PEIL FAOI 7: (i) We’ll have the best of football, as usual, next Sunday morning (27ú) at 11am in Caherslee. (ii) Thursday evening’s football was brill! See you all this Thursday (5.30pm).
PEIL FAOI 9: (i) Hooping to see you all on Sunday next (August 27th), boys, and we’d like everybody to know that our Sunday sessions will continue until the end of October. (ii) Outstanding football was exhibited last Thursday at our final GoGames session of the season when we hosted Club Naomh Seanán. Well done, young men of The Rock! And, of course, the season isn’t over yet as the 5.30pm Thursday session will continue until the end of October. The Bracker Regan Cup competition will be coming up! Brilliant games ahead! (iii) Our annual trip to the St Finbarr Club in Cork City for the Canty Cup competition will take place in October. Wouldn’t it be nice to bring home that cup! (Tim McMahon)
ALL-STARS: More fun warm-up games and plenty skill and ball practice at 10am next Sunday (27ú Lúnasa) at the Austin Stack Club in Connolly Park. See you all, lads! And newcomers will always be welcome. (Cathal O’Shea)
PEIL FAOI 11: (i) More Football-For-Fun at 10.50am next Sunday (27ú Lúnasa) in Caherslee.(ii) The U11 Central Region GoGames (A and B):Keel v AdeS (as baile)…..great football played in Keel by our boys!Thursday (24th) at 7pm: Na Mistéalaigh v AdeS (as baile)…another good show by The Rock?There will be no semi-finals or finals in these games.
CAID FAOI 13: (i) The Rose Cup: Our 2023 Rose Cup boys enjoyed a busy day of football at Festival time. They played 5 games between two locations, Killeen and Ballyrickard. They got off to a flying start with a four-goal salvo that secured the points against Laune Rangers. However, defeat by a strong Douglas (Corcaigh) outfit meant that a big result was needed against Listowel Emmets, in the final group, to secure our passage to the shield semi-final. In a nail-biting encounter a well taken second-half goal was enough to earn a draw and the necessary point to progress to the knockout stages of the competition. Ardfert was next on our radar. The semi-final against Ardfert ebbed and flowed and ultimately two goals at either side of half-time booked a trip to Ballyrickard and a crack at Killarney Legion in the shield final. Alas, despite a flying start with an early goal, we were left to rue the missed chances that we had in the first half of that encounter. Legion built up a healthy lead midway through the 2nd half. Our Rock boys, just as they had done throughout the tournament, gave everything for the cause and a 2nd goal left just a kick of the ball between the teams. However, we were unable to salvage the game. It must be stressed that the boys represented the club with pride and with passion and gave their all throughout the tournament. Taking part in the Rose Cup Tournament was a great experience for the boys, despite the final loss; it was one of the highlights of the year. Thanks to John Slattery, to Tralee Town Board and to all the match officials for such a well run tournament. Thanks to Na Gaeil and Kerins-O’Rahilly Clubs for their hospitality and thanks to all volunteers for looking after us so well. Finally, mórbhuíochas ó chroí to friends and to families for all the support that the boys got throughout the day. Lá dár saol ab ea é! Austin Stack Club Rose Cup Squad: Jayden O’Dowd, Albi Gaxha, Conor Hanafin, Conor Murphy, Danny Lane, David Ahern, Diarmuid Hennessy, Ediart Topali, Eliot Calleja, Gearóid Corcoran, Joe O’Halloran, Liam Swords, Mark Foley, Mark Riordan, Ryan O’Flaherty, Séamus Keenan, Tom Dawson, Billy Kirby. (Dan Ahern)(ii) U13 Central League: Our B team travelled to Milltown to take on the hosts for a spot in the Division 6 final. Ultimately, the hosts emerged victorious in a titanic struggle. Scór… Milltown/Castlemaine B: 1-11; Austin Stack Club B: 0-12. This was a heart-breaking loss for a brave Rock team that gave everything in a very tight battle against very strong opponents. It was a perfect evening for football. We started slowly in the first half and had to be at our best to defend a number of strong Milltown attacks but we did well to keep the scoreboard reading low scores in the early stages. As the half wore on we gradually grew into the game and