SENIOR FOOTBALL: Kenmare Shamrocks 3-11 (20); Austin Stacks 1-15 (18).
We were ahead by four points to two inside the first twelve minutes of this Club Relegation game played in Fitzgerald Stadium on this Sunday afternoon (23rd Oct) with our points coming from four different players – Armin Heinrich from play after five minutes followed by two pointed frees by Michael O’Donnell and Seán Quilter and one from play by Shane O’Callaghan. But in the space of the next four minutes Kenmare got three consecutive goals to give them a seven points lead at that stage (3-2 to 0-4). We rallied well, however during the final quarter of the half, scoring a goal and four points to three for the opposition to leave them three ahead at the break (3-5 to 1-8). Michael O’Donnell got a cracker of a goal in the 18th minute followed by two more Sean Quilter points (one each from play and a free) and a point each from play by Jack O’Shea and Shane O’Callaghan.
We had a very poor third quarter, scoring just one point from a Michael O’Donnell free while Kenmare put over five more points during this period to restore their seven points lead (3-10 to 1-9) after fifty one minutes. But we put up a brave show in the closing minutes of the game scoring a further six points to just one for the opposition. Substitute David Mannix who was introduced in the 48th minute, scored four of those points (three from play) with the other two coming from Michael O’Donnell and Shane O’Callaghan.
It was good to see both Dylan Casey and Joey Nagle making second half appearances after being absent through injury for a good part of the season and also lovely to see Joseph O’Connor out on the pitch before the game after his recent surgery in Santry. We send best wishes to up and coming Senior Player, Cian Purcell, who will undergo his knee surgery this Wednesday. With others also due to return season 2023 will be something to look forward to even if we will be playing in the Intermediate Club Championship for the first time.
We will now have at least one more game to play before the season comes to an end and that will be a semi final outing in the Town Championship, details of which have yet to be announced.
Team: Wayne Guthrie, Colin Griffin, Barry Shanahan, Jack O’Shea (0-1), Paul O’Sullivan, Conor Jordan, Ronan Shanahan, Greg Horan, Michael O’Donnell (1-3 – two frees), Armin Heinrich (0-1), Michael O’Gara, Conor Horan, Seán Quilter (0-3 – two frees), Kieran Donaghy, Shane O’Callaghan (0-3).
Subs used: Gearóid Fitzgerald (31m), Dylan Casey (41m), Joey Nagle (41m), David Mannix (48m) (0-4 – one free).
And well done to Kerins O’Rahillys on winning this season’s Club Championship – their third title in the competition – with their other two wins coming in 2009 and 2010. One point just separated themselves and Templenoe at the end (0-15 to 0-14).