They Say League Titles Must Be Earned , They are Never Just Handed To You,
Then Again …
County League Round 11, Round Up
By Tommy Naughton
The final round of matches in the County League Division 1 took place over the weekend and no one could have foreseen what was to come. Starting the weekend Austin Stacks just needed a point when they traveled to Laune Rangers who needed a win to have any chance of avoiding the drop on Saturday night . A loss would open the door for our neighbours Kerins O’Rahillys who could force a playoff with a win against already relegated Glenbeigh Glencar in Strand Round on Sunday.
Saturday 5th July 2025
Kerry GAA Credit Union County League Division 1 , Round 11
Laune Rangers v Austin Stacks
Venue; JP O’Sullivan Park Killorglin
Throw-in; 5-00pm
Eoghan Carroll kick the first point of the game in the first minute from the right wing which was to be our only point from play in the opening half. After ten minutes it was two apiece with Sean Quilter kicking over a short range free for the stacks. A two pointer free from Quilter was followed by another free from the same player and Stacks were 3 points up after fifteen minutes. Laune Rangers responded with four points from play including a two pointer . Two more frees from Sean Quilter had the stacks in front by 1 before Laune Rangers scored their first goal in the 26th minute and then another two pointer from play to put the four up at the break.
Half Time, Laune Rangers 1-08 Austin Stacks 0-07
Paddy Lane opened the scoring in the second half with two frees before Rangers kicked a free of their own. With twenty minutes remaining Rangers got their second goal and the gap was six points with the home side looking like the side who were challenging for the title while Stacks looked like they were the team struggle in the relegation zone. Another Paddy Lane free went over but the home side extended their lead with two more points, one from a free and the second from open play. In the fiftieth minute Stacks got their second point from play when Paddy Lane scored but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Ronan Shanahan was shown a black card. Both Sides exchanged points in the final minutes with another Lane free coming for the stacks.
Full Time; Laune Rangers 2-12 Austin Stacks 0-12
Team; Michael Tansley, Sean og Brosnan, Jack O’Shea, Ronan Shanahan, Paul O’Sullivan, Niall Fitzmaurice, Eoghan Carroll (0-01), Luke Casey, David Fitzmaurice, Joe Reidy, Shane O’Callaghan, Fiachna Mangan, Ferdia O’Brien, Sean Quilter (0-06 (1x2ptF, 4f)), Paddy Lane (0-05 (4f))
Subs; Colin Griffin for Niall Fitzmaurice (Half Time), Ben Murphy for Joe Reidy (Half Time), Jack Murphy for Paul O’Sullivan (38 mins), Ronan Carroll for Ferdia O’Brien (42 mins), Darragh O’Brien for Sean Quilter (50 mins).
After the game the immediate taught for all supporters was, when would the play-off final take place and what a battle it would be again against our fierce neighbours.
On Sunday at 12pm Kerins O’Rahillys took to the field against Glenbeigh-Glencar and with Rockies Supporters checking their phones it seemed like the Play-off Final was inevitable as O’Rahillys built up a ten point lead in the opening thirty minutes. However Glenbeigh-Glencar hadn’t read the script and with nothing to play for only pride they produced an outstanding second half performance to come back and claim a draw in the dying minutes which saw Austin Stacks being crowned the County League Champions.
This is Austin Stacks 12th Division 1 title and their first since 2019 and while it might not have been the best way to clinch a league title it cant be argued that the Stacks deserved it having been top of the table for the majority of the season. Congratulations to al the players , Manager Darragh Long and his management team.
Terrence Houlihan from the Kerry County Board presented the Credit Union League Trophy to the Austin Stacks Captain Ronan Shanahan at the Austin Stacks Club Grounds in Connolly Park on Sunday evening where the players, management and supporters had gathered to begin the celebrations.
Images Thanks To Adrienne McLoughlin
