Austin Stacks Under 14 team were crowned Kerry Feile Champions yesterday in Farranfore. Captain fantastic Shane Walsh was awarded the prestigious Dan O’Sullivan Memorial Cup in front of a large and vocal contingent of travelling supporters. The final score in the final was 1-8 to 0-3. This was played over 20 minutes a half and the Rockies found themselves leading at half time on a score line of 5 points to 1.
Facing the stiff breeze and uphill against a formidable home team, there was little doubt that the second game would be decided by the smallest of details. The moment that turned the match was super save by our goal keeper supremo Robbie Murphy form a point blank effort. Only a few moment s later some excellent approach work by Michael Slattery and super sub Michael O’Gara resulted in Joe O’Connor finishing the ball to the net at the other end. This gave us much needed breathing space, and wave after wave of attack was repelled by our steadfast defence of Dylan Casey, Tomas Sheehy, Donagh McMahon, Shane Walsh, Padraig Looney and man of the match Odhran Liston. Midfielders Gearoid Fitzgerald and Ciaran O’Reilly provided a strong platform at midfield as they provided an excellent link between defence and attack.
Gearoid Sheehan and Harry O’Callaghan worked their black and amber socks off in the half forward line with Joe O’Connor and Michael Linnane, Michael Slattery and Cian Holden worked hard and all made a telling contribution. David Fitzmaurice, when introduced to the full forward line proved a handful for the home defence and overall it was a well won victory in a sporting contest against a valiant home side. Given the nature of the competition it was never possible to give all on the panel some game time, and it is to the credit of the entire panel that they displayed a great team attitude at all times, giving encouragement and support when it was most needed.
Also commiserations to a gallant Firies side who lost their talisman through injury in the second half and their Manager Eugene Cosgrove who gave a magnaminous and sporting speech in our dressing room afterwards.
Thanks to our Juvenile Chairman, Tim McMahon, who left no stone unturned in making sure that the squad were given every help needed in winning the holy grail of Juvenile football. Also a big word of thanks to our sponsors Barry’s Bakery and to all the parents and those who ferried the players first to Fossa for the semi final and then on to Farranfore for the final. Earlier, in the semi-final we saw off the challenge of Dingle in Fossa on a score line of 3-8 to 0-1. Players to impress in this game were Joe O’Connor, Donagh McKivergan and Padraig Looney.
Panel: Casey, Dylan.,Crowley, Tom, Dore, Alan, Draghici, Simon. Fitzgerald, Gearoid. Fitzmaurice, David. Kelliher, Shane. Linnane, Michael. Liston, Odhran. Looney, Padraig. Lowe, Conor. Lynch, Eoin. Healy, Hugh. Holden, Cian. Killeen, Ciaran. McKivergan, Donagh. McMahon, Donagh. Murphy, Robbie. O’Callaghan, Harry.,O’Connell, Dean., O’Connor, Evan., O’Connor, Joe., O’Gara, Michael. O’Reilly, Ciaran. O’Sullivan, Darragh. Sheehan, Gearoid. ,Sheehy, Tomas. Slattery, Michael. Talbot, Cian. Walsh, Shane.
Mentors: Kieran Kelliher, Kieran O’Callaghan, Eamon O’Reilly and Gene O’Donnell
Austin Stacks winning Féile team 2013
Stacks Captain Shane Walsh accepts the Dan O’Sullivan Memorial Cup