Intermediate Club Championship SF FT Austin Stacks 0-21 Fossa 0-21 after Extra Time. Fossa win on penalties.
The teams were level 0-7 each at halftime, the game so tight that there was never more than a point between them throughout the opening 30 minutes. Stacks scorers Michael O Donnell 0-2 ((2f), Shane O Callaghan 0-1, Cillian Litchfield 0-1, Donagh Mc Kivergan 0-1, Michael O Gara 0-1 & Sean Quilter 0-1.
Early second half scores from Paul O’Sullivan and Sean Quilter (free) had us two ahead. Throughout the game we were guilty of some very poor wides and none were more costly than those missed in the third quarter when we failed to build on our brief lead. Instead, it was Fossa who found themselves ahead 0-14 to 0-10 with 48 mins played. Jack Morgan chipping in with our only score a point over a fifteen-minute period. The introduction of Ferdia O Brien in the 55 minute reignited Stacks. He scored one from play and converted two frees to bring Stacks right back into it. Substitute David Mannix pointed in the 63rd minute to put the minimum between the sides 0-15 to Fossa 0-16. Before Jordan Kissane who was introduced in the second half was pulled down for a free in injury time which Ferdia duly converted & we headed for extra time.
David Clifford had Fossa two ahead within two minutes. Yes, it was that kind of game & Kerry’s Super Star was having a stormer. His vision, ball control and finishing simply outstanding and on another level throughout the game. Stacks, David Mannix and Jordan Kissane kicked two from play. Brothers Paudie & David Clifford raised white flags for Fossa. The final score of the first half of extra time fell to Jordan Kissane who kicked a beauty from distance to leave the score’s level once more 0-19 a piece.
David Clifford had his team in the lead 0-20 to 0-19 fourteen mins into extra time. Ferdia pointed a free to leave us level in the last minute of extra time. When David Mannix kicked a lovely point from play to put the Stacks ahead you felt like this could be the winner. But there was still time for Fossa to win the next kick out & get the ball out on the Terrace side to who else only David Clifford. Clifford delivered a point that only he could score bringing his tally of the day to (0-13 (3f) to tie the sides up once more & send the games into penalties. FT after Extra time Stacks 0-21 Fossa 0-21.
Wayne Guthrie replaced Michael Tansley in goals for the penalty shoot-out. Sean Quilter & Michael O Gara scored, Ferdia & Michael O Donnell had their shots saved. Fossa had converted three, penalties when Greg Horan stepped up to take our 5th and knowing that he had to convert. Alas it was not to be and credit Fossa keeper, Shane O Sullivan, and the part he played in sending his side, 2022 Junior All Ireland Champions, through to the Kerry intermediate Final V Milltown Castlemaine (who had defeated Legion in the earlier semi). A remarkable achievement by Fossa, whom we can only congratulate.
We thank our Senior players & team management for their commitment during the year. A season plagued with injuries; it will be one the club will be anxious to put behind them. But we have no doubt knowing the calibre of our boys that Stacks will dust themselves down and come back better & stronger for 2024.
AUSTIN STACKS: Michael Tansley, Colin Griffin, Dylan Casey, Joey Nagle, Paul O’Sullivan 0-1, Armin Heinrich, Colm Browne, Barry Shanahan, Michael O’Donnell 0-3 (2f), Cillian Litchfield 0-1, Donagh Mc Kivergan 0-1, Jack Morgan 0-1, Sean Quilter 0-2 (1f), Shane O’Callaghan 0-1, Michael O’Gara 0-1.
Subs: Greg Horan for C Litchfield (ht), Jordan Kissane 0-2 for D Mc Kivergan (47), David Mannix 0-3 for S Quilter (47), Brendan O’Sullivan for J Morgan (52), Ferdia O’Brien 0-5 (4f) for M O’Donnell (55), David Fitzmaurice for B Shanahan (et, 66), Michael O’Donnell for S O’Callaghan (et, 76), Wayne Guthrie for M Tansley (et, 85).
All photos by Adrienne Mc Loughlin
