Girls Academy: U8 & U10 girls will travel to Legion this Sunday for some challenge games. All players will be notified of details by text. The Academy sends Birthday greetings to Ciara O’Mahony who will be 11 on October 7th.
U12 Girls: North Kerry Ladies football organised an U11 girls tournament in Ennis last Saturday morning, Austin Stacks had 3 representatiives on the squad: Heather Mc Namara, Roisin Coffey & Grainne Carmody. All 3 girls were on the first 15 and acquitted themselves very well. We also had 3 girls on the U12 County Kerry Development team who recently played a challenge game V Clare: Aoife Dillane, Yasmin Sultan and Alex Mc Namara. All 6 girls played with our U12 team this year and great credit goes to their coaches Danny & Anthony for improving their skill levels considerably and so affording them the opportunity & experience of wearing the county jersey . Well done girls from everyone in the club
U14 Girls: North Kerry Ladies U14 League Final: Austin Stacks 13-2 Na Gaeil 6-9: There is an old adage in football that simply says “Goals win games”. Last Wednesday evening in Connolly Park our Ladies U 14 team took on a highly talented Na Gaeil team in a match that would determine the winners of the North Kerry League. Na Gaeil arrived with a team containing a number of this years Kerry All Ireland U 14 winning players and a reputation for free flowing football. The fact that they scored 6.9 highlighted just how good these Na Gael girls are, yet our own Rockies managed to out score them with an incredible performance and ended the game with an amazing score of 13.2 to capture the North Kerry League for Captain Sarah Hoare. Who even though breathless from running her heart out gave a wonderful and sporting speech at the end of the game that acknowledged how good the Na Gael girls played. To score 13 goals in any match is an amazing achievement but yet the greatest praise must go to our midfield pairing of Sarah Hoare and her inspirational all action partner Meave McElligot, who never gave up the fight and time and time again came away with the ball to ease the pressure on our backs and create a platform for our fleet footed forwards to excel. Behind her at centre half back the impressive Megan O’Donnell again showed how important she is to this team by putting in a performance that was pivotal in Stacks winning. Alongside Megan, Mary Duggan worked tirelessly and the ever improving Jasmine Ryle put in an unbelievable stint to keep Na Gaeils star performer quite. Ahead of Ciara Ryan in goal, Avril Fitzgerald again gave a consummate display at full back displaying coolness under pressure and decisive decision making when required. Alongside Avril both Laura Devane and Dakotah Carter-O’Flynn showed how much they have matured and defended with intelligence and plenty of vigour. Yet as strong as our defence was and as industrious as our midfield unit played, credit needs to go to a forward line that managed to bury 13 goals and kick 2 points against very good opponents. The real beauty of this very talented U14 team is that they are not reliant on any one player to score goals. As the score line suggests it is a team filled with sharp shooters. In the first half Katie Nagle scored and the highly talented Clodagh Begley rifled the net twice before Mollie O’Carroll smashed two goals in two minutes at the end of a very open and entertaining first half. In the second half our forwards really took their chances with aplomb, we saw Clodagh completing her hatrick and Rachel Ryan adding two goals to her first half point. However, after scoring five goals for the U16s last week, Mollie O’Carroll went one better and scored four second half goals to take her tally in this match to six. There can be no doubt about Mollie O’Carroll’s ability in front of goal, this has been proved year after year, but her vision and ability to find teammates with defence splitting passes was again highlighted with one run that saw her beat 3 defenders and running at full pace kick a beautiful cross field pass that was eagerly accepted by her sister Lucy O’Carroll before Lucy coolly slotted home for a fabulous goal. Niamh Ryan completed our scoring with a wonderful point and both Katelyn Cashman and Emma Reidy gave everything. Many thanks to our supporters for coming out in great numbers to watch a very entertaining game of football and a special thanks to the mentors for all their efforts. The Town League Semi final took place on Tuesday (7th Oct) at the John Mitchell complex FT Austin Stacks 5-5 John Mitchels 3-5
Senior Ladies: Were beaten by Laune Rangers in the Mary Jo Curran Cup last Sunday morning. However, the Ladies from Killorglin did not have it all their own way with a very young Stacks side putting in a gusty performance and many of our U16’s impressing on what was their Senior debuts. Our next fixture in this competition will be away to Dr. Crokes (date TBC).
Best Wishes; Everyone at the ladies club extends best wishes to our Club Secretary Maurice Mc Namara who is recovering in hospital at the moment. Get well Soon Mossie!
Congratulations: to Senior Club Player Rena O’Connor and her groom Martin on the occasion of their wedding last Saturday from everyone in Austin Stacks Ladies Club.
Big Thanks: To Ladies Club Sponsors Terry & Ann Marie Healy of Terry’s Butchers, Oakpark, Tralee for their sponsorship of 12 new footballs for our U12 girls team. We urge you all to please support our sponsors with your business.