SUMMER CAMP: Our 2nd Summer Camp will commence on Tuesday next….after Kerry’ll have beaten the Dubs!…in CAHERSLEE at 9.30am. All boys and girls should enjoy the fun and football right up to Saturday. So, the action will take place from 4th August to 8th August. Be planning! Bí ullamh! Bí ann! Agus abair paidir for fine weather!
UNDER 6/8/10: (i) This week our Under 6/8/10s travel to Milltown and take on the local players. Players will be informed of details during the week. (ii) Usual Under 6s and Under 8s…unless we’ve an away game: (a) on Sunday at 11.00am in Caherslee and (b) on Wednesday at 6pm in the CB primary school field (Cluain na Lobhar). (iii) The Paddy Drummond Cup competition for the Under 10s continues on Thursday night in Caherslee. (iv) On Saturday last we played in the John Mitchel Club’s annual Under 8 Tournament in Chamfers, .J.J.Sheehy Road…completing 3 cinn as a chéile! This has always been one of the highlights of our season and each year we look forward to participitating in the best day’s football for this age group. There were 2 Groups of 4 in the Under 8 section and we were in with the Mitchels, Ballymac and Beale. The first game was a handy win for The Rock against local rivals John Mitchels and this was followed by wins over B/Mac and Beale. This left us on top of our group and another local derby was in store with Na Gaeil who had finished second in their group behind Churchill. A Tyrone like performance of tackling and movement saw the Rockies into their 3rd final in 3 years at this age group. The final against a much fancied Churchill, who had defeated Beale in the other semi-final, was a much tighter affair with the Rock coming away with the trophy for the 3rd year in a row on a scoreline of 0-3 to 0-1. Captain Conor Myers was presented with the trophy to scenes of wild celebrations by this very promising bunch of players and Seán Quilter received the Man of the Match award for an outstanding display. Great credit must go to team mentors Johnny Chester (who’s over the moon after the Déise victory!) and Denis McCarthy for all the hard work and who ensured that all players had a go! Thanks also to the very vocal Moms & Dads for all the support on the big occasion…none more so than Ann Myers who was like a packed Hill 16 all on her own!!! Thanks must also go to the John Mitchel club for once again serving up a feast of football that will live long in the memory of these future Kerry stars. Squad: Danny Draghici, Seán McCarthy, Dara Barry-Walsh, J.R. Tschota, Niall Fitzmaurice, Conor Myers (Capt), Adam Curran, Seán Quilter, Pádraig McCannon, Liam Tobin, Eoghan Carroll, Joe Bastible, Ben Leahy, Greg Scanlon, Cian Purcell, Elliot Lynch, Conor Kavanagh, Pádraic Linnane, Seán O’Driscoll, Richard O’Gara, David Burke, Luke Chester. (v) We were also involved in the J. Mitchel Club’s Under 10 Tournament in Chamfers. Our Under 10 boys won their 3 group games against Rathmore, Na Gaeil and Castle Island Desmonds to top the group in impressive form with Na Gaeil finishing second in the group. In the leathchraobh against the Mitchels, who had finished second in the other group, the balance of power see-sawed to and fro before the Yellow Road lads pulled away for a great 5 point win against us. We probably got caught napping mar bhíomar ar an bhfoireann faoi 10 ba fhearr! Na Gaeil, whom we beat in the group stage, went on to win the final against the Mitchels. Mentors/Bainisteoirí: Éamonn Ó Raghailligh agus Colm Ó Miongáin. Buíochas agus credit to all the above mentioned mentors as well as to Tim McMahon and Mike Lynch for all the hard work during the year. Buíochas arís le Club na Mistéalach. Bhí an-lá againn go léir.
UNDER 8/10/12 HURLING: (i) The VHI Hurling Summer Camp will be held in Austin Stack Park, J.J.Sheehy Road, from 17th August to 21st August. (ii) It is expected that the County Board HURLING initiative will recommence on Friday 28th August.
PEIL FAOI 12A: Training for The Rock 12A team continues at 6pm on Mondays and on Thursdays in Caherslee.
PEIL FAOI 12B: B boys training continues at 6pm on Mondays and on Thursdays in Caherslee.
