Senior Team Manager: Austin Stacks are delighted to advise that Pat Flanagan will take charge of our Senior Team next season. Pat who was part of Stephen Stack’s backroom team in 2016 will announce his own management team in due course.
CLUB AGM: will take place in the Clubrooms, Connolly Park on Sunday, 8th January at 12 noon. Nominations are invited for all positions on the incoming Executive Committee. Nominations and Motions for discussion should be returned to Club Secretary, Elma Nix, 37 Highfield Grove, Tralee or email Secretary.ausinstacks.kerry@gaa.ie to be received on or before 5 p.m. on Thursday 29th December, 2016.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL: Many in the Club are convinced that our B team, if they could field their best 15 each week, would win every competition, including the Molyneaux Cup (Co. Championship) and the Co. League. They had a brilliant start to the 2016 season winning their first round of the Co. League when they travelled to Cordal and overcame a very good local side. The fact that a total of 60 players lined out in the 16 games played during the season is proof that we rarely had a settled side, and that did effect our ability to compete at a competitive level over the course of the season. We finished 10th (out of 12) on the Co. League table, and went down to Crokes at the semi final stage of the Molyneaux Cup ( lost by 0-12 to 0-10). Our very last game of the season was the Town League Final which we won comfortably, defeating John Mitchels in their home patch by 3-10 to 0-5. Seán Dukes and John Murphy topped the list for the most appearances with 14 out of the 16 games. Top scorers were Dale Counihan (2-22), Alan Duggan (0-25), Alan Nestor (4-12) and Seamus Bastible (3-11). So well done to the whole squad and to their dedicated group of mentors – Richie Conway, Jonathan Magnier, William Kirby. John Dennis and Eoin Colgan. Next week we will finalise the round-up of the season with a summary of U21F and MF.
CONGRATULATIONS: to Kieran Donaghy on deservedly winning the Sports Book of the Year Award. Well done Star, and amid heavy competition as well.
CONGRATULATIONS: also to our own John Slattery who was recently appointed Chairman of the Tralee Town Board.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS: Two of the Club’s outstanding former Mentors are celebrating significant birthdays this week. First up, on Monday last (12th Dec), was Micheál Hayes, who was celebrating his 80th. Micheál needs no introduction to anyone who was in the Juvenile ranks in the 1960’s, Arguably it was Micheál, together with people like James Hobbert, Jack Parker and Joe Mulchinock who began the odyssey that culminated in the second Golden Era (1973-86) at Senior level.
Then on this Wednesday (14th Dec) Seán Murphy celebrates his 95th birthday. Seán was involved primarily with Hurling as a Mentor, including that outstanding MH team that won Co. Championship honours in 1967. Seán was, for many years, the Club’s delegate at Co. Board level and also represented the County at Munster Council level. Everyone in the Club send birthday greetings to Micheál and Seán.
BINGO: continues in our Clubhouse, Connolly Park, on this and every Saturday night, commencing at 8.30pm.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings, phone Maurice McNamara at 086 3747 642.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions will continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last Night’s (12th Dec) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 4, 18, 32. The €20 winners were: Mike Tangney, c/o Club Rockies; Sheila Duggan, c/o Denis O’Connor; and Richard Healy, Margaret Lacey, and Ann & Sonny Healy, all c/o Richard Healy.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Eileen Dillane (nee Keane), Liosdara, Oakpark; Seán O’Mahoney, Casement’s Avenue and late of Castleisland; Moira McElligott (nee O’Mahony), Crotta Cross, Lixnaw and late of Station Road, Ardfert (mother of Mairéad Hogan – former Club Bar Manager and grandmother of former Club Footballers Michael TJ and Sinéad Hogan); Philomena (Philly) Tobin (nee Hannafin), Stack’s Villas (mother of current SF Mentor, John Tobin); Thomas Dee, Ballyroe and late of Birmingham and Cleandries, Causeway; Catherine Lehane (nee Sullivan), Rockpark Avenue and late of Islandearagh, Rathmore; Veronica (Ronnie) O’Shea (nee O’Sullivan), Ryefield House, Clash and late of Lewis Road, Killarney; and Sean O’Sullivan, Liosdara, Oakpark (former Club Hurler of the late sixties/early seventies, including the two Co. Finals in 1968 and 69.