SENIOR FOOTBALL; Killarney Legion 1-10; Austin Stacks 0-12.
After going down to Spa in the opening round of the Co. League last week our Seniors can consider themselves most unlucky to have suffered a narrow one point defeat in this round 2 game played at a very windy Derreen on last Saturday evening (1st April).
Playing with the aid of the strong wind in the first half we had a nine points to four lead at the break. Michael O’Donnell scored two from play and put over two frees as well, Ben Quilter pointed a well-taken forty five and our remaining four points came from play – Sean Quilter on target twice and one each by Colm Browne and David Mannix.
The home side took full advantage of the strong wind in the second half and out-scored us by 1-6 to 0-3. All our three points came from frees – two by Michael O’Donnell and one from Seán Quilter.
Team: Ben Quilter (0-1 – forty five), Barry Walsh, Barry Shanahan, Ronan Shanahan, Paul O’Sullivan, Greg Horan, Jack Murphy, Michael O’Donnell (0-6 – four frees), Seán Quilter (0-3 – one free), Colm Browne (0-1), David Mannix (0-1), Niall Fitzmaurice, Donagh McKivergan, Shane O’Callaghan (Capt), Eoghan Carroll.
Subs used: Michael O’Gara (38m), David Fitzmaurice (46m), Cian Dillane (46m), Shane Carroll (49m), and Luke Chester (57m).
In Round 3 we have a home game against Ballymac which is fixed for Saturday April 8th at 6pm
B TEAM: Lispole 0-13; Austin Stacks 0-8.
Having a bye in round 1 of the Co. League (Div 5 – Gr. A) last week our B Team travelled to Lispole on last Sunday afternoon (2nd April), for their first outing of the season and after a very good display for the first three quarters of the game, at which time both sides were level on seven points each, they faded that bit in the closing quarter when the home side added a further six points to our one.
Lispole raced into an early lead and led by four points to nil inside the opening twelve minutes. But we held them to just one more point for the remainder of the half and went on to score four points ourselves by four different players – Pa McCarthy and Noah Townsend from frees and one each from play by Luke Chester and Cian Dillane. This left us trailing by a point at the break (0-5 to 0-4).
We had a good opening to the second half and had drawn level (0-7 each) as the game entered the final quarter – our three more points coming from a well-taken 45 by goalkeeper, Brian Horgan, one from play by Pa McCarthy and a pointed free by Conor Myers. Conor was again on target with our only other point of that final quarter, again from a well-taken free, while Lispole finished out the game with those six additional points to leave them on top of the League table after wins in their opening two rounds.
After the game Luke Chester was deservedly presented with the Celsius Mensware Man of the Match Award.
Team: Brian Horgan (0-1 – a forty five), John Murphy. Ruairí O’Connell (Capt), Luke Casey, Luke Chester (0-1), Alain Creagh, Evan Foley, David Fitzmaurice, Joe Reidy, Dean Scanlon, Cian Dillane (0-1), Andrew Morrissey, Noah Townsend (0-1 free), Pa McCarthy (0-2 – one free), Seán Moynihan.
Subs used: Gearóid Sheehan (h/t), Conor Myers (0-2 frees) and Jack Murphy (both 36m), and Tom McLoughlin and Greg Scanlon (both 52m).
We will now have five more rounds to play against Moyvane (at home next Sunday – 9th April at 2pm), Finuge (a) (23rd April), Laune Rangers (h) (30th April), Ballylongford (a) (14th May) and Duagh (h) (21st May). This will be followed by a Phase 2 of the competition involving four more games during the month of June and early July.. More about this later.
It’s great to see former stalwarts back on the Management panel – TJ Hogan and Denis Sayers, along with TJ Sheehan and Paddy Barry who have been there for the past few seasons. And great also to see some former players back on the scene. Including Alain Creagh. Alain has been travelling the world for the past ten years or more but he lined out on Sunday last in his customary number six jersey. Alain’s last game with the Club was in the autumn of 2011.
C TEAM (Black): Our opening Co. League game, away to Fossa C, has now been re-fixed for Wednesday week (12th April) at 7.30pm.
C TEAM (Amber): Our opening Co. League game, away to Duagh last week-end did not go ahead due to an unplayable pitch in Duagh caused by the inclement weather. We await details for a re-fixture.
Minors: Congratulations to the Austin Stacks Minors who overcame An Ghaeltacht comfortably last Monday evening (April 3rd) to book our place in this year’s Co. League Div 1 Final. We await the result from the other Semi Final on Mon next (April 10th) featuring Kenmare V Laune Rangers to find out who our opponents will be in the final. Well done to team and management.
Paul Lucey Run is Back on Monday May 1st, 2023: The Paul Lucey Run for the Rock is back again for 2023 and will take place on the May Bank holiday weekend, Monday 1st May 2023. This year the run will be followed by a Family Fun day for adults and children of the club and wider community. We are hoping to encourage as many kids, teenagers, parents, grandparents, friends and family members to get outdoors on Monday 1st May to run or walk 5km promoting health and positivity within the club and community and mark the start of summer. The event will begin at the entrance to the Austin Stacks’ Clubhouse at Connolly Park at 11am and taking in the traditional enjoyable route up Caherslee and down the Skinny Mile section of the Greenway. Registration now open on this link: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/paul-lucy-run-for-the-rock-5km10km-tickets-596763635097?aff=erelexpmlt
CLUB MEMBERSHIP: This season’s Club Membership, which is now due, may be purchased online via your Club Foireann Account or pay online via Clubforce (see https://member.clubforce.com/memberships_cart_m.asp?LL_ID=529&intMF_ID=11708#Anchor), or sign up for a monthly DD payment, or pay by cash by contacting Club Registrar, Bernie Mannix at 086 0767415.
CLUB CARDS: Our Card sessions continue in the Clubhouse on Mondays and Thursdays with the starting time of 9pm sharp.
CLUB LOTTO: This week’s (3rd April.) Jackpot worth €3,600 was not won. The numbers drawn were 4, 12, 21, 22. The €20 winners were Harry O’Callaghan, c/o The Club; Mary McQuinn, c/o Brendan O’Regan; Jonathan O’Regan and Eugene Lee, both c/o On Line; and Tommy O’Sullivan, c/o Carmel O’Neill.
Next week’s Jackpot will be worth €3,650.
Continued thanks to the following businesses for selling our Lotto tickets on a weekly basis – Kevin Barrys Shop, Commane’s Book Shop (PC Books), O’Flynns Interiors; Hussey’s, Princes St., The Burger Shack, Monavalley and Kirby’s Brogue Inn and continued thanks to everyone who purchases tickets week-in, week-out.
Play Austin Stacks Club Lotto online here: https://play.clubforce.com/play_newa.asp?ll_id=529#Anchor
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently: Gerard Nammock, Tobar Naofa and Mitchel’s Road; Nora (Noreen) Moriarty (nee O’Donnell), Connolly Park, Cahill’s Park and Old Spa Road; Nora Leahy (nee Ashe), Gallowsfield and Killahan, Abbeydorney; and
Eileen Canty (nee Brosnan), Causeway and formerly Urban Tce., Boherbee.