Senior Men: Intermediate Club Championship Rd 2 FT Austin Stacks 2-10 John Mitchels 1-9. This game was played in a typical derby fashion in front of a large attendance in Connolly Park last Sunday afternoon (Aug 20th). In the end Stacks held off a gallant John Mitchels side who gave us one hell of a challenge, forcing the Rock to come from a six-point deficit to make it 2 wins out of 2 in the group stages of this year’s championship. A strong swirling wind in favour of Mitchels in the first half and a converted penalty in the 28th minute gave a somewhat misleading half time score line of Austin Stacks 1-4 John Mitchels 1-9. When it was the turn of Stacks to benefit from the aid of the wind the home side took over the scoring adding 1-6 to their tally while holding Mitchels scoreless. Team: Ml Tansley, Niall Fitzmaurice, Colin Griffin, Jack O Shea, Armin Heinrich, Dylan Casey, Colm Browne, Michael O Donnell (0-2 (f), Barry Shanahan, Eoghan Carroll, Jordan Kissane (0-1), Donagh Mc Kivergan (1-0), Sean Quilter (1-4) penalty and 2 frees), Shane O Callaghan (0-1) & David Mannix. Subs used: Paul O’Sullivan for Jordan Kissane at HT, Cillian Litchfield for Eoghan Carroll (34min), David Fitzmaurice for Colm Browne (58 min), Luke Casey for David Mannix (62 Min).
Our final game is fixed for next weekend away V Castleisland at 1.30pm this Sunday August 27th. Castleisland also secured their 2nd group win over Ballydonoghue last weekend so this tie will decide who tops Group D to earn a home draw in the QF.
Photos by Adrienne Mc Loughlin
Minor Co Championship SF FT After Extra Time: North Kerry 3-18 (27) Austin Stacks 2-20 (26): Austin Stacks Minors made the trip to Abbeydorney on Monday night (Aug 14th) to face the might of North Kerry District in this year’s Co Championship Semi Final. This game had everything! Goals, high fielding, a great comeback, a point at the death to bring us to extra time, bravery in spades and anagonisingone-point defeat in injury time of extra time. But it was the never say die attitude of this young team which has captured the hearts & admiration of all us lucky enough to have supported them throughout their league and championship campaigns in 2023. The teams had exchanged 2 points apiece (ours from Paddy Lane & Ryan O’Driscoll from play) when North Kerry struck for their first goal in the 8th minute. North Kerry added 3 more points while the brilliant Ryan O’Driscoll had kept us ticking over with 2 points from play before in the 17th minute North Kerry struck again with their 2nd goal to leave the score line 2-5 to 0-4. Paddy Lane pointed 2 more frees and Padraig O Halloran pointed a beauty as North Kerry, so dangerous in attack throughout, had converted 2 more frees and scored one from play before the referee blew for HT – North Kerry 2-8 (14) Austin Stacks 0-7 leaving Stacks with it all to do. Stacks had a great third quarter with 2 points from Paddy Lane (free) and Ben Murphy, before Ryan O’Driscoll punched to the net in the 45th minute and suddenly we had pegged the opposition back to one point (North Kerry 2-9 Austin Stacks 1-11). Then disaster struck when a high ball resulted in a third goal for North Kerry, followed up by a quick point from play to restore them with a 5-point cushion with 10 minutes left on the clock. The sides exchanged points again ours a Paddy Lane converted free, before Ben Murphy who had played superbly throughout went on one of his penetrating runs and got through for our 2nd goal right on the 30th minute and now we were back to 2 between the sides North Kerry 3-11 (20) Austin Stacks 2-12 (18) as we headed into 4 minutes of injury time. Austin Stacks had fantastic support on the night and the 16th man were vocal when Paddy Lane kicked a free and the gutsy Daniel Kirby kicked a beauty from distance to send the game into extra time. There was 1 point between the sides at HT in extra time – North Kerry 3-14 (23) Austin Stacks 2-16 (22) our points by Ryan O’Driscoll and Ronan Carroll both from play. A Paddy Lane free had us level, but North Kerry weren’t about to give up and ticked on 2 more points (1 free). Stacks now out on their feet refused to die – Daniel Kirby was on target for a point before Paddy Lane kicked a free to tie the game again in injury time in extra time and it looked like we were heading for penalties. The referee allowed one more play and it was Kerry Midfielder and Ballyduff’s Evan Boyle who won the ball, raced up the pitch and took the shot on himself to score the winning point. A game for the ages that will live long in the memory. Congratulationsto our management team – Ritchie, William, Dave, Shane, Darragh, Jonathan and Kieran, we could not be prouder of our team.
Photos by pix360_adam
Congratulations: A huge Congratulations to Ben Murphy & Paddy Lane who were both named on the Electric Ireland Minor Team of the Year announced last Wednesday. The 2 Austin Stacks players are the only Kerry players including in this year’s selection.
CLUB CARDS: Our Card sessions continue in the Clubhouse on Mondays and Thursdays with the starting time of 9pm sharp.
Sympathy: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently: Mossie Kelly, the Kerries, Tralee (President of Kerins O’Rahilly’s GAA);Eileen O’Shea née O’Shea, Casements Avenue, Tralee and formerly of Brogue Lane, Tralee; Eileen Dillane, nee O’Donnell, Hare Street, Blennerville and Michael McElligott of Leam, Kilflynn (father of club members Marian Sayers & Annette Carmody).