Compiled by Tommy Naughton
ONE CLUB – STRONGER TOGETHER
Our GAA and LGFA Clubs will integrate into one club in 2027. Billy Ryle, GAA Club Vice-Chairman is currently undertaking a process of information gathering with the aim of preparing and presenting a discussion document for the consideration of our joint membership later in the year. Billy is encouraging you to email your views on the ONE CLUB, good, bad or indifferent, to him before the 31st May. The more members who participate in the exercise, the more democratic, inclusive and thorough the final recommendations will be. So, take some time to consider your views about the integration and email them to Billy at rylebilly@gmail.com. Every member’s opinions count!
County League Division 1, Round 3
Sunday 6th April 2025
Austin Stacks v Rathmore
Venue; Connolly Park
Throw-in; 3-00pm
Match report by Tommy Naughton
Under the new rules it seems that no lead is a safe lead. Last weekend Stacks came from 10 points down to defeat Ballymac and this week they needed a last-minute point to secure a win after they had built up a 9-point lead .
Played in beautiful conditions in front of the biggest home crowd so far this season Luke Casey kicked a wonderful score from the left wing to open the scoring early on. Sean Quilter added to this before a 2-pointer free from Conor Horan had the home side ahead by 4 after the opening ten minutes which saw the stacks defense turn Rathmore over on numerous occasions.
Rathmore’s opening score came in the 11th minute when Brendan O’Keeffe kicked over a close range free. Andrew Moynihan was then denied by a goal saving intervention by Jack O’Shea after a driving run at the Stacks defense. Minutes later another run from Moynihan did raise the green flag and the sides were level after the opening quarter.
Stacks’ response to conceding the opening goal was excellent as they scored the next four scores without reply. Greg Horan kicked the first from just inside the arc and this was followed by three points from Sean Quilter with an free, a 45 and a well taken point after some quick transition from back to from by the Rock men.
Rathmore’s Jimmie Mahony kicked the final score of the half with saw Stacks ahead by three at the break.
Half Time: Austin Stacks 0-08 Rathmore 1-02
Stacks exploded out at the start of the second have and double their lead with points from Greg Horan , Adam Curran and another free from Sean Quilter withing the opening five minutes of the restart.
The deficit was quickly reduced when Rathmore struck for their second goal from John Moynihan and this was followed by a point from Alan Dineen to leave two between the sides. Sean Quilter quickly extended the Stack’s lead with a point from play before Adam Curran scored his second of the day to have the home side four points ahead again with twenty minutes remaining.
Brendan O’Keefe with another free closed the gap but the home side took control when in the space of next two minutes they scored 1-02. Greg Horan’s third of the day came before Cian Purcell dropped his shoulder to weave past two defenders and fire to the back of the net for Rockies first goal. This was followed by a free from Sean Quilter from the very next kick-out which had the score-line at 1-15(18) to 2-04 (10) with twelve minutes left in the encounter.
Two points in a row from Darragh Nagle and Andrew Moynihan kept Rathmore in touching distance but Stacks second goal with eight minutes remaining gave them a nine-point lead. In fact, it could have been a Rathmore goal only for a block by Jack O’Shea that saw the Rock men break quickly and when the entered the opposition 45 it was man of the match O’Shea who found Shane O’Callaghan and he picked out substitute Gearoid Fitzgerald at the back who made no mistake from close range to score.
Game over you would think, nine points up with eight minutes remaining , but under the new rules we are beginning to see this isn’t the case anymore. Two quick scores from Brendan O’Keeffe, one from play and the second from a free closed the gap before he a two-point free to bring the gap to 5 points with three minutes of normal time left.
O’Keeffe kicked over another free which was followed by a point from play by Darragh Rahilly and the gap was three going into injury time which would see four extra minutes of frantic football.
Again, it was an O’Keeffe free that closed the gap to just two and in the 63rd minute he kicked a huge two pointer from the right wing to bring the sides level and it looked as the spoils would be shared. But there was still time for one more play and when Stacks won the next kicked out, they broke at pace and drew a free just inside the two-point arc. Up stepped Sean Quilter who took his time before taking aim and with the ball sailing between the uprights came the sound of the final whistle.
This makes three wins out of three for the Stacks who sit top of the table where many would not have taught possible but this group of players have shown some great fighting characteristics in the opening round of games. Up next is a trip to the current Division 1 and County Champions Dr Crokes on Easter Sunday which will surely be the biggest test of the season so far.