ACADAMH NA gCAILÍNÍ: (i) LAST WEEK: due to the Ciarraí v Aontroim game we had the Cathaír Sallí pitch to ourselves, with the boys training cancelled. The Under 12 girls joined in with the Under 14 girls for the day and underwent several drills and culminated with a game, The Under 12 girls, of course, were getting in their last training session before the in-house Aibhistín de Staic/Scoil Eoin Baiste versus the Rest of the World match. Meanwhile, the Under 10 girls, with the help of a few Under 8s, had a few drills which involved a very helpful young lad being used as target practice and also, with the use of such accessories as hula hoops, ladders, etc., the girls had an obstacle course with a difference; this was finished with a game. (ii) NEXT SUNDAY: training continues on Sunday at 11am, when we expect to have a full house. (iii) MNÁ NA CARRAIGE: the Aibhistín de Staic moms and friends “get active” session continues this and every Tuesday night at James Connolly Park from 8.30 – 9.30. Let’s see you all there. (iv) SCOIL EOIN v THE REST (cailíní): the in-house Under 12 Scoil Eoin Baiste versus the Rest of the World is to be played on Wednesday 29th July at Connolly Park. This will be great craic…’hope you won’t the one to miss it! (v) BIRTHDAYS: a belated “breithlá sona” to Rebecca Hayes who was seven on 22nd July and a “breithlá sona” to Molly O’Carroll who will be nine on Saturday 1st August.
UNDER 14A: (i) Summer training for our club Under 14A team takes place in Connolly Park on Mondays and on Fridays at 4.30pm. (ii) Our boys on the Kerry Under 14 Development Squad are proving their worth: Greg Horan, Eoghan O’Carroll, Barry Walsh, Tomás Ziga, Seosamh Ó Ceallaigh, Conor Jordan, and Kyle Fitzgibbon. (iii) Tralee Community Gardaí Under 14 Football League Division 1 (á eagrú ag Coiste Thrá Lí): A Team v K-O’R: Brian Horgan; Dylan Harnett, Barry Walsh, Tommy Nicholson; Shane Greensmith, James O’Connor, Brendan Duffin (0-1); Greg Horan (5-5), Tomás Ziga (0-01); James Galvin (0-1); Conor Jordan (0-1), Mike O’Donnell (1-0); Breandán Caball (1-0), Kyle Fitzgibbon (1-1), Eoghan Mac Iomhargáin. Ionadaithe: Anthony Moynihan, Niall Carroll-Cane, Aidan Quinn. (iv) Coiste Thrá Lí fixtures for 14As: (a) next match v Raonaithe na Leamhna at home on Tuesday next, 4th August, at 7.30pm; (c) v Deasúnaigh Oileán Ciarraí…at home on 10/08/2009; (c) v Ard Fhearta…away on 24/08/2009.
FAOI 14B: (i) Training for the B boys will take place in Connolly Park on Wednesdays and on Fridays from 6.45pm to 8pm and a game will be played on Sundays at 7pm. (ii) Tralee Community Gardaí (arna eagrú ag Coiste Thrá Lí) Under 14 Football League Division 3 fixtures for Austin Stack Club B boys as follows: (a) v Ballymac…at home @ 7pm on 31/07/2009…not good news, I’m afraid! Bhíodar ró-mhaith dúinn ar an oíche! Austin Stacks Under14B team went down 1-4 to 2-13 to a strong Ballymac team on Friday night last in Stack’s second game of the Coiste Thrá Lí league. Stacks played the first half with a slight breeze but were unable to match a hungrier Ballymac team who scored 1-5 to Stack’s single point in the first half. Stacks started the second half stronger and were unlucky not to score a goal immediately after the restart. Ballymac, however, continued to pile on the pressure and ran out winners on a scoreline of 1-4 to 2-13 in favour of Ballymac. On the brighter side there were great displays from some of the Under 12 team who joined the team for the night. Cathal O’Reilly was solid as a corner back while Colin Griffin and Seán Dukes created a formidable partnership, creating many attacks while Calvin Foley came on and contributed a fine score . Dylan Hartnett, as captain, played a great game as did Seán Hurley and the recently returned Sam Nealon. Despite losing, this team gave everything to make for a very exciting second half and a renewed optimism for the remainder of the competition. The team: Craig Corcoran, Seán Hurley, Adian McQuinn, Dylan Hartnett (Captain), Colin Griffin, Ciarán Flannigan, Sam Nealon, Brian Hill, Breandán Caball, Timmy Murphy, Anthony Murphy, Anthony Moynihan, Shane Flaherty, Jack O’Donnell, Seán Dukes, Cian Casey, Cathal O’Reilly, Andrew McEllistrim; (b) v St Pats…at home on 24/08/2009; (c) v Ballymac…away on 31/08/2009.
PEIL FAOI 15: Our representatives on the Kerry Under 15 Development Squad: Shane Walsh and Ciarán Ó Conaill. They had a great win over Clare, 3-13 to 0-3, but succumbed to Cork on a scoreline of 3-5 to 1-2 in the semi-final. Taithí iontach!
