UNDER 7: Our 40+ U7 boys continued their indoor football action in the Mounthawk School Hall last Sunday. Another very enjoyable session was had by players and coaches. Skills, new and old, were practised and a few exciting short games were played!! Come along again next Sunday (28th), boys…all welcome…bring (another!) friend! Mercy Mounthawk is the venue and the starting time is 10.00am. We are inviting everybody who was born in 2017, 2018, 2019 or 2020 chun teacht agus chun a bheith páirteach linn sa gym. All queries, re times/training/coaching/etc, to Richie on 089 2470791. The Rock U7 leaders: Mikey Collins, William Kirby, Kevin O’Leary. Joe Kinsella, St John Hegarty, Rickie Moloney, Ger Breen, Pa McCarthy, Wayne Guthrie, Brian O’Donoghue, Darren O’Sullivan, Reggie Galvin. Like to join them?
FAOI 9: We again encourage all boys who were born in 2015/2016 to come along to The Rock Club and to be part of the U9-ers. These 33+ fine footballers are now well settled into their 2024 season. Our indoor training/coaching will be held again in the Mounthawk Secondary School Hall at I1.00am on Sunday (morning) next (28th). New players welcome; beidh fáilte is céad roimh gach éinne. Má tá aon cheist agat….cuir glaoch ar Richie ar 089 2470791. Our U9 football mentors: Michael Lynch, Richard Long, Éamonn Scanlan, Marc Ó Sé, Liam Walsh, Oliver Lata, Martin Courtney.
UNDER 11s ON THE ASTRO: The U11 boys (born in 2013/2014) are again being called to action! Date/venue: Sunday next (28th) on the Astro Turf pitch at The Green CBS Secondary School (off Dan Spring Road). Be there and ready, boys, for an 11.00am kick-off. All boys welcome agus tabhair cairde leat!! Call Richie on 089 2470791 for answers to any questions that you may have. The experienced team that looks after our U11 footballers: Colm Mangan, David Lucid, Finbarr Canty, Tim McMahon, Kevin Counihan.
UNDER 13s in THE GREEN: Our under 13 boys took their first steps of the 2024 season and were back to the playing pitch on Friday evening last in The Green School. They worked hard, in what was a very enjoyable session, under the watchful eye of Jack Morgan and his fellow coaches. 37 Under 13 boys were in attendance….tríocha seacht i lár Mhí Eanáir!! Next Friday again, boys! More of the same! The leadership team: Wayne Quillinan, Micko Horan, Breandán Mac Gabhann, Jonathan Magnier, Gearóid Ó Tíocháin, Richard Long, Steven Conway. (Micko Horan)
UNDER 15s IN THE GYM: Our Under 15 boys, those born in 2009 or in 2010, will continue their preseason groundwork this Friday (26th) in the club gym i bPáirc Uí Chonghaile. This will be the third U15 session of the new year. Good luck to everybody….gach ádh oraibh!. Bainisteoirí na bpeileadóirí Faoi 15: Pa Laide, Ger Hobbert, Dan Ahern, Tim McMahon, Dónal Corcoran, Ciarán Murphy, Shane Lucid. (Dan Ahern)
PEIL FAOI 17: The U17s are rearing to go! However, many of our boys are busy with college football. The Rock U17 football mentors: Theo Ó Duigín, Frankie Murphy, Liam Lynch, Ronan Kavanagh, David Courtney, Morgan O’Connell.
SCÓR na bPÁISTÍ: The Tralee District finals of Scór na bPáistí will take place in February. The county final will take place on March 23rd. Competitions: a quiz team of four (have we 4 scholars?), solo singing (anybody with a voice for The Rock?), ballad group, recitation/scéalaíocht, music group, figure/set dancing.
THE GREEN – Peil: (i) The Green Under 19 boys had a fine win v The Abbey CBS, Tipperary, in the Munster quarter final of the Corn Uí Mhuirí competition……2-13 to 1-5! A great victory! Well done, boys! The Green will meet either Coláiste na Sceilge or Mallow’s Patrician Academy in the semi-final. Another big game for The Green! The Rock boys on the panel: Thomas Deregee, Fionnán Ryan, Ronan Carroll, Olivier Lata, Donncha Horgan, Aodhán Horgan, Ryan O’Driscoll, Seán Óg Ó Brosnacháin. Football is alive and well in Tralee!
(ii) Wednesday 7th February is D-day for The Green Under 17 footballers who are eagerly looking forward to their upcoming challenge in the Frewen Cup competition (for Munster schools). If the Tralee boys win they’ll expect to be challenging Midleton CBS or Coláiste Naomh Flannán na hInse. The Rock boys on the panel: Olivier Lata, Fionnán Ryan, Ronan Carroll, Aodhán Horgan and Ryan O’Driscoll. An Fhaiche Abú!
