Compiled by Tommy Naughton
Austin Stacks Return to County Championship Semi-Final After Thrilling Win Over Kenmare Shamrocks
Garvey’s SuperValu Senior County Football Championship Quarter Final
Austin Stacks v Kenmare Shamrocks
Saturday 11th October 2025
Venue Fitzgerald Stadium
Throw In 4-00pm
By Tommy Naughton
Austin Stacks are back in a Senior County Championship Semi-Final for the first time since 2021 after a titanic battle against Kenmare Shamrocks on Saturday. Following an explosive and tense opening half that saw the Rockies lead by four points at the break, Kenmare fought back to level the game with twelve minutes remaining before a powerful late surge sealed Stacks’ place in the final four.
The game began at a blistering pace, with Austin Stacks nearly finding the net inside the first thirty seconds when Ben Murphy’s effort was tipped around the post by Kenmare goalkeeper Kieran Fitzgibbon. Michael Tansley converted the resulting 45, and Paddy Lane quickly added his first point of the afternoon. Kenmare responded immediately through Jack Tagney and Tom Murnane, leaving the sides level after just three minutes.
Daniel Kirby’s two-point score restored Stacks’ advantage, and a Paddy Lane free pushed the gap to three. Kenmare again replied through Paul O’Connor and Tommy Cronin, narrowing the margin to one. The teams traded scores over the next several minutes, with Lane and Murphy on target for Stacks and Cian O’Sullivan and Sean O’Shea (free) replying for Kenmare, leaving the score at 0-07 to 0-06 after twenty minutes.
The game’s only goal arrived in the 22nd minute when Stacks dispossessed Kenmare deep in their own half. Paddy Lane found Cian Purcell, who calmly slotted home. Sean O’Shea reduced the gap with another free, but Stacks continued to press. Ben Murphy added a point before Daniel Kirby’s goal-bound shot rattled the crossbar, allowing Purcell to tap over the rebound. Joe O’Connor then struck his first point to stretch the lead to six, though a late two free from O’Shea trimmed the deficit before the interval.
Half-Time: Austin Stacks 1-10 Kenmare Shamrocks 0-09
Joe O’Connor opened the second-half scoring, but Kenmare responded with three unanswered points—one from Darragh O’Connor and two from Sean O’Shea (a 45 and a close-range free). Another Joe O’Connor point restored a three-point cushion for Stacks, but Kenmare again rallied. A free from Jack Tagney and two more from the ever-reliable O’Shea brought the sides level with twelve minutes to play, as Kenmare appeared to have seized the momentum.
However, Austin Stacks showed immense character in the closing stages. Over the final twelve minutes, they held Kenmare scoreless while adding seven unanswered points. Between the 49th and 51st minutes, a Paddy Lane free, an Armin Heinrich point, and another from Lane re-established control. Substitute Ronan Carroll extended the lead to four, followed by further scores from Joe O’Connor and the tireless Conor Horan to seal a commanding finish.
Full-Time: Austin Stacks 1-19 Kenmare Shamrocks 0-15
Austin Stacks will be thrilled to return to the County Semi-Final stage but will know that tougher challenges lie ahead. Continued improvement across several areas will be essential if they are to progress beyond next weekend’s opponents and keep their championship ambitions alive.
AUSTIN STACKS: Michael Tansley 0-01 (1×45); Colin Griffin, Luke Casey, Niall Fitzmaurice; Eoghan Carroll, Armin Heinrich 0-01, Ronan Shanahan; Joe O’Connor 0-04, Ben Murphy 0-02; Mike O’Donnell, Conor Horan 0-01, Daniel Kirby 0-02 (1tp); Paddy Lane 0-06 (0-2fs), Cian Purcell 1-01, Jordan Kissane.
Subs: Ronan Carroll 0-01 for Kissane (38), Joey Nagle for Shanahan (39), Colm Browne for Casey (48), Jack Murphy for O’Donnell (52), Jack O’Shea for Griffin, inj (56).
KENMARE SHAMROCKS: K Fitzgibbon; C O’Sullivan 0-01, J McCarthy, D Crowley; D O’Shea, D O’Connor 0-01, T Cronin 0-01; J O’Sullivan, D Hallissey; J Lehane, S O’Shea 0-7 (0-4fs, 1tpf, 0-1 ’45), P O’Connor 0-01; J Tangney 0-02, D O’Sullivan 0-01, T Murnane 0-01.
Subs: S O’Brien for Lehane (44), S O’Sullivan for Hallissey (50), T O’Sullivan (Atlantic) for Murnane, inj (52), E McCarthy for P O’Connor (55), T O’Sullivan for Cronin, inj (56).
REFEREE; Sean Joy (Laune Rangers)
CLICK HERE to view Adrienne McLoughlins Match Day Gallery.
Garvey’s SuperValu Senior Football County Championship Semi Final
Austin Stacks will face Rathmore in the Semi Final of the Garvey’s SuperValu Senior Football County Championship. The game will be played in Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday October 18th with a throw in time of 4pm.
