Garvey’s SuperValu Senior County Football Championship 3rd Round
Austin Stacks v Milltown/Castlemaine
Saturday 4th October 2025
Venue Austin Stacks Park
Throw In 5-00pm
By Tommy Naughton
Austin Stacks marked their return to the Senior County Championship with a commanding performance at Austin Stacks Park on Saturday evening, securing a comprehensive victory over Milltown/Castlemaine. It was the club’s first Senior Championship outing since 2022, and with nine starting Championship debutants in the lineup and two more introduced from the bench, the youthful Rockies side delivered a fantastic display.
First Half Dominance
Playing with a gale-force wind from Storm Amy at their backs, Stacks wasted no time asserting control. Although Milltown/Castlemaine’s Eanna O’Connor opened the scoring from a free, Joe O’Connor immediately responded, fielding the kickout and slotting over a two-pointer. Daniel Kirby and Brendan Casey traded scores before Stacks took complete command.
Over the next 24 minutes, the home side produced a devastating scoring burst, registering 3-20 without reply. Points from Paddy Lane, Cian Purcell, Ben Murphy, and Eoghan Carroll set the tone, followed by two-pointers from Daniel Kirby and Jordan Kissane. The first goal arrived in the 17th minute when a move involving Purcell and Ronan Shanahan ended with Lane’s fisted effort coming back off the crossbar, allowing Purcell to finish from close range.
Lane added a two-pointer before netting Stacks’ second goal after fine interplay with Purcell. Kirby struck another two-pointer before Ben Murphy’s pinpoint pass found Niall Fitzmaurice unmarked at the back post to fist home the third goal. Further two-pointers from Kissane, Heinrich, Lane, and Kissane again left Stacks with an extraordinary 30-point lead at the break.
Half Time: Austin Stacks 3-23 Milltown/Castlemaine 0-02
Despite the deficit, Milltown/Castlemaine showed admirable spirit in the second half, outscoring Stacks and refusing to fold. O’Connor again opened the scoring with a free, adding a two-pointer and another point soon after. Dara Hogan converted a short-range free before Lane registered Stacks’ first score of the half.
Armin Heinrich powered through for a fine point, followed by a Brendan Casey free. Goal-Keeper Michael Tansley ventured forward to land a superb long-range free into the wind, while Shanahan added another point. Hogan responded with a two-pointer for Milltown/Castlemaine, who continued to press.
Further scores from O’Connor, Wren and Gavin Horan reduced the margin before substitute Jack Murphy struck Stacks’ fourth goal, blasting past the advancing goalkeeper. Late points from Kissane and Purcell were answered by two more two-pointers from O’Connor before the final whistle.
Full Time: Austin Stacks 4-29 Milltown/Castlemaine 0-17
Austin Stacks will be pleased with their return to senior championship action, particularly the first-half display that showcased their attacking depth and composure. However, the second-half response from Milltown/Castlemaine and the influence of the strong wind serve as reminders that tougher challenges await in the quarter finals.
AUSTIN STACKS: M Tansley (1f); C Griffin, L Casey, N Fitzmaurice (1-00); E Carroll (0-01), A Heinrich 0-3 (1tp), R Shanahan (0-01); J O’Connor 0-2 (tp), B Murphy (0-01); C Horan, D Kirby 0-5 (2tp), M O’Donnell; J Kissane 0-7 (3tp), C Purcell 1-2 (0-1f), P Lane 1-6 (1tpf, 1tp, 0-1f),.
Subs: C Browne for Murphy (44), G Horan for C Horan (44), J Murphy (1-00) for Lane (50), B O’Sullivan for O’Donnell (50), J Nagle for Fitzmaurice (55).
MILLTOWN/CASTLEMAINE: C Leane; A Dinham, P Wren (0-01), S Roche; A Kelliher, D Roche, J O’Connor; M Lynch, D Dennehy; D Quirke, B Casey 0-2 (0-1f), D O’Neill; D Hogan 0-3 (0-1f, 1tp), E O’Connor 0-10 (0-4fs, 3tpf), C Moriarty.
Subs: G Horan (0-01) for Lynch (ht), K Kerins for Quirke (40), C O’Connor for Dennehy (42), K O’Carroll for S Roche (44), S Hogan for O’Neill (50).
Referee: E Moriarty (Dingle)
Match Images Thanks To Adrienne McLoughlin
