CLUB MEMBERSHIP: Membership 2016 is now due. A registration night will be held in the club bar on this Holy Thursday night (24rd March) from 8 to 9 o clock to facilitate anyone wishing to pay their membership. Closing date for membership is on the following Thursday (31st March) and anyone who hasn’t paid their membership by that date will forfeit the opportunity to be included in the list for All Ireland tickets should that arise later in the year.
2017 COMMEMERATION: Next year the Club will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of its foundation. For that purpose it is examining the feasibility of publishing a History of the Club and we would love to receive any memorabilia, photographs or any other material that people may have of former players etc. All material will, of course, be returned to their owners after being processed.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Dr. Crokes 3-15; Austin Stacks 3-9.
We have encountered it before – Crokes getting a head start and then we chasing the game thereafter. And that’s exactly what happened in Lewis Road on last Sunday afternoon (20th March) in a game which doubled as the 2015 Co. League Final and round 1 of this season’s League. Played in glorious summer-like sunshine and without a puff of a breeze the home side had built up a six points lead (1-3) in as many minutes. And at the end of the game that was still the margin between the two sides with Crokes winning their 7th League title in the 45th playing of the competition.
We settled somewhat after that poor start with two quick points in the space of a minute from Seán Ryan and Greg Horan. But then the home side went further ahead with three unanswered points to leave them leading by 1-6 to 0-2 after 20 minutes. Two minutes later a nice move involving Kieran Donaghy and Shane O’Callaghan saw Daniel Bohan put over. Then in the 23rd minute a long ball in by Wayne Guthrie was tapped across goal by Star into the path of Seán Ryan who took his goal beautifully.
But Crokes finished the half the stronger scoring a further 1-3 to just two more points for us (from Star and Denis McElligott) to leave them seven clear at the break (2-9 to 1-5).
Ten minutes into the second half they had increased that lead to eight after adding two more to our one (by half time substitute David Mannix). But in the space of two minutes we had almost wiped out that lead. First Kieran Donaghy put over. And then a minute later Greg Horan floated in a high ball which was gathered by Michael O’Donnell. Michael jinked his way through the Crokes defence with what looked like the whole Crokes team hanging off of him but his exquisite shot somehow found the net and if we witness a better goal anywhere for the rest of the season then it will have to be something special. Then within a minute Wayne Guthrie put Shane O’Callaghan through for our 3rd goal of the game and now we trailed by the bare minimum.
In the 46th minute Crokes converted a 45 and that was still the position in the 51st minute when three red cards were issued after a fracas – two to Crokes and one for us. And again how many times have we seen it happen where the team with the man down will raise their game. and that’s exactly what Crokes did in the closing quarter when they out-scored us by 1-3 to 0-2 – our two coming from Conor Jordan and a David Mannix free. We were unfortunate to lose the services of Daniel Bohan to an injury seven minutes into the second half and we were also unlucky not to convert at least one or two more goal opportunities during the course of the game.
Team: Barry Galvin, Barry Walsh, Fearghal MacNamara (Capt), Jack O’Shea, Pa McCarthy, Conor Jordan (0-1), Denis McElligott (0-1), Wayne Guthrie, Kieran Donaghy (0-2), Daniel Bohan (0-1), Michael O’Donnell (1-0), Seán Ryan (1-1), Alan Nestor, Shane O’Callaghan (1-0), Greg Horan (0-1).
Subs used: David Mannix (ht) (0-2 – one free); Colin Griffin (36m), Shane Carroll (37m), Shane Guthrie (55m), Barry Shanahan (62m).
Round 2 of the League goes ahead on this weekend where we have a home game against Glenbeigh/Glencar at 5pm on Saturday evening (26th March).
B FOOTBALL: Cordal 1-10; Austin Stacks 1-15.
A brilliant display by our B team, especially in the opening half, secured their first two points in this first round of the Co. League (Div 5) played at a dry, if breezy, Cordal on last Saturday afternoon (19th March).
In the opening five minutes both sides had two points each on the board – both of ours coming from play – the first after just 24 seconds by Alan Duggan and our 2nd by Seamus Bastible after good work by Brían Mangan and Dale Counihan.
Between then and half time we were totally dominant – scoring a further 1-7 to three for the opposition. Most of our points came from some super long-ranged efforts after some brilliant build-up play. Darragh Long, who was unerring from both play and frees, scored four of the seven (three from frees), with Dale Counihan, Seamus Bastible and Shane Crowley also on target from play
Our last score of the half came in the 22nd minute and what a score it was. From out near the sideline Darragh Long passed back to Alan Duggan. Alan’s high ball into the square had no right to be won by Andrew Morrissey, but win it he did, and provided the perfect pass to the onrushing team captain, Seamus Bastible who blasted to the net for a splendid goal.
The closing minutes of the half could have been game changers for the home side. But goalkeeper, Paddy Fitzgibbon, made two brilliant saves, the first in the 24th minute from a penalty and the second in the 30th minute from play when all present could see nothing but the net bulging. On the stroke of half time (33rd minute) Cordal had their 5th point, all from frees, to leave us seven points up at the break (1-9 to 0-5).
