Stacks Minors Dig Deep to Beat the Blues

Minor Co. League Div. 1:
Austin Stacks 1-11; Kerins O’Rahillys 1-6.

We secured our third win in as many games in round 4 of the Co. League played in Connolly Park on this Friday evening (20th April). With a very heavy pitch it was understandable that it would take both sides time to acclimatise to the adverse conditions. And so it was nine minutes before the first score was registered – a point from play by Alan Duggan after a good run by Shane Crowley. This was followed immediately by two more from Ciaran O’Connell and Danny Carroll.

Rahillys got off the mark in the 13th minute with a pointed free but we went on to score three more – two super efforts from play by Shane Crowley with a pointed free in between by Kyle Fitzgibbon. The visitors first score from play came on the stroke of half time which left us ahead at the break by 0-6 to 0-2. However, that half time lead was wiped out inside three minutes after the resumption when the opposition pointed from a free and then banged in an opportunist goal to leave the sides all square.

Another side might have crumbled at that stage but these boys are made of stern stuff and in an eight minute period (35th to 43rd minute) we went back into a seven points lead with points by Kyle (2 frees), Shane Walsh and Danny Carroll from play and a brilliant goal by Eamon McAllen following good work by Ciaran O’Connell.  Rahillys never gave up and in the final quarter they outscored us by three points ( 2 frees) to one (Alan Duggan from play).

This was an all round good performance but our defence must get special mention on this occasion. Apart from the goal only two of the opposition’s scores came from play and this was due in large part to a sterling  display from all our backs, including James Galvin who played most of the game in a defensive role.  Team: Shane Begley, Paul Galvin (Capt), Barry Walsh, Eoghan McKivergan, Aidan McQuinn, Conor Jordan, Joseph O’Kelly, Ciaran O’Connell (0-1), Shane Walsh (0-1), Shane Crowley (0-2), Alan Duggan 0-2), Danny Carroll (0-2), James Galvin, Eamon McAllen (1-0), Kyle Fitzgibbon (0-3 frees).

Subs: Tom McLoughlin (50m), Paddy Fitzgibbon (58m), Shane Greensmyth (60m).

The 5th and final round of the League is scheduled to go ahead in Connolly Park on next Friday (27^th April) evening at 7pm against Dr. Crokes.