picked off a couple of good hard-earned scores that settled us; all the while, Milltown were very dangerous at the other end. The score at the break was 1-3 to 0-3 in favour of our opponents. Our lads came out flying in the second half and pinned Milltown back into their own half, picking off some lovely points to lead by 0-1 midway through the second half. Milltown, to their credit, responded in a strong fashion and picked off a couple of points of their own and lead by one. The game continued in this ding-dong fashion right to the end; only one point separated the teams with the game flowing from end to end and, ultimately, Milltown held out (after waves of pressure from the Black‘n’Amber forwards) and picked off the final winning score. Another tough defeat for our stalwarts who came very close to pulling off an excellent comeback victory away from home. These mighty men have given us great entertainment all year and we say a big ‘thank you’ to them and to the coaches who have put in a massive effort with them….work that will pay off in the years ahead. Maith sibh, a bhuachaillí! (Ed O’Regan)
PEIL FAOI 15: (i) Thanks to everyone who came along and supported our table quiz on Friday (11th). A great night was had by all and hard questions were asked…and answered! Rockites can do more than play nice football! Special thanks to Andrew Morrissey an Bhéil Bhinn who was Fear a’Tí (MC) for the event. The competition was tight and the craic was mighty. Well done, all! (ii) On Thursday of last week we played a challenge match against the U13 team. It was a poor night weatherwise but a good experience for all involved. Good caid was played. Our U15 boys got plenty game time and the U13s had some final preparations for the Rose Cup competition. (iii) ‘Well done’ to our three U15 boys who were involved with the North Kerry U15 development squad….Alex Touhy, Rory Lynch and Aodhán Horgan. They took All-lreland honours with a win over County Meath in Moneygall (Muine Gall Uí Bháma!) on Saturday 12th….lá mór ina saol! Maith sibh a leaideanna! B’shin éacht agus mórghaisce….that makes The Rock rock with pride! (iv) Training sessions will continue on Wednesday and on Sunday. Watch out for the group messages for this week’s training plans. So, boys, let’s keep up the hard work….an traenáil, an obair ar na scileanna agus an chomhimirt! Ar aghaidh leis an gCarraig! (Ger Hobbert)
MONEYGALL: Muine Gall means The Thicket of Foreigners.
PEIL FAOI 17: (i) Comhghairdeachas to Ben Murphy and to Paddy Lane who were chosen on the Minor Team of the Year. Éacht agus mórghaisce eile….that fills us all with pride! (ii) The boys who were unlucky in the Minor County Championship semi-final: Stephen Conway; James Fisher, Donnacha Horgan, Ciarán Kavanagh; Seán Heaslip, Fionnán Ryan, Pádraig O’Halloran; Ben Murphy, Daniel Kirby; Gavin Casey, Ronan Carroll, Thomas Derege; Ryan O’Driscoll, Paddy Lane, Cormac Bastible; Alex Tuohy; David Lucid; Jack Barrett; Ryan McMahon; Rory Lynch, Jake O’Connor, Seán Óg Ó Brosnacháin.
CLUB LOTTO: Please support the businesses of our lotto-sellers: (i) Hussey’s Deli and Newsagency, Prince’s Quay, (ii) The Burger Shack, Monavalley. (iii) Kirby’s Brogue Inn, The Rock, (iv) Siopa de Barra, An Charraig. (v) Commane’s Bookshop (PC Books), The Rock (iv) O’Flynn Interiors, The Rock.
CLUB SHOP: For club gear go to www.oneills.com
MEAS~~RESPECT FOR ALL: The Give Respect~~Get Respect campaign is a nationwide initiative by the GAA to ensure that Gaelic Games are promoted and played in a positive, fair and enjoyable manner and that players, coaches, mentors, groundsmen, match officials, club officials, club workers, parents, spectators and supporters show respect to each other. Association leadership in Kerry is committed to promoting and developing the RESPECT initiative. Collective responsibility is necessary to actively promote this culture of meas-ar-gach-éinne in all our club activities. Let’s ensure that the Austin Stack Club will be true to the principles of the campaign ón lá seo amach. Respect! Meas! Regard! Urraim! Honour! Ómós! Bíodh meas againn ar a chéile!
AN CHARRAIG: ‘Well done’ to our club seniors v Na Mistéalaigh in their second Intermediate Championship game. Go n-éirí go geal leo v Deasúnaigh Oileán Ciarraí.