Thursday 29th May 2025
Ask Acorn U21 County Championship Semi Final
Austin Stacks v East Kerry
Venue; Milltown/Castlemaine
Throw-in; 7-00pm
Report by Tommy Naughton
Austin Stacks are back into an U21 County Final and will look to retain their title after a very convincing win against East Kerry on Thursday night in Paddy Burke Memorial Park Milltown.
Stacks aided by a strong wind in the opening half got off to a flyer when from the throw in Ben Murphy was pulled back and Paddy Lane kicked over a short range free. Seconds later Jack Murphy picked out Ryan O’Driscoll who got passed his marker before rolling the ball passed the advancing keeper to have the Rockies four up after 90 seconds.
East Kerry responded with a point from Conor Gammell but could have been further behind when Ryan O’Driscoll’s shot beat the keeper but the ball crashed back off the post. Mark O’Shea punched over from the next attack before points from Ryan O’Driscoll and Donnacha Sayers had the stacks four in front again before Paddy Lane kicked over a two point free on the twelve minute mark. Points were exchanged just before the quarter hour mark when Stephen Palmer scored from play before Stacks corner back Sean og Brosnan got his name on the score sheet.
A Joey McCarthy point for East Kerry had the gap to five but two tow pointers for the stacks had the margin our to nine in a matter of minutes. First came a monster of a two pointer from Daniel Kirby from open play and this was followed by a two point free from paddy Lane .
James Horan got the next score for East Kerry but again this was followed by another two pointer from Ronan Carroll. James Horgan kicked over two frees in the raining minutes of the half with a Ryan O’Driscoll point sandwiched between them for the Rockies.
Half Time; Austin Stacks 1-13 East Kerry 0-07.
Although East Kerry were 9 points down at half time they must have believed they were still in the game with the strong wind that favoured them in the second half. These beliefs were dashed in the opening minutes when Stacks came out and kicked over four points in the first six minutes. Daniel Kirby got his second score of the game just seconds after the restart which was followed by two from Paddy lane one from a free and another free from Ronan Carroll.
A two pointer from Mark O’Shea was needed badly for East Kerry with the game slipping away from them. Stephen Palmer and man of the match Ben Murphy exchanged scores to keep the stacks ahead by 11 points with fifteen minutes remaining. Damien Hogan got his name on the scoresheet next with Stephen Palmer again responding for the East Kerry men.
Ronan Carroll kicked over after quick thinking from Ben Murphy with a quickly taken free. James Horgan raised the orange flag with a two point free to leave 10 between the sides with ten minutes remaining. Stephen Palmer reduced the gap to nine seconds later, and Palmer had the chance to reduce the gap even more but his goal attempt flew over the crossbar.
Any hopes of a comeback were dismissed in the very next attacked wen Ben Murphy buried the ball low past the East Kerry keeper to bring the gap back to eleven points once again. James Horgan again responded with his second two pointed free before Luke Casey tapped over after another quick counter attack break from the Rockies. The final scores of the game from Stephen Palmer and Joey McCarthy.
Stacks will be delighted to be back in the County Final but know they will have to reduced the number of unforced errors when they face St Kierans in Austin Stacks Park on Wednesday June 25th at 7-00pm.
Full Time; Austin Stacks 2-21 East Kerry 0-19
Austin Stacks; Michael Tansley, Sean og Brosnan(0-01), Colm Browne, Jack Murphy, Ben Murphy (1-01), Luke Casey (0-01), Gavin Casey , Fionnan Ryan, Daniel Kirby (0-03 (1x2pt)), Cian Dillane, Paddy Lane (0-07 (2f, 2x2ptf)) , Ronan Carroll (0-04 (1f, 1x2pt)), Donnacha Sayers (0-01), Damien Hogan (0-01), Ryan O’Driscoll (1-02).
Subs; Cillian Litchfield for Cian Dillane (47 mins), Cormac Bastible for Damien Hogan (57 mins), Donnacha Horgan for Paddy Lane (60 mins), Bobby Byrne for Donnacha Sayers (60 mins)
East Kerry; Shay O’Meara, Cian Fleming, Dara Stack, Rian O’Neill, Rian Colleran, Keelan O’Shea, Conor Gammell (0-01), Mark O’Shea (0-03, (1x2pt)), Ted O’Gorman, Joey McCarthy (0-02), Timmy Moynihan, Eanna Murphy, Paudie Moynihan, James Horgan (0-07 (3f, 2x2ptf)), Stephen Palmer (0-06).
Subs used; Oisin O’Leary for Ted O’Gorman, Oisin Fleming for Mark O’Shea, Oran O’Neill for Timmy Moynihan, Tadgh Gosney for Eanna Murphy, Darren Reen for Paudie Moynihan.
Referee; Sean Joy (Laune Rangers)
CLICK HERE To View Adrienne McLoughlins Match Day Images.
