KERRY GAA NIGHT AT THE DOGS: takes place on Friday week (27th May). All Clubs must make a contribution of €400. To off-set this cost we have €10 admission tickets to sell. So if you intend going along to the event we would ask that you please purchase your tickets from Austin Stacks – just ‘message’ on our facebook page or text 086 1053300 and we will reserve a ticket for you. Your support will be very much appreciated.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: East Kerry 2-8; Austin Stacks 1-16.
Preparing for this opening round of this season’s Co. Championship game, played in ideal conditions in Lewis Road on last Saturday evening (14th May), Team Manager, Stephen Stack and his colleagues were aware earlier in the week that they would be without the services of Greg Horan ( unfortunately, probably out for the season) and Kieran Donaghy (out for a few weeks) but on Friday they were to lose three of the named 15 for this game – Denis McElligott, Shane Carroll and Mikey Collins.
Then as the game got underway worse was to happen. Just seven minutes had elapsed when Colin Griffin (making his Senior County Championship debut) when down in agony and had to be stretchered off. Unfortunately, we believe it’s the same injury as Greg (cruciate knee injury). We wish Colin a full and speedy recovery. Colin sustained the same injury playing when U16 a few years ago and with great patience and determination, recovered fully, as we hope and wish he will do on this occasion.
For a while this seemed to have a negative effect on our lads as the game went a little pedestrian, with the sides level at three points each at the end of the first quarter. Our three scores came from Shane O’Callaghan after 18 seconds, a David Mannix free in the 6th minute after Pa McCarthy was fouled, and the third by team captain, Wayne Guthrie after good work by Michael O’Donnell.
Then in the 20th and 21st minutes East Kerry looked as if they might have put this game beyond our reach when the landed two goals in the space of forty seconds.
But the character of this team really shone through in the next seven minutes when they not only responded superbly to that set-back, but went back in the lead for a second time with four straight points and a brilliantly-taken goal. First, all our four points came from play with David Mannix (2), Pa McCarty and Wayne Guthrie putting over from difficult angles and David involved again in the final ball to Fiachna Mangan for that great goal . In the closing minutes of the half both sides added two more points each – Shane O’Callaghan and David Mannix on target again for us – to leave us ahead by one at the break – 1-9 to 2-5.
The second half was four minutes old when David Mannix extended our lead with another pointed free.
But then in a four minute spell (38th to the 42nd) East Kerry were back in the lead after putting over three unanswered points – all from play.
That, however, was to be their last score of the game as our boys dug deep with our defence playing superbly against a few very tricky East Kerry forwards. And no one will argue if we mention one of those defenders who had an outstanding game – Barry Walsh who came on as a sub for the injured Colin Griffin. Our remaining six points came from David Mannix, who was unerring from frees, scoring a further four, some from long distance – and two beautiful efforts from play by Fiachna Mangan.
As well as Colin Griffin it was also good to see Alan Nestor making his Co. Championship debut.
It was also good to see Darragh O’Brien (the forward) making his first appearance of the season (coming on as a second half substitute).
And it was equally as good to see Ronan Shanahan back in action again. Ronan has missed the last 18 competitive games since coming off injured just before half time in that Co. League game at Strand Road on the 27th June last year and he played as if he was never away.
Team: Darragh O’Brien, Jack O’Shea, Conor Jordan, Colin Griffin, Pa McCarthy (0-1), Fearghal MacNamara, Ronan Shanahan, Wayne Guthrie (Capt) (0-2), Shane Guthrie, Daniel Bohan, Fiachna Mangan (1-2), Michael O’Donnell, David Mannix (0-9 – six frees), Shane O’Callaghan (0-2), Alan Nestor.
Subs used: Barry Walsh (10m), Seán Ryan (ht), Shane Carroll (43m), Darragh O’Brien (54m).
THE NEXT ROUND: The eight round 1 winners will now meet one another in round 2A of the competition on this coming weekend. We have been drawn against the current Champions, South Kerry and the game has been fixed for Cahersiveen on Sunday next (22nd May) at 2.30pm. The last time we met, in September 2012, we also had to travel to the South Kerry capital. In that game (in R3 of that year’s competition) we won by 1-9 to 0-7. We have met a South Kerry team (also known at times as Iveragh) on twelve occasions in the Championship going back to our first meeting in 1930 (which we won). To date we have won 5, drawn one and lost 6. So best of luck to the boys on next Sunday.
MINOR FOOTBALL: The Town League Final between ourselves and Kerins O’Rahillys did not go ahead as scheduled last week. It has now been put back until after the Leaving Cert. Exams, and has been provisionally fixed for Tuesday, 28th June.
In the meantime a new competition has been introduced this season for Under 17s to give game-time to those who are not sitting exams in the coming weeks. Eight teams, in two groups of four, will participate. That means that each team will have three games each with the top two teams from each group going through to the semi finals. The teams in our group (group B) are Kenmare District, West Kerry and St. Brendans. In group A are Firies, Mid Kerry, St. Kierans and Tralee.
In round 1 we are away to Kenmare District. The game was originally fixed for this Friday evening (20th May), but this is being rearranged as we write. Rounds 2 and 3 are fixed for the following Fridays (27th May and 3rd June) with the semi finals fixed for 10th June and the Final on the 17th June.
WELL DONE: to the Kerry MF team, including our own Ferdia O’Brien, on their win over Clare in Milltown Malbay last Wednesday in the Munster Championship semi final. It will now be a Kerry-Cork Munster Final on Sunday, 3rd July.
SENIOR HURLING: No new fixtures have come to hand for our Hurlers as we write.
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 (16th May) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 7, 15, 18, 28.
The €20 Winners were: Eddie O’Brien and Christin Foley, both c/o Carmel O’Neill; Siobhán Power and Stephanie Dowling, both c/o The Ladies; and Richard Healy, c/o The Club.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Phyllis Clarke (nee O’Gorman), Dublin and late of Tralee; Mary Lynch (nee O’Riordan), Caheranne and late of Templeglantine; Anne Duggan (nee Lacey), Ocean Drive, Annagh and late of Kevin Barry’s Villas (sister of Eddie Lacey); and Thomas (Tom) Collins, Lisbeg (father of former Club footballer, John and grandfather of current Club footballers, Caitriona, Seán and Niamh).