AUSTIN STACKS: 2-08 WEST KERRY: 1-06
THE triumph of ’73 proved to be a milestone in the Club’s history. Years of frustration and heartbreak finally ended with Billy Curtin leading his charges to a historic League and Championship double. 1972 offered a glimmer of hope with an enthusiastic performance in Killorglin just failing to the eventual championship winners, Mid-Kerry. Ironically it was later that year, in Killorglin once again that the foundations of a historic run were laid.
Failing dismally to Kenmare in a County League play-off, Billy Curtin’s now famous after-match speech, resurrected a spirit, which lives right up to the present day. It was a long trip home that night, and many more were to follow, before the Club was restored to its rightful position on the top of the football ladder. A splendid League run provided the perfect basis for our opening championship encounter against the local John Mitchels. It was a severe test for Jackie Power’s young stalwarts but the match build-up failed to unsettle a rampant Rock fifteen and it fell to Tommy Kennington 10 drive the final nail with the only goal late in the game.
It left a jubilant Jack Parker exclaiming after the game: “They’ll be no going home by the tracks tonight!” The Festival of that same year had a bright beginning for the Club, as on the opening Saturday night. Dr. Crokes were easily disposed of in the quarter- final in the Sportsfield before the first Rose had ever been introduced on the steps of the Ashe.
It didn’t deter Ger O’Keeffe however from introducing himself to all of the Roses afterwards as Kerry’s newest sporting hero. Our first trip out of town took us to Killarney for the semi-final against Kenmare, who had in their ranks a youthful Pat Spillane. Even his emerging greatness failed to halt the march and after overcoming a sticky period early in the game we cruised into the final by a margin of seven clear points. The team was at this stage unbeaten in the League also, with ‘Bracker’ revelling in the trips down south. The journey home was proving as fruitful as the League points gained. West Kerry were the final opposition and their team was littered with inter- county personnel in the form of Higgins, O’Shea, Fitzgerald, Long and the teenager, Paudie O’Shea who played in the unfamiliar left-wing forward position. However, we were not to be denied a victory, which stands alone in the annals of the Club.
A Ger Power special after twelve minutes gave the game its opening goal and what a capital score it was, being executed with clinical efficiency after a driving run. ‘Bracker’ Regan delivered the second killer blow after twenty minutes, diving low to fist home our second goal and give us a seven point interval lead. A second half resurgence by West Kerry narrowed the gap to four points, but there was never a doubt that we would surrender a title which was now long overdue. Ironically, our full- back line of Scollard, McCarthy and Barry who had suffered such disappontment in the hurling finals of ’68 and ’69 dug their heels in to form a human barrier in front of Teddy Brick, who was on the day, conceding his only ^oal of what was for him an outstanding championship that year. With John O’Keeffe lording matters at midfield it was third time lucky for the hurling trio, who along with ‘Bracker’ Regan had finally put behind them the ghosts of Crotta and Killarney. For Joe Joe Barrett it was a fitting return for years of loyalty and top class service to the Club, and for Billy Curtin it was due reward for his inspirational leadership qualities. For the three O’Keeffes, Timmy Sheehan, Tommy Kennington and Fergus Dillon, who had kicked football around the fields of Oakpark for fifteen years previously, it was a dream come true.
It gave nineteen year-old Mikey Sheehy and Ger Power their first taste of real glory in a career which was littered with honours thereafter, while Noel Kelter bridged a lifetime gap which saw his family to the forefront in all aspects of the Club. Emotional scenes greeted the final result with the now famous chant “The Stacks are Back” lifting the roof in all the local hostelries for months afterwards.
Curiously it was back to Killorglin we went to wrap up the League title, maintaining our unbeaten run against the local Laune Rangers. It began and ended in – Killorglin, a town with a football tradition almost as proud as our own!
For the record the Stacks panel of ’73 read as follows: Billy Curtin (captain), Teddy Brick (goalkeeper), Gary Scollard, Mike McCarthy, John Barry, Noel Kelter, Tony O’Keeffe, Ger O’Keeffe, Timmy Sheehan, John O’Keeffe, Mikey Sheehy, Ger Power, Tommy Kennington, Billy Curtin, Joe Joe Barrett, Tommy Regan, Fergus Dillon, Joe Parker, Rory McSweeney, Ger McNamara, Tommy King, Fintan Lawlor, Terry McSweeney, Aidan O’Connor, Pat McCarthy.
Selectors, Jackie Power (trainer), Paddy Scanlon, Timmy McMahon, can all feel proud of their contributions with Jackie achieving a notable double when he guided the Limerick hurlers to All-Ireland success on that very same year.