Match report by Tommy Naughton
Tuesday night football came to Connolly Park this week for rescheduled Round 7 match between Austin Stacks and Templenoe.
Although Stacks failed to register a score in the final 17 minutes of the game this win was down to a terrific defensive display and an outstanding second quarter which saw the home side registered 3-02.
Stacks started the game brightly and had two wides registered before the opening score of the game came in the eight minute from free from Ferdia O’Brien after Fiachna Mangan was pulled to the ground as Stacks broke quickly on the counter attack. Stacks double their lead four minutes later when Cian Purcell cut inside from the left wing to kick a wonderful point to the delight of the home supporters in front of the clubhouse who were directly behind the kick.
At the start of the second quarter stacks hit their first goal which was the start of a terrific fifteen minutes. Greg Horan took a quick free just inside the half way line on the left wing where he picked out Ferdia O’Brien who quickly gave the ball of to Shane O’Callaghan who in turn quickly flicked the ball over the defence to the on rushing Ronan Shanahan. Ronan faced with the keeper from a tight angle played the ball to the back post where Cian Purcell rose highest to fist the ball home.
Templenoe got their first score after twenty one minutes to make the score 1-02 to 0-01. Jordan Kissane kicked his first point from just outside the 21 yard line after a good period of possession for the Stacks. Two minutes later Cian Purcell got his and Stacks second goal after the Templenoe keeper dropped a high ball into the path of Cian who doesn’t miss chances like that. Cian wasn’t done yet as a minute later he quickly side stepped his marker before flicking the ball over the bar from just inside the 21. Stacks third goal and final score of the first half came in the twenty eight minute after a short kickout from Templenoe was hounded by Jack O’Shea, Shane O’Callaghan and Conor Horan saw Jack force a turnover and Conor was on hand to drive the ball low passed the keeper at the near post.
Half Time ; Austin Stacks 3-04 Templenoe 0-01
Stacks continued from where they left off in the first half with Jordan Kissane kicking his second of the game in the first minute of the second half. Credit to Templenoe who kept trying and kicked two points in the space of 60 seconds , one from play and the second from a free. In the 36th minute Ferdia tapped over a short free after Conor Horan had been fouled. Two minutes later Jordan Kissane received the ball from Ferdia and went at the Templenoe defence with pace before stepping inside for a great score.
Wing back Paul O’Sullivan then got on the score sheet after a great run down the right wing saw Paul getting inside by the endline to punch the ball over the bar. The next score came from the resulting kickout in the 45th minute when Shane O’Callaghan capitalises on a mistake in the Templenoe defence to kick over from distance.
The final 17 minutes including injury time saw Templenoe score 1-01 with the goal coming from a penalty and the point from a free. Stacks failed to scored in the final 17 minutes including injury time and were reduced to 14 men after Ferdia received a straight red card.
Full Time; Austin Stacks 3-09 Templenoe 1-04
This win puts Stacks to the top of Division 2 with one game remaining. The final fixture is fixed to be played on Sunday June 23rd at 2pm in Connolly Park against Na Gaeil .
Austin Stacks; Ben Quilter, Colin Griffin, Jack O’Shea, Barry Walsh, Paul O’Sullivan (0-01), Adam Curran, Ronan Shanahan, Barry Shanahan, Luke Casey, Jordan Kissane (0-03), Greg Horan capt, Fiachna Mangan, Ferdia O’Brien (0-02, 2F), Shane O’Callaghan (0-01), Cian Purcell (2-02).
Subs; Conor Horan (1-00) for Fiachna Mangan (13 mins), Cian Dillane for Barry Shanahan (30 mins), Donnacha Sayers for Greg Horan (42 mins), Wayne Guthrie for Ben Quilter (50 mins), Ciaran O’Connell for Jack O’Shea (50 mins)
Referee; Evan Horan Glenflesk