CLUB MEMBERSHIP: Membership 2016 is now due. A registration night will be held in the club bar on this Tuesday night (8th March) from 8 to 9 o clock to facilitate anyone wishing to pay their membership. The change from Wednesday is to facilitate anyone who wishes to attend the U21 Munster Championship game on Wednesday night (see below).
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-17; John Mitchels 1-10.
After a number of false (weather-related) starts our Seniors finally got their competitive season underway at the Mitchels pitch on last Friday night (4th March), under lights, in the postponed round 1 game of the Town League.
It stayed dry for the game and even though the pitch was, understandably, a little heavy it was still in remarkable shape after such a wet winter. And this contributed to a very competitive game. We led by four points at the break (0-11 to 1-4) and that was still the margin at the end of the game after both sides scored six each in the second period.
We had a great start, scoring three points in as many minutes, and wasn’t it appropriate that Alan Nestor, making his competitive debut, put over the first after just a minute. And, for good measure, Alan added another after 23 minutes and also scored the very last point of the game in the 61st minute. All but one of our 11 first half points came from play. Likewise, in the second half, five of our six points came from play. All our six starting forwards got on the score sheet as well as two super points by wing-back, Denis McElligott and probably the best point of the game, half way through the second half, coming from Shane Guthrie after some brilliant build-up play by Michael O’Donnell.
As well as Alan Nestor it was also good to see goalkeeper Barry Galvin making his Senior competitive debut, coming on as a sub at the start of the second half.
So a very positive start to the new season which will have pleased Team Manager Stephen Stack and his management team no end, and is an indication of the very methodical training processes in place for the past few weeks. That Management team includes John Joe Sugrue, John Walsh, William Kirby, Billy Lee, Pat Flanagan, Ger Mannix, John Tobin, Mícheál Dillon and Paudie McQuinn and no doubt others will be coming on board as the season progresses.
Team: Darragh O’Brien, Barry Walsh, Barry Shanahan, Fearghal MacNamara, Jack O’Shea, Conor Jordan, Denis McElligott (0-2), Wayne Guthrie, Shane Guthrie (0-1), Fiachna Mangan (0-1), Michael O’Donnell (0-2), Seán Ryan (0-2), Alan Nestor (0-3), Shane O’Callaghan (0-1), David Mannix (0-5 – 2 frees).
Subs used: Barry Galvin (ht), Pa McCarthy (ht), David O’Sullivan (43m), Daniel Bohan (46m), Denis O’Neill (54m), Brían Mangan (58m).
With rounds 2 and 3 (against Na Gaeil and Ballymac) still to be refixed, it is expected that the 4th and final round, away to Kerins O’Rahillys will go ahead as scheduled on this weekend (12th/13th March). Check Website for details.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Listowel Emmets 2-4; Austin Stacks 5-13.
The sun shone in Listowel on last Saturday afternoon (5th March) but the wind was very strong and this favoured us in the first half, at the end of which we had a ten points lead (3-7 to 2-0). In the second half we adjusted our tactics superbly when playing into the strong wind with patient build-ups and some brilliant defending, and held the opposition to just four points while adding a further 2-6 which left us with 18 points to spare at the end of a terrific display by our lads.
After going ahead early on with an opening point by Fergal Ryan and a well taken goal by Harry O’Callaghan in the 6th minute we then, in the space of two minutes, conceded two goals – one from a penalty. But within a minute we were back in the lead when a brilliant effort from an acute angle by Fergal
Ryan found the net and we never relinquished the lead again.
In the remaining 20 minutes of the half we went on to score a further 1-6 while holding the home side scoreless. The six points came from Ferdia O’Brien (3), Harry O’Callaghan (2) and Conor Lowe, with the goal coming from Cian Liston.
Emmets did have a better start to the second half scoring three points to our one in the opening 11 minutes – with Ferdia O’Brien on target for us. But in the final quarter we took complete control scoring 2-5 and the Listowel boys just scoring one more point, and that the very last score of the game. Ferdia O’Brien, from a penalty, and Cian Liston with his second of the game were our goal scorers and our five points came from Ferdia O’Brien (3), and one each from wing back, Odhran Liston and second half substitute Michael Linnane.
Both sides had just four wides each throughout the hour which indicates again how well we defended. Philip Quilter and David Fitzmaurive dominated the centre while there is no need to elaborate how well our forwards played with a 5-13 scoreline on display.
And all our six subs contributed to the victory, including Kieran Keane who was making his Minor debut.
Team: Robbie Murphy, Shane Kelliher, Dylan Casey, Tomás Sheehy, Odhran Liston (0-1), Ciarán O’Reilly, Pádraig Looney, Philip Quilter, David Fitzmaurice, Donagh McKivergan, Fergal Ryan (1-1), Conor Lowe (0-1), Cian Liston (2-0), Ferdia O’Brien (1-7 – penalty goal, 3 frees), Harry O’Callaghan (1-2).
Subs: Michael Linnane (39m) (0-1), Joe Looby (51m), Cian Talbot (54m), Alan Dore (56m), Kieran Keane (57m), Jason Roche (58m).
Our remaining three games in the group stage of the Co. League are away in round 3 against Gneeveguilla on next Saturday (12th March) and then two home games in rounds 4 and 5 – against Kerins O’Rahillys (on Easter Saturday, 26th March) and Dr. Crokes (Friday, 1st April).
All in the Club and in the Minor panel extend sincere sympathy to Brandon Patterson and his family on the death of his grandmother, Nancy, at her home in Boston last Friday (4th March).
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BEST OF LUCK: to the Kerry U21 Footballers, including our own Greg Horan, as they take on Tipperary in the opening round (quarter final) of the Munster Championship. The game goes ahead in Austin Stack Park on this Wednesday evening (9th March) at 7.30pm. Tipp of course are the current Munster Champions and were most unlucky to just lose out to Tyrone in last year’s All Ireland Final by just one point (1-11 to 0-13).
And mention of Austin Stack Park let us congratulate everyone involved in its redevelopment which culminated in its reopening last Sunday. A mixed day for Kerry with the Hurlers going down to Wexford, but a very good result for the Footballers against Donegal.
GET WELL SOON: All in the Club send best wishes to Eileen Sugrue (wife of SF Team Selector, John Joe) for a speedy recovery after her operation a few days ago in Cork University Hospital.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings phone Des Griffin at 086 402 0808.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last Night’s (7th March) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 13, 15, 24, and 25.
The €20 Winners were: Helen Foran and Luke McNamee, both c/o Carmel O’Neill; Batt Bastible, c/o Club Rockies; Joan Casey, c/o Richard Healy; and Brendan O’Regan, c/o The Club.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died during the past week – Denis O’Mahony, Gurrane, Oakpark and late of Lismore; Margaret Dwyer, St. Brendan’s Park and late of the USA (mother of former Club Footballer, Ryle); Johnny Curneen, Oakpark Road; Tom Brolly, Tullamore and late of Knockmoyle; Eileen Leen, Caherweesheen and late of Clahane, Ballyard; Gerard Corkery, Kearney’s Road, Ballyard; Eileen Connolly (nee Hayes), Graiguenamanagh (Co. Kilkenny) (mother of Club Hurler, John); Michael Phelan, Shannon (Co. Clare) (grandfather of Club Hurler, Ronan Gilsenan); Joan Lowe (nee O’Riordan), Mitchel’s Road; and Nancy Patterson who died at her home in Boston (grandmother of Club Minor Footballer, Brandon Patterson).