Sunday 16thMarch 2025
Kerry GAA Credit Union County League Division 1
Austin Stacks v Killarney Legion
Venue; Connolly Park
Throw-in; 3-00pm
Report by Tommy Naughton
Division 1 County League football returned to Connolly Park on a lovely spring afternoon as Stacks hosted Legion in the opening round of fixtures.
This was a game that could have gone either way with both teams showing why the new rules could make for a very exciting season if played in the correct manor.
Stacks will be delighted with the win and will take some huge positives from it, especially coming from behind when the game looked to be out of reach , but will also know there is room for improvement after conceding three easy and avoidable goals .
The visitors opened the scoring after three minutes from a short range free which was canceled out by a free from Sean Quilter less than a minute later. Eoghan Caroll kicked over from distance before legion also got their first score from play after seven minutes. Back to back points from play by Legion opened up a two-point gap which were cancelled out when Sean Quilter and Shane O’Callaghan both scored from play to leave the game level at 4 points each after 13 minutes.
Another converted free by Legion had them back in front before Eoghan Carrolls goal bound shot was saved by Brian Kelly at the expense of a point to level the game again. Legion responded again to regain the lead with three unanswered points in two minutes.
Conor Horan then created a bit of history when he kicked over the first ever two pointer to be scored in Connolly Park to put the minimum between the sides.
In the twenty first minute Legion got the first goal of the game when the easily got behind the stacks defense where they took advantage of the opportunity to raise the green flag. Stacks response was excellent with four points in a row, with points from Sean Quilter (45) , Jordan Kissane and Quilter again, this time with right foot to silence a few who doubted this mans ability . The final score of the half came from Conor Horan as the sides went in level.
Half Time; Austin Stacks 0-11 Killarney Legion 1-08
Legion started the second half with two quick scores from two close range frees. Sean Quilter pulled one back from a free before substitute Greg Horan proved that what ever his younger brother can do he can do also, when he nailed a huge two pointer off the outside of his boot to put Stacks in front for the first time since the fifth minute.
A minute later Greg split the Legion defense with a fantastic pass and Shane O’Callaghan fired to the back of the net to give the home side a four-point lead with twenty minutes remaining. However direct from the next kick out Legion had the ball in the back of the Stacks and the gap was down to one again.
Armin Heinrich pointed after a driving and direct run at the legion defense and the gap was opened to three points when Jordan Kissane kicked his second of the game a minute later. Legion pulled a point back before Conor Horan pointed to put the Stacks ahead by three as we headed into the final quarter.
Sean Quilter kicked over another free but then came a purple patch for legion who scored 1-03 without reply to go two points in front as the game entered into injury time. With the clock ticking towards the final whistle a long ball was sent into the Legion goal mouth where Shane O’Callaghan out jumped his man to flicked the ball passed the advancing keeper and into the net. Sean Quilter got the final score of the game a minute later to give Stacks and their new management a winning start to their league campaign.
Full Time; Austin Stacks 2-19 Killarney Legion 3-14
The game also marked the first Senior Start for Sean Og Brosnan at corner back and going on his display it defiantly wont be his last.
Austin Stacks:
Ben Quilter, Sean og Brosnan, Ronan Shanahan, Niall Fitzmaurice, Adam Curran, Jack O’Shea, Colm Browne, David Fitzmaurice, Armin Heinrich (0-01), Eoghan Carroll (0-02), Conor Horan (0-04, 1xF, 1x2point), Fiachna Mangan, Shane O’Callaghan (2-01), Sean Quilter (0-07, 4xF,1×45), Jordan Kissane (0-02).
Subs; Greg Horan (0-02, 1x2point) for David Fitzmaurice (35 mins), Luke Casey for Jordan Kissane (42 mins), Luke Chester for Adam Curran (42 mins), Colin Griffin for Sean og Brosnan (52 mins).
Killarney Legion;
Brian Kelly, Peter O Sullivan, Darragh O Doherty, Conor Gammell, Jonathan Lyne, Danny Sheahan, Cian Gammell(0-1), Shaun Keane, Eoghan O Sullivan, Finbarr Murphy, Sam Benson(1-1), Josh Bowler, Peter McCarthy(1-1) , Ryan O Grady (0-6), David O Sullivan(1-5) .
Subs; Bryan Walsh, Tom Benson, Cathal Sheahan, Colm O Cuiv, Mark Heffernan, Aindi O Cathasaigh, Luke Courtney, Jason O Sullivan.
Referee; Mike Hennessey (Ballyduff)
Images from the Division 1 County League opener between Austin Stacks and Killarney Legion in Connolly Park thanks to Adrienne McLoughlin.
Shane O’Cllaghan’s second goal