Stacks Minors Get Off to A Good Start

Tralee Town League Rd. 1
Austin Stacks 5-12; Na Gaeil/Castlegregory 0-6.

After a couple of successful pre-season Challenge games our Minors got their competitive campaign underway with a good victory in the opening round of the Town League at Connolly Park on this Sunday (5^th Feb).

Played in less than favourable conditions (heavy pitch and a constant heavy mist) the visitors went ahead inside the second minute with a pointed free.

But when Breandán Caball goaled in the 5th minute after some good work by Greg Horan we never really looked back.

Before the end of the first quarter we tagged on four more points – Greg Horan (2), Conor Jordan and Kyle Fitzgibbon – to leave us ahead 1-4 to 0-2 at that stage.

However in a ten minute period before half time we really put the game to bed when we added a further 3-2 to 0-2.

The first of these goals was a gem. It started when wing back, Tommy McLoughlin, combined well with Kyle Fitzgibbon, whose high ball was broken down by Alan Duggan into the path of Breandán Caball for his second goal of the game.

Five minutes later Breandán turned provider when he passed to centreback, Ciarán O’Connell, for our third goal.

Two more points (Breandán and Kyle Fitzgibbon) were followed by our fourth goal in added time by Greg Horan to leave us comfortably ahead at the break by 4-6 to 0-4.

We went on to score 1-6 in the second half to 0-2 for the visitors – our fifth goal coming in the 52nd minute from Greg Horan.

The new men coming on the Minor scene looked very impressive, men like Joseph O’Kelly  (Joe did play one MF game last season), Shane Greensmyth, James Galvin, Aidan McQuinn, Ciarán Flanagan (Ciarán also played one game last year) and Eoin McKivergan.

So all in all, team mentors, Seanie Power, Tim McMahon, Noel O’Connell and Peter Williams will be well pleased with progress to date.

Team: Brian Horgan, Paul Galvin (Capt), Barry Walsh, Shane Greensmyth, Thomas McLoughlin, Ciarán O’Connell (1-1), Joseph O’Kelly, Shane Walsh, Shane Crowley, Kyle Fitzgibbon (0-2), Greg Horan (2-3 – 1 free), James Galvin, Conor Jordan (0-1), Alan Duggan (0-1), Breandán Caball (2-2).

Subs used: Eamon McAllen (ht), Aidan McQuinn (ht), Shane Begley (ht), Paddy Fitzgibbon (36m) (0-2), Ciarán Flanagan (36m), Eoin McKivergan (36m).

Round 2 – away against Ballmac/Churchill – is scheduled to go ahead on Sunday week (19^th Feb) but this is not certain as we write.