PEIL FAOI 17: The 2023 Austin Stack Club minor footballers gathered in the newly refurbished clubhouse with fans, followers, friends, parents, club mentors and club officers on Saturday night last for a very special occasion….the receiving of their hard-earned Minor County League (Division 1) and Minor Club Championship winners’ medals. For the 28 young men of The Rock it was a night to remember! It was a wonderful coming together of The Rock family as the older aficionados and the promising young guns joined in celebration of great achievements, namely, the seldom-achieved winning of two minor county titles and, ergo, the writing of yet another fine chapter in the annals of ‘The Street of Champions.’ Indeed, it was truly a Black‘n’Amber oireachtas of bród agus sástacht, of pride and satisfaction! The medals were presented by senior team manager, Billy Lee, and by club senior star and wearer of the Green‘n’Gold of Kerry, Greg Horan. Various speakers spoke glowingly of the heroic dedication, the great enthusiasm, the steely determination and manly sportsmanship of our minor panellists of ‘23. Club chairmen, Shane Lynch (senior) and Richie Conway (junior) were to the fore in the night’s activities. It was delightful to have Eileen and Ollie Kearns (a much-respected and successful club mentor/coach in former days) present for the presentation of the Liam Kearns Award (Minor Player of the Year). The honour of being the first recipient of that award went to Pádraig O’Halloran who had an outstanding year in the Black‘n’Amber. Paddy Lane and Ben Murphy were given presentations by Chairman Shane Lynch in recognition of their achievements on being chosen on the Electric Ireland team of the year. And the maoir uisce weren’t overlooked! Danny Lane, Caelan Long, Billy Kirby and Jamie Quillinan were given certificates and goodies in recognition of their faithful service to the minors! Laochra na Bliana: Steven Conway, Olivier Lata, Ryan McMahon, James Fisher (man-of-the-match….club championship final), Daniel Kirby (captaen….county league), Rory Lynch, Paddy Lane, Adam Johnson, Seán Heaslip, Thomas Deregee, Ben Murphy (captaen….club championship; was represented at the presentation by his younger brother, Fionn Ó Ciarba), Jake O’Connor, Donnacha Horgan, Jack Barrett, Fionnán Ryan, Jack Diggin, Ryan O’Driscoll, David Lucid, Seán Óg Brosnan, Ciarán Kavanagh, Liam O’Connell, Tomás O’Connell, Pádraig O’Halloran, Alex Touhy, Ronan Carroll (man-of-the-match….county league final), Gavin Casey, Cormac Bastible, Barry Nagle. Bualadh bos to all and comhghairdeachas to the team mentors.
JOIN THE ROCK: If you’d like to be an Austin Stack Club helper/mentor/administrator/coach ….just contact Tim McMahon on 083 1190323asap. Our club coaching committee would welcome newcomers. Join Team Rock!
PRIMARY SCHOOL TALENT: Calling all Rock primary school pupils to enter Scór na bPáistí. Can you sing? Play music? Like to be in a quiz team of four? Tralee District finals will take place in February. The county final will take place on March 23rd 2024. Now is the time to prepare for Primary School Scór (Scór na bPáistí ’24).
MOUNTHAWK – College Football: (i) The Mounthawk boys challenged their old rivals, Coláiste Bréanainn Chill Airne, in the final of the Corn Uí Shúilleabháin (Kerry Colleges) senior football competition in Austin Stack Park on Tuesday! Well done, lads, on a mighty effort/performance! Congratulations to Mercy Mounthawk O Sullivan Cup Winners. Delighted to see so many Rockies onboard: Michael Tansley, Pádraig O Halloran, Jack & Ben Murphy, Daniel Kirby, James Fisher, Paddy Lane, Noah Townsend. Stephen Conway, Sean Heaslip & Bobby Byrne.
(ii) ‘Well done’ to the Mercy Mounthawk senior boys who had a fine 0-15 victory over Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne in Group 1 of the Corn Uí Mhuirí (Munster Colleges) competition. Scór deiridh: 3-13 to 0-7. The Rockmen on board: Michael Tansley, Pádraig Ó hAllmharáin, Jack Ó Murchú, Ben Ó Murchú, Daniel Ó Ciarba, James Fisher, Paidí Ó Laighin, Noah Townsend. Dar ndóigh is é Corn Uí Mhuirí atá go mór in aigne acu! (iii) The following U16½ Mounthawk Rock lads, Ben Litchfield, Harry Murphy, Ben Murphy, Alex Touhy, Cormac Bastible, Eoin Murphy, Liam Sweeney-O’Connor, Jay Sweeney-O’Connor, Jayden Moriarty, Jack Shanahan, Jack Diggin, still have an eye on the Dunloe Shield. (P.Ó hAllmharáin)
AN GAELCHOLÁISTE – College Hurling: Bhí mí-ádh mór ar laochra Ghaelcholáiste Chiarraí ar an bhFosadh. The Gaelcholáiste U19s were disappointed with their a four point loss against an Ráth Mhór Dé hAoine seo caite due to injury woes ach thug siad taispeántas ollmhór iomaíochta. While Gavin Ó Cathasaigh agus Rory Ó Loinsigh gave sterling performances ní raibh rith an ráis leo ar deireadh. Táimid fós ag tnúth leis an gcluiche leathcheannais iománaíochta (Munster semi-final…Corn Uí Chinnéide) faoi stiúir an Mháistir Uí Mhurchú, former Rock hurler. Tá súil againn go mbeidh ár laochra i mbarr a maitheasa ar an 15ú Nollaig. Ar deireadh….nóta beag to wish Lúcás Ó Cathasaigh, who was unable to be involved on Friday due to injury, a speedy and full recovery go luath. GCC Abú! (D.Ó Loinsigh)
THE GREEN – College Football: (i) The Green CBS U19s weren’t successful v Baile an Easpaig last week in the Corn Uí Mhuirí competition (Group 4). They challenged Bandon High School on Tuesday (28th). The Rockmen on the team: Thomas Deregee, Fionnán Ryan, Ronan Carroll, Olivier Lata, Ryan O’Driscoll, Donnacha Horgan, Seán Óg Ó Brosnacháin.
CLUB LOTTO: Thanks to all supporters and sellers of our club lotto: (i) Kirby’s Brogue Inn, Rock Street; (ii) Siopa de Barra, An Charraig; (iii) Commane’s Bookshop (PC Books), Rock Street; (iv) O’Flynn Interiors, Rock Street; (v) Hussey’s Deli and Newsagency, Prince’s Quay; (vi) The Burger Shack, Monavalley.
CLUB GEAR: For club gear go to www.oneills.com
SENIOR TEAM: ‘Well done’ to our senior footballers on their great victory over Ballymacelligott in the District Championship final on Sunday last.