Minor Co. Championship
Austin Stacks 1-8 Feale Rangers 0-07
We overcame a strong Feale Rangers side in a tense, dour battle at Connolly Park on this Tuesday evening (24th July) to qualify for the quarter finals of the Co. Championship.
Though dry for the match, the heavy rain that fell in Tralee for most of the day made conditions difficult for both sides, hence the low scoring. The game was level on no less that seven different occasions and for 62 minutes no more that a point separated the sides.
We lead by a point at half time (0-4 to 0-3) with three of those coming from Kyle Fitzgibbon frees.
Our one point from play came in the 14th minute when a quick free by James Galvin found Kyle who placed Danny Carroll who put over.
Likewise, two of Rangers three first half points came from frees.
The second half was a replica of the first with both sides scoring point for point.
After Rangers equalized inside the second minute, the sides were still level after 47m with each side scoring two apiece. Our first came in the 37th minute when Conor Jordan found Alan Duggan and he released Kyle who put over from a difficult angle.
Our second one came, ten minutes later, when Greg Horan’s free was won by Kyle and this time it was Ciaran Flanagan (who was only on the pitch for two minutes) who latched on to Kyle’s pass and he pointed.
Rangers then went ahead for the third time in the game on the 50th minute and looked as if they might push on but our lads dug deep and played brilliant football for the remaining 14m (four minutes of added time).
Another pointed free by Kyle in the 51st minute, after Ciaran O’Connell was fouled going through, put us back on level terms. Nine minutes then elapsed before we went back in the lead for the 5th time when Ciaran O’Connell combined with Greg who sent over a beauty.
With the game deep in injury time and the danger of an equalizer taking the game to extra time we made one last attack and in almost a repeat of last week’s game against Crokes, Alan Duggan (he scored the injury time goal last week) became provider on this occasion, and his long high ball from out on the wing was met in the square by substitute, James O’Connor (under 16 player, making his MF debut), who punched to the net to make the game secure.
Well done to all the lads who gave their all on a heavy pitch and in particular to another under 16 player, Sean Ryan (son of 70s and 80s star, Fionan) who really impressed with a great display in his first MF start (he made his debut, coming on as a sub last week).
Team: Paddy Fitzgibbon, Paul Galvin, Barry Walsh, Sean Ryan, Conor Jordan, Greg Horan (Capt) (0-1), Joseph O’Kelly, Shane Walsh, Ciaran O’Connell, Aidan McQuinn, Danny Carrroll (0-1), James Galvin, Kyle Fitzgibbon (0-5 – 4 frees), Alan Duggan, Breandan Caball.
Subs used: Ciaran Flanagan (44m) (0-1), James O’Connor (48m) (1-0).
Hurling & Football Club