PEIL FAOI 16: (i) The Under 16 lads have training on Mondays, on Wednesdays and on Fridays at 4pm in Connolly Park…except on match evenings. (ii) Our Under 16s gave a great account of themselves against Legion. Legion: 3-7; Austin Stacks: 2-10. Two brilliant goals scored in the second half by Danny Roche and Danny Carroll were among the highlights of this fine game played in ideal conditions in Killarney. All involved with the Rock were very pleased with the quality of the play and the commitment of the team and the fancied Legion side were surely grateful to escape with a draw. Stacks played some delightful football throughout and some of the forward play was a reminder to all present of the great traditions of this club. The willingness of the boys to work hard was also a feature of the performance – Mike Godley personified this with some marvellous tracking and dispossessing of his opponent. This was a night when every single Stacks’ player could be pleased with his performance; others to play very well at different times were Alan Crean, Michael Gallagher, Ciarán O’Connell, Darragh O’Brien, Greg Horan and the goalscoring Dannys. Having beaten Strand Road in Round 1, The Rock felt that they had a platform from which to progress to the knockout stages and the hope was that the side could continue to improve in the coming weeks…but “the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft aglay”…“ní mar a shíltear a bítear”! Austin Stack Team: Paddy Fitzgibbon; Alan Duggan, Alan Crean, Michael Gallagher; Tom McLoughlin, Ciarán O’Connell, Niall Commane; Michael Godley (0-1), Shane Crowley; Darragh O’Brien (0-3), David O’Sullivan, Danny Roche (1-2); Greg Horan (0-4; 2 frees), Dean Bastible, Danny Carroll (1-0); Subs: Kyle Fitzgibbon (0-1), Paul Galvin, Conor Jordan, Daniel Walsh. (iii) In last Wednesday’s encounter, our 3rd championship match, we met a strong Kilcummin outfit that held sway over us, our team being weakened because of holidays, etc. We fought as well as we could with several younger players having been drafted in and in the second half we began a comeback that showed our fighting spirit! A Danny Roche expertly executed three-pointer raised our expectations and the revival continued as several good points were notched. We upped our efforts, we marked a little tighter, made some good runs off the ball and did a couple of nice 1,2s! However, the Willie Maher managed boys in red and green tightened their scoring boots, discovered Paddy Fitz’s well guarded net and left us behind on the final stretch! Ár bhfoireann: Paddy Fitzgibbon; Pól Ó Gealbháin, Micheál Ó Gallchóir, Alan Duggan; Tom McLoughlin, Ciarán Ó Conaill, Niall Ó Comáin; Michael Godley, Shane Crowley; Dara O’Brien (0-4), Danny Roche (1-0), Greg Horan (0-1); David O’Sullivan (1-1), Kyle Fitzgibbon (0-1), Danny Carroll (0-1). Fir ionaid: Barry Walsh, Shane Begley, Conor Jordan. (iv) Our other championship games: (a) away to Castleisland on Monday 27ú Iúil…Our Under 16 Footballers travelled to Castleisland and came away with a hard fought victory over the Desmonds on a scoreline of 5-10 to 3-13 for Austin Stacks. An-bhua! With several regulars missing due to holidays and injuries our panel was stretched to the limit but, however, our boys showed great character and spirit to record a well deserved win. Panel: Patrick Fitzgibbon, Alan Duggan, Michael Gallagher, Paul Galvin, Greg Switzer, Ciarán O’Connell, Niall Commane, Scott Monaghan, Alan Crean, Michael Godley (1-2), Barry Walsh, Shane Walsh (1-0), Kyle Fitzgibbon, Danny Roche (1-2), David O’Sullivan, Daragh O’Brien (1-5), Conor Jordan, Shane Begley, Danny Carroll (1-1); (b) at home to the Dr. Croke Club on Wednesday last….we won with skill and good combined play…well done, lads! Playing their second game in three days our under 16 footballers recorded a great win in Connolly Park. Crokes were unbeaten going into this game! However, the Stacks’ boys continued their recent impressive form with an emphatic win. Austin Stacks: 4 gls. 5 pts.