Austin Stacks Hurling and Football Club

SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 2-14: Ballymac 0-5.
This round 2 game in the Town League started in Connolly Park on this Sunday morning (1st March) with a cold gale-force wind blowing down the pitch but it soon abated and, despite the heavy conditions, there were some very good passages of play by both sides.  We started well and by ten minutes were five points to no score up, with three very good efforts by Shane O'Callaghan - and Dale Counihan and Seán Ryan also on target – all from play. Shane added two more in the second quarter with Brían Mangan and Dale also adding one each. The first of our goals came in the 28th minute. Shane took a quick free to Dale who passed back to Shane on the run and his shot across goal was finished to the net by Alan Duggan. We led at half time by 1-9 to 0-2. That half also yielded only three wides – two for us.

BORDCHEANTAIR THRÁ LÍ & NAOMH BREANDÁN
* RINCE FOIRNE (Figure Dance): Club Aibhistín de Staic: Pádraigín Gutteridge, Chloe Nic Giolla Phádraig, Chloe Ní Liatháin, Aisling Ní Laoire, Cáit Ní Dhuibhir, Éabha Nic Craith
* AMHRÁNAÍOCHT AONAIR (Solo Singing): Club Aibhistín de Staic: Ella Nic Gabhann
* BAILÉADGHRÚPA (Ballad Group): Club Aibhistín de Staic: Ella Nic Gabhann, Emily Heaslip, Amy Ní Neachtain, Gráinne Ní Chonchúir, Róisín Ní Airt (see group photo below).

Austin Stacks Senior team commenced the 2015 football season with a win over Na Gaeil in the Town League earlier today.  Not alone was William Kirby starting his 21st playing season with the Club but he was also part of today's Management team and, to cap it all, celebrated his 40th birthday today also.  In an interview given to the Kerryman newspaper this week Stacks Senior team manager, Stephen Stack is quoted as saying "I would hazard a guess as to say he is the best club footballer Austin Stacks have ever had.  The year has started and he's still with us".  Few would disagree.  Happy Birthday to the one & only William Kirby.

SENIOR FOOTBALL: Na Gaeil 1-8; Austin Stacks 6-9.
With some of the Management team and 13 of last Sunday's starting 15 taking a well-deserved break the squad came into play on this Sunday (22nd Feb) at Killeen in the 1st round of the SF Town League. Ronan Shanahan and Wayne Guthrie, who started in Portlaoise and William Kirby and forward Darragh O'Brien, who both came on as subs against Slaughtneil, were the only four from that day to line-out on Sunday.  And Sunday's team showed how sharp that squad were - going in at half time with a lead of 3-6 to 0-4 and scoring a further 3-3 to 1-4 in the second half.

MINOR FOOTBALL: Ballydonoghue2-13; Austin Stacks 0-11.
Our Minors travelled to Coolard for their first round game of the Co. League and although still not at full strength put up a good performance against a very accomplished Ballydonoghue side, who are competing in Division 1 of the competition for the first time and have already justified the tag of favourites to win the League outright.  We were unfortunate to lose the services of Colin Griffin after three minutes following a blood injury and Colin had to leave the pitch for good after 13 minutes. Darragh Scanlon had transferred at this stage to full back and had a very good game.