Our brilliant senior team has taken us on a magical journey by winning the county senior football league, Division One and by putting in two very impressive performances in the senior county championship against Milltown/Castlemaine and Kenmare Shamrocks
In order to win on Saturday, the 16th Man – the colourful, the noisy, the playful, the mischievous, the famous Rockie supporters will be needed in large numbers on the terraces to get behind their team.”
“No other club is blessed with such loyal supporters so I am urging all followers of The Rock to don their back and amber colours, to proudly wave their flags, to beat the drums loudly and to inspire our heroes to victory.”
“The Rock team is going out to win on Saturday. Make sure that you, the 16th Man, are present in Fitzgerald Stadium to play your part.
#BringTheColour #BringTheNoise
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR MATCH DAY TICKETS.
Mens Garveys Supervalu Senior County Championship
Dates and Matches for the 2025 County Championship are
Round 1,
South Kerry 1-15 West Kerry 1-17
St Brendan’s 0-14 Mid Kerry 2-18
St Kieran’s 1-10 East Kerry 2-18
Round 2,
South Kerry 4-20 St Brendans 1-26
North Kerry 3-16 St Kierans 2-16
Round 3,
Templenoe 1-10 East Kerry 3-23 .
Austin Stacks 4-29 Milltown/Castlemaine 0-17 .
Dr Crokes 0-15 Mid Kerry 3-08 .
Dingle 2-19 Na Gaeil 1-13
South Kerry 3-13 Spa Killarney 3-18 .
Kenmare Shamrocks 4-15 North Kerry 1-12 .
Bye. Rathmore
Bye. West Kerry
Quarter Finals,
Rathmore 1-21 East Kerry 0-09
Austin Stacks 1-19 Kenmare Shamrocks 0-15
Spa Killarney 2-09 Mid Kerry 1-28
West Kerry 0-13 Dingle 1-16
Semi Finals,
Austin Stacks v Rathmore , Saturday 18th October , Fitzgerald Stadium 4-00pm.
Dingle v Mid Kerry, Sunday 19th October, Austin Stacks Park 2-00pm.
Final, Oct 26th , Neutral Venue.(Brough forward from original date of Nov 2nd due to Kerry All Ireland Winners Holiday on Oct 27th).
All games up to and including the Semi Finals will be winner on the day. The Final will go to a replay in the event of a draw.
Footballer Of The Year Nomination
Congratulations to Joe O’Connor on his Footballer Of The Year Nomination from all at the Austin Stacks GAA Club.
Best of Luck
Best of luck to Theo Diggins who has been named the MTU Sigerson Football Manager for 2025.
Austin Stacks GAA Club 2027
Billy Ryle, Club Vice-Chairman was delighted to present the INTERIM REPORT on the integration of Austin Stacks Ladies Gaelic Football Association Club and Austin Stacks Hurling and Football Club into Austin Stacks GAA Club from 2027 at a meeting of members of both clubs at our Connolly Park facilities on Monday night, 22nd September. It’s an exciting time for both clubs as we plan towards becoming a single unit based on equality, inclusion, respect and togetherness. The Interim Report generated a very positive discussion and the enthusiasm for a successful integration was very evident from the many constructive contributions that were made by those present. Billy will now proceed to write the FINAL REPORT on integration which he hopes to have completed later in the year for presentation to both clubs at a joint meeting of members. Sincere thanks to Éamonn O Reilly who was an excellent Chairman on this historic occasion and to Colm Mangan, who was a very efficient Recording Secretary.
NO DOGS ALLOWED
All members and visitors PLEASE RESPECT THE CLUB RULE.
Dogs (other than assistance or guide dogs) whether they are on a lead or not, are NOT ALLOWED on any part of the Club Grounds in Connolly Park which includes all Walkways, all Car Parking areas or any of the playing and training pitches due to Health and Saethy Concerns.
Example of dog fouling are increasing on the grounds and this leads to heightened infection risks for all teams playing and other patrons using our facilities.
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 .
Club Lotto (Mon 6th October)
The numbers drawn were were 04-15-16-30. The jackpot of €2650 was not won. The five €20 Winners were Orla Walsh c/o Online, Laura O’Reganc/ o Brendan, Eric Hannafin c/o Club, Dinny O’Regan c/o Club, Mike Fitzgerald c/o Club. Next draw is on Monday October 20th at 7.30pm and the jackpot will be €2700. 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 4-00pm, Sunday 12-00pm.
Friday Nights Pool Lives Competition – Get Ready To Cue Up For Pool Lives Tournament, Kicking Off Friday 5th September And Rolling Through To 31st October.
The Top Sharks Every Friday Will Hustle Their Way To The Grand Finals In October For A Shot At The BIG Prize!
Break off Every Friday at 9pm.
Sympathy:
Sincere Sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently,
Laura Murray, Shrule, Mayo / Tralee, Kerry.
Doreen O’Leary (née Dinan), Meadowlands, Tralee, Kerry.
MAEVE CRONIN (née Vereker), Midleton, Cork / Tralee, Kerry.
Michael Friel, Caherslee, Tralee, Kerry / Clonmany, Donegal.
Mabel Giltinan (née Macdowall), Ballincollig, Cork / Cork City, Cork / Tralee, Kerry.