Sunday 22nd June 2025
Kerry GAA Credit Union County League Division 1 , Round 10
Austin Stacks v Kerins O’Rahillys
Venue; Connolly Park
Throw-in; 2-00pm
Report by Tommy Naughton
While some had billed the game as a league decider, for supporters, beating your local rivals on your home patch and claiming the bragging rights is nearly as important as claiming any silverware. Both Austin Stacks and Kerins O’Rahillys were joint top of division 1 going into the match with two rounds of matches remaining so there is still a lot of football to be played before the destination of league title will be decided.
Sunday was the first meeting between the sides in the County League in over two years and both sides gave their all in front of a large vocal crowd in Connolly Park. The Stacks opened the scoring after three minutes when Paddy Lane kicked over with his left foot after some good patience in the build up. O’Rahillys were level from the next attack when Conor Hayes kicked over from a tight angle. Two minutes later the Rock men where back in front when Shane O’Callaghan cut in from the right wing to split the uprights.
Paddy Lane kicked his first two pointer of the day to push the stacks into a three point lead after eleven minutes. Gearoid Savage pulled a point back on the quarter hour mark for Strand Road before a goal from Daniel Bowler has the visitors ahead for the first time. The sides converted a free each over the next few minutes with Paddy Lane on target for the Stacks and Tom Hoare for Strand Road.
O’Rahillys extended their lead when to four points when Darragh O’Connor raised a second green flag. Both sides were guilty of some poor misses over the next few minutes before man of the match contender David Fitzmaurice tapped over after Stacks broke from an O’Rahillys kick out.
O’Rahillys extended their lead to five points as we headed to injury time with points from Gearoid Dillane and Darragh O’Connor. The gap was quickly reduced when Paddy Lane shrugged of his marker before kicking a monster two pointer from outside the 45 yard line to leave three between the sides at half time.
Half Time: Austin Stacks 0-08 Kerins O’Rahillys 2-05
Austin Stacks introduced Ronan Carroll at half time for his first Senior appearance and after a driving run down the right wing by Luke Casey he found Ronan to fire over for his first senior score from close range. Stacks won the very next kick out and the gap was down to one thanks to a Sean Quilter point. The Rock men were now on top around the middle eight and seconds later they won the kickout which saw Armin Heinrich score to level the game after seven minutes of the second half.
Shane O’Callaghan was quickest to react when a Sean Quilter free dropped short to put the stacks ahead as their opponents struggle to get out of their own half. Stacks could have gone further ahead when Ferdia O’Brien saw his goal bound effort saved by the foot of the O’Rahillys keeper with the ball rolling inches wide passed the far post.
Stacks opened up a two point lead when Paddy Lane kicked a wonderful score into the wind in front of large crowd at the clubhouse side of the pitch. The gap was back to the minimum when Ben Hannafin punched over in the 16th minute for O’Rahillys first score of the second half.
The game flowed from end to end and for all the Stacks dominance they were behind again with ten minutes remaining after Padraig Griffin scored Strand O’Rahillys third goal. Just like Ronan Carroll earlier, Ben Murphy came off the bench to make his first senior appearance and got his first score when he punched over to reduce the gap to one with seven minutes left.
The rock men’s substitutes were really making the difference and next it was Niall Fitzmaurice to score after a neat one-two with Sean Quilter. A fabulous counter attacking move which saw pace and power from a number of players ended with Daniel Kirby scoring and the Stacks were back in front with four minutes remaining.
The scoring wasn’t done yet with O’Rahillys getting level with a minute of normal time remaining thanks to Conor Hayes. From the very next attack The Stacks were to seal the win when Ben Murphy found himself through on goal, he showed great composure to punch the ball over the bar when he could have opted to shoot for goal.
Full Time; Austin Stacks 0-17 Kerins O’Rahillys 3-07
So, the Stacks claimed the Town derby win and will now head to Killorglin in two weeks time for the final game in this years County League. Stacks will need at least a point to win the County League Division 1 title for the 12th time against a team who must win to avoid relegation. If Stacks are to fail to get a win or a draw and O’Rahillys beat Glenbeigh-Glencar the two Tralee sides will meet again in a League Final Play off match.
Austin Stacks; Ben Quilter, Colin Griffin, Luke Casey, Sean og Brosnan, Armin Heinrich (0-01), Ronan Shanahan, Eoghan Carroll, Fiachna, David Fitzmaurice (0-01), Joe Reidy, Shane O’Callaghan (0-02) , Daniel Kirby (0-01) , Paddy Lane (0-07, (2x2pt, 1xf)), Sean Quilter (0-01), Ferdia O’Brien.
Subs; Ronan Carroll (0-01) for Joe Reidy (Half Time), Paul O’Sullivan for Armin Heinrich (46 mins), Ben Murphy (0-02) for Ferdia O’Brien (46 mins), Niall Fitzmaurice (0-01) for Ronan Shanahan (49 mins), Darragh O’Brien for Shane O’Callaghan (56 mins).
Kerins O’Rahillys; Rob O’Connor, Darragh McElligott, Donagh Buckley, Jake Foley, Gearóid Dillane ( 0-01), Ryan Carroll, Daniel Bowler ( 1-0), Tom Hoare ( 0-01), BJ Keane, Ben Hanafin ( 0-01), Con Barrett, Padraig Griffin ( 1-0), Gearóid Savage ( 0-02), Darragh O’Connor ( 1-01), Conor Hayes ( 0-02).
Subs used: Tomás Kennedy, Keelan Crowe.
Referee; Sean Joy (Killorglin)
Match Day Images By Adrienne McLoughlin
