Wednesday 25th June 2025
Kerry GAA Ask Acorn U21 County Championship Football Final
Austin Stacks v St Kierans
Venue; Austin Stacks Park
Throw-in; 7-00pm
Report by Tommy Naughton
Austin Stacks are BACK TO BACK U21 County Champions after they defeated St Kierans at Austin Stacks Park Tralee. In truth the young Rockies dominated this final and were nine points up with ten minutes remaining before a terrific fightback from St Kierans made it a nervy ending for the deserving champions.
St Kierans playing with the breeze opened the scoring from a Killian Dennehy free. A minute later Ben Murphy powerfully ran at the St Kierans defence and saw his effort crash back off the crossbar. Daniel Kirby opened the scoring for the Stacks bring the game level in the fifth minute and when a Paddy Lane free went over less that 60 seconds later the black and amber were in front which was a lead they held till the final whistle.
Points from Paddy Lane and Donnacha Sayers with two, one coming from a free extended the lead to four points after the opening ten minutes. Cathal McElligott kicked a two pointer for St Kierans which was awarded after some consultation between the match officials. Stacks responded with their own two pointer from Paddy Lane and again it took a period of consultation from the officials before it was awarded.
Donnacha Sayers popped over another free which was followed by points from Ben Murphy and Man of the match Paddy Lane to extend the lead to six points. Two converted frees in a row from Killian Dennehy reduced the gap but any hope they might have had were extinguished when after a 60 yard run from Colm Browne he off-loaded to Paddy lane who fired low past the keeper to score the only goal of the match.
Half Time: Austin Stacks 1-10 St Kierans 0-06
Stacks keeper Michael Tansley had to be at his best to deny Ruairi Bourke in the opening minute of the second half. Three converted frees coming from Paddy Lane and two from Ryan O’Driscoll had the gap out to ten points with twenty minutes remaining.
Credit to St Kieran who kept on trying and went on the offensive as they now had nothing more to lose. Two quickly converted points were followed by another great save from Michael Tansley before Killian Dennehy saw his effort come back off the crossbar.
With twelve minutes remaining Donnacha Sayers kicked Austin Stacks final score of the game which saw the scoreline stand at Austin Stacks 1-14 St Kieran’s 0-08 as we headed into a nervy final ten minutes. Two points from Kian Downey, one from Killian Dennehy and a two pointer from Cathal Brosnan and all of a sudden the score was 1-14 to 0-12.
Stacks were now turning the ball over under severe pressure as St Kierans seemed to have all the momentum and two more points in the dying minutes saw just a goal between the side. Kierans had one more chance as the hooter sounded they went for the elusive goal but when they were dispossessed, Michael Tansley kicked the ball dead to start the celebrations for the BACK TO BACK CHAMPIONS.
Full Time: Austin Stacks 1-14 St Kierans 0-14
Austin Stacks; Michael Tansley, Sean og Brosnan, Colm Browne, Jack Murphy, Ben Murphy (0-01), Luke Casey, Fionnan Ryan, Daniel Kirby (0-01), Cian Dillane, Paddy Lane (1-06 (2f, 1x2pt)), Ronan Carroll, Donnacha Sayers (0-04, (3f)), Damien Hogan, Ryan O’Driscoll (0-02 (2f)).
Subs; Cillian Litchfield for Damien Hogan (40 mins), Sean Heaslip for Colm Browne (48 mins)
St Kierans: Conor Wilkinson, Shane O’Sullivan, Isaac Brosnan, Owen O’Connor, Ruairi Bourke, Jack McElligott, Ryan Dennehy, Jack Brosnan, Killian Dennehy, Mikey Nolan, Cathal McElligott, Ruairi Brosnan, Ciaran Mangan, Cathal Brosnan, Michael Horan.
Subs; Thomas Conway for Jack Brosnan (24 mins), Jack O’Sullivan for Ruairi Bourke (39 mins), Maurice Lane for Ciaran Mangan (40 mins), Kian Downey for Thomas Conway (43 mins), John O’Connor for Ruairi Brosnan (58 mins).
Referee: Cathal O’Dhubhda (Kilcummin).
MATCH DAY IMAGES THANKS TO Adrienne McLoughlin
