Austin Stacks’ quest for a 14th County Championship title will have to wait another year after a heartbreaking defeat to Dingle in Sunday’s final. The young Rockies, who led for 50 minutes, were ultimately undone by a late Dingle surge that sealed the West Kerry side’s first county crown in 77 years.
Played in dreadful conditions, Stacks had the advantage of the gale-force wind and driving rain in the first half but it was Dingle who struck first through Paul Geaney. The Rockies responded immediately, with Armin Heinrich’s two-pointer putting them ahead. Paddy Lane and Ben Murphy added further scores to stretch the lead to three.
Joe O’Connor’s long-range effort pushed the gap to five by the 11th minute, but Stacks struggled to make the most of the elements thereafter. Conor Geaney and Paul Geaney kept Dingle in touch, while Lane and Murphy added to the Stacks tally. At the break, the Tralee men led 0-8 to 0-4.
Half Time; Austin Stacks 0-08 Dingle 0-04
After the restart, Jordan Kissane extended the lead, but Dingle began to find their rhythm with the wind at their backs. Conor Geaney’s frees and Tadgh de Brún’s point narrowed the margin to two. Paul Geaney then made it a one-point game before Murphy steadied Stacks with his third of the day.
The turning point came in the 51st minute when a high ball into the square was flicked to the net by Paul Geaney, giving Dingle the lead for the first time since the opening minute. Moments later, Tom O’Sullivan and Dylan Geaney added quickfire scores to turn a two-point deficit into a four-point advantage in under two minutes.
Stacks refused to yield. Substitute Colm Browne was fouled in the square, and Cian Purcell converted the resulting penalty to give the Rockies hope. But Dingle’s experience told in the closing stages, as Paul Geaney pounced on a loose ball to fire home his side’s second goal and seal the victory. Greg Horan’s late point was the final act of a pulsating contest.
Full Time; Austin Stacks 1-12 Dingle 2-13
While the defeat will sting, there is immense pride in this young Austin Stacks side. With an average age of just 23, their journey is only beginning. County finals are hard-earned, and though this one slipped away, the signs suggest it won’t be long before the Rockies are back challenging for title number 14.
Austin Stacks; Michael Tansley; Colin Griffin, Joey Nagle, Niall Fitzmaurice; Eoghan Carroll, Armin Heinrich (0-02, 2pt), Ronan Shanahan (capt); Joe O’Connor (0-02, 2pt), Ben Murphy (0-03); Michael O’Donnell, Conor Horan, Daniel Kirby; Paddy Lane (0-3, 1 free), Cian Purcell (1-00, pen), Jordan Kissane (0-01).
Subs for Stacks: Jack O’Shea for Carroll (half time), Dylan Casey for Fitzmaurice (36), Greg Horan (0-01) for C Horan (41), Ronan Carroll for Kissane (51), Colm Browne for O’Donnell (54), Temp: Jack Murphy Griffin (59) .
Dingle: G Curran; B O’Connor, P O’Connor, T O’Sullivan (0-02); T.L O’Sullivan, C Flannery, A. O’Connor; M O’Connor, B O’Connor (0-01); T de Brún (0-01), P Geaney (capt) (2-o2), N Geaney; C Geaney (0-04, 1 2pf), F Flaherty, D Geaney (0-03, 1 2ptf).
Subs for Dingle: (D O’Sullivan for P Geaney, temp 7), N O Riain for B O’Connor, M Geaney for T de Brun (both 51), C Bambury for C Geaney (59), S Og Moran for TL O’Sullivan (60).
Referee; Sean Joy (Laune Rangers)
Match images thanks to Adrienne McLoughlin
