Saturday 29th March 2025
Kerry GAA Credit Union County League Division 1
Austin Stacks v Ballymacelligott
Venue; Connolly Park
Throw-in; 5-00pm
Report by Tommy Naughton
Austin Stacks made it two wins in a row in Division 1 of the County League and got the better of Ballymac for the first time in three years who at one stage lead by 10 points.
Unlike the opening round fixture against Legion two weeks ago under the new rules which saw a free-flowing game this encounter was quite the opposite with only 9 of the 28 scores in the game coming from open play.
Stacks opened the scoring within the opening twenty seconds when Conor Myers turned his marker to kick the opener. Darragh O’Regan responded with the very next attack for Ballymac .Shane O’Callaghan kicked over for Stacks from a tight angle before a Sean Quilter free put Stacks in front by two after the opening five minutes.
Ballymac had the game level again with two converted frees from Aidan Breen but Stacks were back in front with the score of the game after a couple of quick kick passes had Stacks down the field in a matter of seconds before Conor Myers kicked over from just outside the 21-yard line.
Just after the quarter hour mark Conor Horan doubled the home sides lead but again Ballymac responded and were three points ahead in a matter of minutes, when Jack Joy converted a penalty where the initial foul seemed to be outside the penalty area and then Aidan Breen kicked over a two-point free.
Sean Quilter kicked over another free to close the gap to just two points before Stacks were reduced to fourteen men when Greg Horan was shown a Black Card. With only two points between the sides going into injury time it wasn’t a to worrying position for the home side. However Ballymac scored 1-02 without reply to go in at the break seven points up thanks to a point from Darragh Broderick and another converted penalty from Jack Joy who also kicked over a 45 before the half time whistle.
Half Time; Austin Stacks 0-06 Ballymacelligott 2-07
The second started where the first half finished with Ballymac on top scoring three unanswered points with Darragh Regan and Adam Sheehy scoring from play and a free from Jack Joy left the visitors ten points ahead with 25 minutes to go.
Four converted frees by Sean Quilter had the gap back to six with only fifteen minutes remaining and when Ballymac were reduced to 13 men after a Black Card was shown and a minute later Jack Joy picked up his second yellow, it was game on.
Stacks went all out attack moving the ball quickly from back to front and when Sean Quilter kicked over a two-point free followed by another free the Stacks were just three points behind as we entered the final ten minutes .
Shane O’Callaghan kicked over a close range free with five minutes remaining and two minutes later when Sean Quilter kicked his second two-point free the game was all level and it looked like now there was only going to be one winner as Ballymac couldn’t stop the tide or get passed the half way line with the pressure Stacks were now putting them under.
As the game headed into injury time a Shane O’Callaghan free had the Stacks in front for the first time since the 18th minute and this was followed by Stacks only point from open play in the second half from Cian Purcell. Ballymac pulled a point back from a Donal Daly free but when Stacks won the next kick-out referee Evan Horan blew the final whistle to end a great comeback as Stacks claimed a one point win. Up next is Rathmore at home on Sunday April 6th at 3pm.
Full Time; Austin Stacks 0-18 Ballymacelligott 2-11.
Austin Stacks; Ben Quilter, Sean og Brosnan, Ronan Shanahan, Colin Griffin, Colm Browne, Jack O’Shea, Eoghan Carroll, Greg Horan, Conor Horan (0-01), Jordan Kissane, Shane O’Callaghan (0-03, 2F), Fiachna Mangan, Conor Myers (0-02), Gearoid Fitzgerald, Sean Quilter (0-11, 7F, 2x 2point Free) .
Subs; Niall Fitzmaurice for Ronan Shanahan (Half Time), Cian Purcell (0-01) for Conor Myers (Half Time), Luke Casey for Colm Browne (43 mins), Adam Curran for Sean og Brosnan (50 mins), Cillian Litchfield for Conor Horan (54 mins).
Ballymacelligott; Christie Leen, Josh O’Keeffe, Darragh Sweeney, Sean Rice, Tadgh Brick, Dan O’Shea, Eoin Moriarty, Aidan Breen (0-02, 2F), Cathal Dunne, Adam Sheehy (0-01), Daire Keane, Jack Joy (2-02, 1F,1×45, 2xpen goals), Mairtin McKivergan, Darragh Broderick (0-01), Darragh Regan )0-02).
Subs used; Donal Daly (0-01, 1F).
Referee; Evan Horan (Glenflesk)
Match Images thanks to Adrienne McLoughlin (More to come)
