Austin Stacks v Kenmare Shamrocks
Saturday 11th October 2025
Venue Fitzgerald Stadium
Throw In 4-00pm
Report by Tommy Naughton
Austin Stacks are back in a Senior County Championship Semi-Final for the first time since 2021 after a titanic battle against Kenmare Shamrocks on Saturday. Following an explosive and tense opening half that saw the Rockies lead by four points at the break, Kenmare fought back to level the game with twelve minutes remaining before a powerful late surge sealed Stacks’ place in the final four.
The game began at a blistering pace, with Austin Stacks nearly finding the net inside the first thirty seconds when Ben Murphy’s effort was tipped around the post by Kenmare goalkeeper Kieran Fitzgibbon. Michael Tansley converted the resulting 45, and Paddy Lane quickly added his first point of the afternoon. Kenmare responded immediately through Jack Tagney and Tom Murnane, leaving the sides level after just three minutes.
Daniel Kirby’s two-point score restored Stacks’ advantage, and a Paddy Lane free pushed the gap to three. Kenmare again replied through Paul O’Connor and Tommy Cronin, narrowing the margin to one. The teams traded scores over the next several minutes, with Lane and Murphy on target for Stacks and Cian O’Sullivan and Sean O’Shea (free) replying for Kenmare, leaving the score at 0-07 to 0-06 after twenty minutes.
The game’s only goal arrived in the 22nd minute when Stacks dispossessed Kenmare deep in their own half. Paddy Lane found Cian Purcell, who calmly slotted home. Sean O’Shea reduced the gap with another free, but Stacks continued to press. Ben Murphy added a point before Daniel Kirby’s goal-bound shot rattled the crossbar, allowing Purcell to tap over the rebound. Joe O’Connor then struck his first point to stretch the lead to six, though a late two free from O’Shea trimmed the deficit before the interval.
Half-Time: Austin Stacks 1-10 Kenmare Shamrocks 0-09
Joe O’Connor opened the second-half scoring, but Kenmare responded with three unanswered points—one from Darragh O’Connor and two from Sean O’Shea (a 45 and a close-range free). Another Joe O’Connor point restored a three-point cushion for Stacks, but Kenmare again rallied. A free from Jack Tagney and two more from the ever-reliable O’Shea brought the sides level with twelve minutes to play, as Kenmare appeared to have seized the momentum.
However, Austin Stacks showed immense character in the closing stages. Over the final twelve minutes, they held Kenmare scoreless while adding seven unanswered points. Between the 49th and 51st minutes, a Paddy Lane free, an Armin Heinrich point, and another from Lane re-established control. Substitute Ronan Carroll extended the lead to four, followed by further scores from Joe O’Connor and the tireless Conor Horan to seal a commanding finish.
Full-Time: Austin Stacks 1-19 Kenmare Shamrocks 0-15
Austin Stacks will be thrilled to return to the County Semi-Final stage but will know that tougher challenges lie ahead. Continued improvement across several areas will be essential if they are to progress beyond next weekend’s opponents and keep their championship ambitions alive.
AUSTIN STACKS: Michael Tansley 0-01 (1×45); Colin Griffin, Luke Casey, Niall Fitzmaurice; Eoghan Carroll, Armin Heinrich 0-01, Ronan Shanahan; Joe O’Connor 0-04, Ben Murphy 0-02; Mike O’Donnell, Conor Horan 0-01, Daniel Kirby 0-02 (1tp); Paddy Lane 0-06 (0-2fs), Cian Purcell 1-01, Jordan Kissane.
Subs: Ronan Carroll 0-01 for Kissane (38), Joey Nagle for Shanahan (39), Colm Browne for Casey (48), Jack Murphy for O’Donnell (52), Jack O’Shea for Griffin, inj (56).
KENMARE SHAMROCKS: K Fitzgibbon; C O’Sullivan 0-01, J McCarthy, D Crowley; D O’Shea, D O’Connor 0-01, T Cronin 0-01; J O’Sullivan, D Hallissey; J Lehane, S O’Shea 0-7 (0-4fs, 1tpf, 0-1 ’45), P O’Connor 0-01; J Tangney 0-02, D O’Sullivan 0-01, T Murnane 0-01.
Subs: S O’Brien for Lehane (44), S O’Sullivan for Hallissey (50), T O’Sullivan (Atlantic) for Murnane, inj (52), E McCarthy for P O’Connor (55), T O’Sullivan for Cronin, inj (56).
Referee; Sean Joy (Laune Rangers)
Match Images Thanks To Adrienne McLoughlin