– Dr. Crokes: 5 pts. All 17 players who played on Wednesday night showed the type of spirit and commitment that has been the hallmark of Stacks’ teams down through the years and, no doubt, team trainer Joe Smith was a very happy man afterwards…é chomh sásta le Diúic! With a number of key players due to return shortly from injuries and holidays, the future looks very promising for this particular group of players. Panel: Paddy Fitzgibbon, Alan Duggan, Michael Gallagher, Paul Galvin, Niall Commane, Barry Walsh, Scott Monaghan, Stephen O’Connor, Alan Crean, Ciaran O’Connell, Daragh O’Brien (0-5), Danny Carroll, Greg Horan (2-0), Conor Jordan, Danny Roche (1-0), Kyle Fitzgibbon (1-0), David O’Sullivan, Greg Switzer. If we can maintain this standard of combined play we should give a good account of ourselves in our next game which will be on Monday next v An Bóthar Buí. (c) away to John Mitchel Club….Austin Stacks: 2-8; John Mitchels : 4-15. Being expected to play their 3rd. game in 5 days proved a bridge too far for this young Under 16 team. Having beaten Castleisland Desmonds on Monday and Dr.Crokes on Wednesday, tiredness eventually caught up with our boys at “Chamfers” on Friday when a stronger and fresher Mitchels’ team ran out comfortable winners. Great credit to the lads for trying their best in terrible conditions. We play Laune Rangers in Killorglin on Wednesday next 5th. August 2009 and a win there should ensure a semi-final place. Panel v Mitchels: Paddy Fitzgibbon, Alan Duggan, Michael Gallagher, Paul Galvin, Scott Monaghan, Stephen O’Connor, Niall Commane, Greg Switzer, Alan Crean, Ciaran O’Connell, Daragh O’Brien (0-5), Danny Carroll (0-1), Barry Walsh, Danny Roche (0-2), David Sullivan (1-0), Shane Walsh (1-0), Kyle Fitzgibbon. (v) Tralee divisional team championship: Wednesday 19th August. Tralee Board selectors have been attending our games!
40 BLIAIN DE SCÓR: To celebrate 40 years of Scór (‘69~’o9) a concert will be held in the Malton Hotel, Cill Airne, on Saturday 15th August…an enjoyable evening is expected. In that time our club reached 6 All-Irelands: (i) Quiz in ’85: on the team were Peter Walsh, Liam Lynch and Tadhg Crowley. Tadhg who is “dochtúir” to the present Kilkenny senior hurling team was a good under age hurling goalie for our club. (ii) Rince Foirne: John Chambers’ dancers: Martina Shalvey, Liz Chambers, Susan Moriarty, Kay Heaslip, Marian O’Connor, Marian Murphy, Nóirín Murphy and Mrs Freeman. (iii) Aithriseoireacht in ’01. (iv) A Sketch entitled “Na 3 Cheist” with George Óg, Tomás and Nóra de Rís. (v) “Ceithre Cinn as a Chéile/Four in a Row”: a Sketch with which we won our only All–Ireland in Scór (’82); actors were Sandra Harty, Sinéad Ní Chréan-Loinsigh agus Muintir de Rís. (vi) A Sketch (’86) called “Na Púcaí” with actors Róisín Ní Bhriain, Seán de Buitléar, Micheál Ó Dúlaing, Caitríona Caball and Máire Ní Chréan-Loinsigh. An All-Ireland was also won by a former club Scór participant, Martina Ryle, who was victorious with Ballymac in Amhránaíocht Aonair. We participated in Munster finals in Ballad Group (Sinsear/Óg), Sketch (Sinsear/Óg), Figure Dance (Sinsear/Óg), Recitation(Sinsear/Óg), Music, Quiz.
BOOKs TO READ: (i) “The Gaelic Athletic Association 1884-2009” (Irish Academic Press) ~ a series of essays assessing 125 years of CLG! (ii) “Kerry’s Fighting Story” (Mercier Press)…reprint…edited by Brian Ó Conchubhair.
HANDBALL: Well done to Breandán Caball and his handball partner, Dónall Ó Fionnagáin, on their win in the first round of the Munster 60×30 Handball Championship. Bhuadar ar Thiobraid Árann: 15-6; 15-7. They will represent the Fitzgerald-Jones Club and Kerry in the semi-final v Clare next Friday. Go n-éirí go geal leo.
CAMPA GAEILGE: A Campa Samhraidh as Gaeilge will be held in Cumann Iosaif from 17th to 21st August for 11/12 year olds. Fáilte roimh éinne a bheadh sásta/toilteanach gach iarracht a dhéanamh an Ghaeilge a labhairt.
COISTE NA nÓG CHIARRAÍ: www.kerrycoistenanog.com
ÁR gCLUB FÉIN: www.austinstacks.ie….please, call again!
CIARRAÍ: Good luck to Daniel, Shane and both Kerry teams. Ciarraí Abú!