But inside the second minute of the restart the East Kerry boys got themselves right back in the game with an opportunist goal and half way through the half they had reduced the deficit to two points after putting over four more. Our only scores in this period came from two Darragh Long frees.
But in the closing quarter we upped the ante again scoring four points to just one more for the home side. Darragh Long, with two more frees, and two from play by Alan Duggan and Sean Dukes were our scorers.
Apart from the win it was great to see such a whole-hearted display with some brilliant fielding, notably from mid fielders William and Brían but also from Alan Duggan, Shane Crowley and Denis O’Neill. And the long-ranged scoring was a joy to watch.
So a great start to the season which will have pleased all Rockies, especially team mentors William Kirby, Richie Conway, Jonathan Magnier, John Dennis and Eoin Colgan. And it’s great to see two former players, Richie and Jonathan back again after an absence. It was also good to see Paul Barrett back again after missing season 2015.
Prior to the game there was a minute’s silence for Cordal’s long-serving Official and current Chairman, Tom Wrenn, who died during the past week.
Team: Patrick Fitzgibbon, Dylan Harnett, Denis O’Neill, Paul Galvin, Paul Barrett, Ciarán O’Connell, John Murphy, William Kirby, Brían Mangan, Shane Crowley (0-1), Alan Duggan (0-2), Seamus Bastible (1-2), Dale Counihan (0-1), Darragh Long (0-8 – 7 frees), Andrew Morrissey.
Subs used: Louis Ryle (ht). Seán Dukes (37m) (0-1), Eoin Colgan (55m), Seán Hurley (59m).
We understand that our round 2 game, away to Ballylongford, will not go ahead as scheduled on this weekend. Check website for updates.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Our Minors resume Co. League duty on this Easter Saturday (26th March) with a home game against Kerins O’Rahillys in round 4. Throw in at the earlier time of 3pm.
Then on the following Friday (1st April) we welcome Dr. Crokes to Connolly Park for the 5th and final round and with summer time in play then the throw in will be 6.30.
REFEREES COURSE: The Kerry Co. Board is holding a Referee’s Course for new Referees at their Offices in Austin Stack Park on the following three nights – Wed 23rd, Tues 29th and Thurs 31st March. Anyone wishing to become a referee is welcome and must attend on the three nights.
WELL DONE: to the Kerry U21 Footballers, including our own Greg Horan, who qualified for their 36th Munster Final with a good win over Limerick in last Wednesday’s (16th March) semi final. They will now play Cork in the Final in two weeks time (Thursday, 7th April) again at Austin Stack Park.
CONGRATULATIONS: to Bryan Cooper on his fantastic win in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham last Friday. Bryan played with our U12s in 2004, along-side players like Fearghal MacNamara and Shane O’Callaghan from our current squad. But it wasn’t long before the lure of Horse Racing took over and, as they say, the rest is now history.
EASTER IN THE CLUB: Bar Manager, Des Griffin, has a nice line-up of activities lined up in the Clubhouse for the Easter weekend. On Easter Sunday (27th March) there will be a Barbeque at 3pm with Live Music at 5.30pm followed by a Disco at 8pm. Then on Easter Monday Mass will be celebrated in the Clubhouse at 2.30pm followed by some finger food. As on the Sunday there will be Live Music at 5.30 and a Disco at 8pm.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings phone Des Griffin at 086 402 0808.
CARDS: The Cards session will take place as usual on this Holy Thursday night (24th March). However there will be no Cards on Easter Monday Night (28th March), After that the 45 Card Sessions will continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
All at the Cards extend sympathy to the family of Peggy Godley who was a former player at our Card sessions (see Sympathy),
LOTTO: Last Night’s (21st March) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 1, 3, 16, and 28.
The €20 Winners were: Sarah O’Leary, Alan Long and Richie Ahern, all c/o Carmel Quilter; and Kenneth Fitzgerald and Brendan O’Regan, both c/o The Club.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died during the past week – Nora MacNamara (nee Hickey), Caherslee and late of Edward Street (mother of former Club Footballer, Ger, and grandmother of current Club Footballer, Fearghal; Emer O’Sullivan (nee Hutchinson), Killeacle and Brandonwell and late of Ashe Street; Peggy Godley (nee Lynch), Dromatoor and Cloghaneleesh (Ballyheigue) (see Cards); Johnny Houlihan, USA and late of Cahill’s Park (brother of Donie and Richie); Lynda McSweeney, St. Brendan’s Park and late of Knockanish, the Spa and Currow Village; Mary Barrett (nee Ryan), Shanakill and late of Goold’s Cross (Tipperary) (mother of former Club Footballers, John and Dick and widow of the late John, former Club Chairman); Susan Curran (nee Lonergan), Oakview Village; Kit Hennessy (nee O’Connor), Manor Grove and late of Main Street, Cahersiveen; and Tony O’Connor, London and late of Mitchel’s Crescent (brother of Michael ‘Fox’ O’Connor).