening. This goal was quickly followed up by another characteristic goal from Heather Mac Namara. Stacks were now in a commanding 2-4 to 2 point lead and with the ghosts of Abbeydorney come backs fresh in their heads they were not about to take the foot off the pedal. Stacks had another beautiful point from the boot of Aoife Dillane before we saw what team manager Darragh Long has since described as the best score of the year – a ball broke out from the Stacks defence and was driven by Erica Jones to Rebecca Conway who gave a great kick pass to Ciara Nix who slipped the perfect pass to Aoife Dillane on the run and she duly buried it in the back of the net – a real team score. And the goals kept coming as Aisling O’Shea was once again on target this time to slot home a high ball sent into the square by Heather. Abbeydorney chipped in for a late point to leave the score at HT Austin Stacks 4-5 to Abbeydorney 0-3.

The 2nd half saw more of the same with the Stacks girls completely dominant. Full back Alex Mac Namara was having the game of her life and her positioning sense was top class. Leah Long and Catherine Duggan patrolled the back line to perfection. At half back one of the year’s most improved players Eimear O’Sullivan was ably assisted by Erica Jones and Clodagh Murray in applying non-stop pressure so much so that Abbeydorney got through for only one goal chance in the 2nd half. A chance which super goalie Chloe Fitzpatrick once again dealt with to keep her clean sheet for the evening. The Mid Field partnership of the awesome Lara Flynn & Grainne Carmody worked superbly with both girls getting the best of their opponents and setting up the unrelenting Stacks attack of Ciara Nix, Aoife Dillane, Rebecca Conway, Roisin Coffey, Heather Mac Namara and Aisling O’Shea. Stacks introduced subs Nicole O’Mahony, Sara Lucid, Brenda Devane and Vivienne Dineen mid way through the 2nd half proving the strength of the bench as all the girls got on the ball and made excellent contributions. Our 2nd half scores came from Aoife (1-2) Lara (0-1) Grainne (0-1) and the biggest cheer of the night was for our final score by Nicole O’Mahony (0-1). Abbeydorney to their credit never gave up and tried hard until the final whistle but the night belonged to the girls from the Rock who finished out the game on a score line of Austin Stacks 5-10 Abbeydorney 0-4. Maurice Mac Namara presented the Mary Mac Namara Memorial trophy to Austin Stacks team Capt. Rebecca Conway.

Team; Chloe Fitzpatrick, Leah Long, Catherine Duggan, Alex MacNamara, Eimear O’Sullivan, Clodagh Murray, Erica Jones, Lara Flynn (0-1), Aoife Dillane (2-4), Ciara Nix, Grainne Carmody (0-3), Roisin Coffey, Aisling O’Shea (2-0), Heather Mac Namara (1-0), Rebecca Conway (0-1) Nicole O Mahony (0-1), Brenda Devane, Sara Lucid, Laura Sommers & Ella Breen

Stacks U14 Girls will look back on a year which had a unimpressive start before turning things around in time for a very good Féile performance in June, the girls were crowned U15 B Co. Championship winners in September and continued to improved greatly througout the fiercely contested North Kerry Div 1 league before capping the year off with last Monday’s victory. It was the perfect way to thank their dedicated management team of Darragh Long, Danny Coffey, Anthony Carroll & Gillian Mac Namara. Also a thank you to Pat Carmody who helped out with the team at various times during the season. Thanks to all the parents for their support during the year and last but not least to our hard working Ladies Club Secretary Maurice Mac Namara who is central to everything in Austin Stacks Ladies Club. Our much anticipated Awards evening will take place during December. Rockettes Abú