Austin Stacks win the 2025 Denis O’Connor Leee Strand Invitational Tournament
Report & Images by Adrienne McLoughlin
The Tournament began in 1986, and 2025 saw the 39th year of the competition. Records list attached, Austin Stacks previously won the tournament in 2016 with Shane Bastible as captain.
The following teams competed in the annual U14 tournament which took place in Connolly Park, Tralee on Saturday 13th September:
Austin Stacks, Churchill, Kerins O’Rahillys, Monaleen (Limerick), Na Piarsaigh (Cork), Na Gaeil, Salthill/Knocknacarra (Galway), An Gaeltacht, Nemo Rangers (Cork) – 2 teams.
Finalists in the 2025 Lee Strand Cup competition were Austin Stacks who were victorious over a gallant Monaleen team. The final score was Austin Stacks 4-7 Monaleen 1-4. John Murphy (Operations Manager of Lee Strand) presented Billy Kirby of Austin Stacks with Man of the Match Award. Player of the Tournament was Austin Stacks player, Michael Carmody, and as captain, he received the Lee Strand Cup from Paul O’Connor, son of the late Denis O’Connor, in whose memory the tournament is named.
The Billy Breen Memorial Shield was contested by 2 Kerry teams – An Ghaeltacht and Kerins O’Rahillys, with an Ghaeltacht winning the match. Winning captain, D. O’Catháin was presented with the Shield by Lillian McMahon-Breen, Gavin Breen and Eamonn Scanlon (Austin Stacks). Man of the Match was Tomás O’Súilleabháin (An Ghaeltacht.)
Oranmore/Maree of Galway and Nemo Rangers (Black team) contested the Abie Allen Memorial Plate, with the Galway side victorious. Their captain, Paddy Fallon was presented with the Plate and Man of the Match Award by Paddy Allen, (brother of the late Abie Allen.) Photos 5639-5646.
Austin Stacks – Denis O’Connor Lee Strand Cup Winners
An Ghaeltacht – Billy Breen Memorial Shield Winners
Oranmore/Maree (Galway) – Abie Allen Plate Winners