Senior Co. League Div. 1
Dr. Crokes 0-9 Ausitn Stacks 1-12
We had a very productive trip to Killarney on Saturday evening (25th June) in round 6 of the Co. League, coming away with a very good win after a very comprehensive performance.
The win puts us in second place on the League table with 9 points, just one behind league leaders, Dingle. Crokes went into an early two points lead but we were on level terms by the 8th minute with the two Darraghs, Long and O’Brien on target from play.
A brace of points were exchanged by both sides – Crokes two coming from frees and our two coming from a Darragh Long free, following a foul on Graham O’Connell and then Graham himself from play in the 17th minute.
The only goal of the game came a minute later. Shane O’Callaghan gained possession on the half way line close to the side line. He made his way along the line, riding challenge after challenge before turning infield with three Crokes defenders surrounding him.
Though he lost possession he still kept his composure and volleyed to the net and if we see a better goal during this season at Club or inter-county level then it will have to be a good one to beat this one. Sheer class.
Between then and half time both sides again scored two points each, Crokes two again coming from frees and our two coming from another Darragh Long free and one from play by Fiachna Mangan.
So at half time it was Shane’s brilliant goal that seperated the sides (1-6 to 0-6).
Within a minute of the resumption TJ Hogan (what a game TJ had – his first start since the second game of the season on 27th Feb) sent a long cross-field ball to Graham and he pointed from an acute angle.
Two minutes later Graham was on target again, this time from a free following a foul on Darragh O’Brien.
We weren’t to score again until the 53rd minute.
In between Crokes were clawing their way back into the game scoring three points ( 2 from frees) by the 38th minute.
Then in the 44th minute, with the score at 1-8 to 0-9, they were awarded a penalty but Darragh O’Brien made a brilliant save to preserve his clean sheet record – this was his 5th full game and he has yet to be beaten.
Even though both sides failed to score during the next nine minutes Darragh’s save seemed to spur our lads on as we went on to hold the opposition scoreless for the rest of the game while adding four brilliant points ourselves, by Darragh Long (2), Darragh O’Brien and Paul O’Donoghue.
Team: Darragh O’Brien, Pa McCarthy, David Leonard, Fearghal MacNamara, Padraig McCannon, Denis Costello, Alain Creagh, Paul O’Donoghue (0-1), William Kirby, TJ Hogan (Capt), Shane O’Callaghan (1-0), Fiachna Mangan (0-1), Graham O’Connell (0-3 – 1 free), Darragh O’Brien (0-2), Darragh Long (0-5 – 3 frees).
Sub: Denis O’Neill (60m). Game was followed by a Man of the Match presentation to TJ Hogan in the Stacks Clubhouse.
We have been drawn away to Kilcummin in Round 3 (last 14) of the Garvey’s SF Championship. The game will go ahead on Saturday week (9th July) assuming that Kerry will win on Sunday next. The venue is Fitzgerald Stadium and it will be part of a double header with the Legion .v. East Kerry game going ahead at 6pm and our game at 7.30.
However if Kerry loose on Sunday then the game will not be played until Kerry exit the Championship.