MOUNTHAWK – Peil: (i) Having overcome Coláiste Naomh Proinsias, Baile an Róistigh, the Mercy Mounthawk Under 19 footballers are now preparing for their next big encounter….a Munster semi-final clash v The Sem (Coláiste Bhréanainn). It is presumed that the game will take place on Wednesday next (31st) and a close exciting encounter is expected. Tralee will hold its breath! Best wishes to Michael Tansley, James Fisher, Jack Murphy, Ben Murphy, Pádraig O’Halloran, Daniel Ó Ciarba, Paddy Lane, Noah Townsend and their fellow Mounthawkers.
(ii) The Mercy Mounthawk U17 footballers are eagerly looking forward to their upcoming Munster U17 challenge. May success be theirs! Our lads on the panel: Ben Litchfield, Harry Murphy, Ben Murphy, Alex Touhy, Cormac Bastible, Eoin Murphy, Liam Sweeney-O’Connor, Jack Shanahan, Jack Diggin. Mercy Mounthawk Abú!
AN GAELCHOLÁISTE: (i) Peil: Bua iontach in éadan an Tóchair! Frosty conditions did little to temper a fine performance from sinsir Ghaelcholáiste Chiarraí an tseachtain seo caite i gCaherslee. D’éirigh le Rory Ó Loinsigh, Luke agus Gavin Ó Cathasaigh agus a gcairde Causeway a shárú le ceithre phointe bhreátha. Chabhraigh cúl déanach Pheadair Ó Dhubhghaill go mór chun Sciath Uí Mhuimhneacháin a shocrú dár nGaiscígh! Maith sibh, a leaideanna! Imríodh an cluiche in Ard Fhearta. (ii) Iománaíocht: The hurlers’ big day is this Thursday (25ú) as their cluiche craoibhe (the Munster U19 E Hurling Final) has been scheduled for Ráth Caola. Tá scoláirí an choláiste ag tnúth go mór lena gcraobh iománaíochta ar an Déardaoin seo. (Dáithí Ó Loinsigh)
THE ROCK WALKING GROUP: Tuesday at the clubhouse….7.30pm is starting time for the ‘Every Step Counts’ walking group. Bí ag siúl linn! Route: club, Connolly Park, Monavalley, Bóthar’Bracker’, Cnoc an tSeabhaic, An Bealach Glas (Greenway), clubhouse. Mens sana in corpore sano….sláinte aigne, sláinte choirp.
CLUB LOTTO: Thanks to all supporters and sellers of our club lotto tickets and especially to (i) Siopa Chaoimhín de Barra, An Charraig, (ii) Paudie Commane’s Bookshop (PC Books), Rock Street, (iii) O’Flynn Interiors, Rock Street, (iv) Hussey’s Deli and Newsagency, Prince’s Quay, (v) The Burger Shack, Monavalley and (vi) Kirby’s Brogue Inn, Rock Street.
CLUB GEAR: For club gear go to www.oneills.com
MEAS UAIT ~~ MEAS CHUGAT: We mention the GAA Give Respect~~Get Respect campaign at the commencement of our new season. Let’s ensure that hurling, football and handball are promoted and played in a positive, fair and enjoyable manner and that players, coaches, mentors, parents, spectators, supporters, referees and other officials have respect for each other on and off the pitch. Let’s ensure that this culture of meas-ar-chách is promoted in all Rock Club activities…meas ar chách ó ghin go bás! Meas! Respect! Ómós! Honour! Consideration!
CRUINNIÚ CINN BHLIANA: A very successful Austin Stack Club AGM (senior section of the club) took place in the Clubrooms on Sunday last. A good crowd of over 40 club members was in attendance, despite severe weather conditions. Apart from a couple of positions that will be shortly filled, the outgoing executive committee was re-elected. After 5 fruitful years as treasurer, Mike Tangney has retired. His dedicated attention to the financial affairs of the club was gratefully acknowledged and a presentation was made to him by Siobhán de Paor (rúnaí) and Shane Lynch (cathaoirleach). Martin Collins stepped down from the publicity position, having worked faithfully, conscientiously, courteously, efficiently and effectively for 34 years, initially, as secretary and, later, as oifigeach caidrimh phoiblí. A tribute to Martin may be read on the club media/website; bheadh Máirtín Ó Coileáin sé molta dá mbeimis inár dtost.
RECYCLING: The Austin Stack Club Ladies (LGFA) Clothing Recycling Fundraiser will take place in the clubrooms on Saturday February 17th from 12.01pm to 3.00pm. Only clothing items, footwear, handbags and belts suitable for re-sale will be accepted (no household linens, bed linen, duvets or pillows). Your support would be appreciated….mórbhuíochas.
ALL-IRELAND CLUB FINALS: What excitement and sporting tension was experienced in Croke Park (and in front of tv sets) on Sunday last….the windy weather was almost unnoticed! What are the greatest field games on the planet? One longs for the day when The Rock will again play at GAA headquarters….even at intermediate level!