Austin Stacks; Ben Quilter, Colin Griffin, Jack O’Shea, Ronan Shanahan, Adam Curran (0-02), Niall Fitzmaurice, Eoghan Carroll, Greg Horan (0-03), Luke Casey (0-01), Jordan Kissane, Conor Horan (0-02, (1×2)), Fiachna Mangan, Shane O’Callaghan, Sean Quilter (0-08, (4F, 1×45)), Conor Myers.
Subs; Cian Purcell (1-00) for Conor Myers (39 mins),Colm Browne for Adam Curran (41 mins), Gearoid Fitzgerald (1-00) for Jordan Kissane (44 mins), Sean og Brosnan for Niall Fitzmaurice (48 mins), Cillian Litchfield for Luke Casey (58 mins).,
Rathmore; WIlliam Casey, Michael Dennehy, Dan Murphy, Timmy O’Doherty, Alan Dineen (0-01), Tomas Holohan, Cian O’Connor, Andrew Moynihan (1-01), Cian Dineen, Jimmy O’Mahony (0-01), Brendan O’Keeffe (0-10, (1×2, 5F, 1x2F)) , Darragh Rahilly(0-01), Darragh Nagle (0-01), Dean Fitzgerald, John Moynihan (1-00).
Referee; Eoghan Moriarty (Dingle)
Prior to the game a minutes silence was observed for the late Noreen Murphy (nee O’Connor) of Connolly Park and the late Michael Micko Dwyer of Waterville.
County League Division 5 Round 3
Sunday 6th April 2025
Austin Stacks B 3-10 Fossa B 1-04
Venue; Connolly Park
A first half double strike from Damien Hogan was pivotal to nine point win that gives our B side two wins from three in their County League campaign.
In a game played in windy but dry conditions on the hardened Nuns field surface the Rock got off to the best of starts with Hogan netting twice in the first fifteen minutes. The Rock, playing with the wind, were dominating in all sectors with Cian Dillane and Sean Heaslip on top in midfield feeding Hogan and the impressive Donnacha Sayers at the business end of the pitch. At the back Fossa were perishing time and time again on the Rock last line defence of captain John Murphy, Ruairi OConnell and Donnacha Horgan, ensuring Brian Horgan was relatively untroubled. However a late fortunate goal gave Fossa hope leaving the scoreline 2-6 to 1-1 at the break.
Against the breeze, the Rock faced an uphill task in the 2nd half.In winning that half by one tells it own story. The half forward line of the experience Pa McCarthy, Shane Bastible and Sean Ryan came into their own during this period. Despite the dominant Joe Reidy at 6 having to be withdrawn due to commitment to the A squad, the ever industrious wing back pair Evan Foley and Bobby Bryne kept the Rock in the acendency and an opportunist goal from Dean Scanlon mid way through the 2nd half ensured a healthy cushion was maintained throughout, with substitues Dan ORourke, Ciaran Kavanagh and Greg Scanlon contributing to a fine victory.
Team; Brian Horgan, Donnacha Horgan, Ruairi O’Connell, John Murphy (C), Bobby Bryne, Joe Reidy, Evan Foley, Sean Heaslip, Sean Ryan (0-1), Shane Bastible(0-3), Dean Scanlon(1-0), Pat McCarthy, Damien Hogan(2-3), Donnacha Sayers(0-3). Subs Dan ORourke for Joe Reidy (40mins), Ciaran Kavanagh for Evan Foley (40mins), Greg Scanlon for Dean Scanlon (45 mins), Dean Scanlon for Sean Ryan (50mins).
Man of the Match – Bobby Bryne .
County League Division 7B Round 3
The Men’s C team picked up their first win of the season away against Clounmacon in a game that saw twelve scored betweek the sides with the final score being Austin Stacks 8-11 Clounmacon 4-10.
CLICK HERE FOR THE MATCH DAY GALLERY by Adrienne McLoughlin
Tim Tiger Slattery’s Stats
The 8 Goal Salvo
Did Stacks ever score 8 goals in a County League or Championship match before last Sundays game.This is what I came up with Stacks Seniors did it Twice in the 1978 County League and Bettered it in the 1980 Q/F of the Club Championship.
6/4/25 Austin Stacks C 8-11 Clounmacon 4-10
2/4/78 Austin Stacks 8-5 Glenbeigh 2-8
2/9/78 Austin Stacks 8-8 Laune Rangers 1-8
9/8/80 Austin Stacks 10-15 Kerins O’Rahillys 1-4 a certain John L McElligott got 4 Goals.
Austin Stacks GAA Club App
The Austin Stacks GAA Club App is now live and ready for you to Download .
Keep up to date with everything you need to know going forward by getting our new club app.
Just follow these simple steps to get going ,
Step 1, Download the Free “Clubforce Connect” App or scan the QR Code below.
Step 2. Log In or Register for your New Free Account
Step 3. Go to Club Section at top of Home Page , click blue icon to proceed .
Step 4. Click Discover where you can search for Austin Stacks .
Step 5. Click Follow , Job Done .
Mens Kerry Petroleum Senior Club Championship
Austin Stacks have been drawn in group 1 along with Na Gaeil and Templenoe.
Match Day 1
Templenoe v Na Gaeil.
Match Day 2
Na Gaeil v Austin Stacks.
Match Day 3
Austin Stacks v Templenoe.
Depending on Kerry’s progress in the All Ireland the first round will be played on either the weeknd of Sunday July 27th, August 3rd or August 10th 2025.
Ask Acorn U21 County Football Championship
Austin Stacks have been drawn away against Laune Rangers in the opening round of the Ask Acorn Life U21 County Championship
Full Draw (1st team has home venue);
East Kerry v St Brendans Board.
West Kerry v Kenmare Shamrocks.
Laune Rangers v Austin Stacks.
Ballymacelligott v South Kerry.
Glenflesk v Rathmore.
Mid Kerry v Kerins O’Rahillys.
North Kerry v Dr Crokes.
St Kierans Bye to Quarter Finals.
Club Lotto (Mon 7th April)
The numbers drawn were 04-06-14-32.The jackpot of €2300 was not won. €20 Winners were Mary B & James Fealy c/o Club, Annette Carmody c/o Club, Mike Fitzgerald c/o Club, Scott O’Sullivan c/o Carmel Quilter O’Neill, Brendan O’Neill c/o Carmel Quilter O’Neill. Next draw is on Monday April 14th at 7.30pm and the jackpot will be €2300. Continued thanks to the following businesses for selling our Lotto tickets on a weekly basis – Kevin Barry’s Shop, Commanes Bookshop (PC Books), O’Flynns Interiors, Hussey’s, Princes St., The Burger Shack, Monavalley and Kirby’s Brogue Inn. And continued thanks to everyone who purchase tickets week-in, week-out.
Club Gear
Check out some of Club Gear from O’Neills by Clicking HERE
Club Cards
Our card sessions continue in the Clubhouse on Mondays and Thursdays with the starting time of 9pm sharp.
Club Bar:
Keep up to date with all the live sport we have to offer on our Bar’s social media pages. Opening times this week for the Club Bar are as follows, Monday 7-00pm, Tuesday 7-00pm, Wednesday 7-00pm, Thursday 7-00pm, Friday 7-00pm, Saturday 2-00pm, Sunday 12-00pm.
Kerry U20 Football Team
Congratulations to our SEVEN club players , Ben Murphy, Daniel Kirby, Gavin Casey, Jack Murphy, Michael Tansley (Captain), Paddy Lane, Ronan Carroll on being selected for the 2025 Kerry U20 Football Panel. In Kerrys second match on Monday night Kerry defeated Cork in Tralee on a score-line of 1-22 to 1-12. Kerry will host Clare next in Tralee on Tuesday April 15th at 7-30pm.
Kerry Ladies Football Team
Best of luck to the Kerry Senior Ladies team and Austin Stacks Aoife Dillane on Saturday when they take on Armagh in the National League Division 1 Final in Croke Park. The game throws in at 5-00pm and will be shown live in our club bar.
Sympathy:
Sincere Sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently,
Tony Breen, Connolly Park, Tralee, Kerry.
Noreen Murphy (née O’Connor), Connolly Park, Tralee, Kerry.
Michael Martin Coffey, Castleisland, Kerry / Tralee, Kerry.
Frances Fleming, Clonmoyle, Rathangan, Kildare, R51 V580 / Monasterevin, Kildare / Tralee, Kerry.
Robert (Bobby) Hannafin, Stacks Villas, Tralee, Kerry.
Maurice (Moss) Hayes, Ballinorig Estate, Tralee, Kerry.
