PEIL FAOI 6/8/10/12/14/16: Seo iad na suggested fitness activities as we enter the pre-Christmas period of Advent: (i) 20 kick passes, (ii) 20 solos, (iii) 20 pick-ups, (iv) 20 fist passes, (v) 20 body catches, (vi) 20 high catches (ó na scamaill) and (vii) do a bit of running. Keep ‘em up! Spring isn’t far away!
BÓITHRÍN NA SMAOINTE: Lee Strand U13 Football Tournament 2016: The 31st Lee Strand Under 13 Tournament was a great success. The following teams took part:- Group A: AdeS, Legion, Nemo Rangers, Ennistymon; Group B: J.Mitchels, Churchill, Salthill/Cnoc na Cathrach, Clontarf; Group C: K-O’R, An Ghaeltacht, Oranmore/Maree, Ballyboden; Group D: Na Gaeil, Naas, Na Piarsaigh, Cuala Kickhams. Results of our boys’ games: AdeS 5-7; Legion 1-3; AdeS 6-6; Nemo R 1-2; AdeS 2-14; Ennistymon 0-2. Result Table for Group A: AdeS – 6; Ennistymon – 3; Legion – 2; Nemo Rangers – 0. Result Table for Group B: Salthill/K – 6; Clontarf – 4; J Mitchels – 2; Churchill – 0. Result Table for Group C: Ballyboden – 6; Oranmore – 4; K-O’R – 2; Gaeltacht – 0. Result Table for Group C: Na Piarsaigh – 5; Naas – 4; Na Gaeil – 3; Cuala – 0. After Saturday’s games, our boys headed Group A, having defeated Legion (5-7 to 1-3), Inis Díomáin (2-14 to 0-2) and Nemo Rangers (6-6 to 1-2). In the Cup semi-final, we overcame Salthill/Cnoc na Cathrach (our old rivals who were trying for a ‘3-in-a-row’) 1-6 to 0-2. In that game our lads were ahead (1-2 to 0-1) at the break, despite playing into the breeze. Scorers: Shane Bastible (0-2), Donnacha Sayers (1-0). Our goalie, Ben Quilter, made a very important save early in that half when the Galway boys were pressing hard! We scored 0-6 to their 0-1 in the second period. But our lads had to fight hard for a well-deserved victory. Scorers: Conor Horan (0-2), James Charles (0-1), Donnacha Sayers (0-1). Ballyboden-St Endas were our final opponents in Sunday morning’s Lee Strand Cup final. With the aid of a strong breeze, the Dubs led by a goal ag an sos…1-3 to 2-3. Our scorers were Shane Bastible (0-1), Jordan Kissane (1-0) and Conor Horan (0-2). Our players worked hard against strong opponents and, with good tackling and great interplay, prevented many scores. The sides were level after 13 minutes of the second half…Shane Bastible (0-1) and Donnacha Sayers (1-0) scored and the Dubs scored 0-1. James Charles then popped over to give us the lead. Cé go raibh an ghaoth ag cabhrú linne, the play was even enough! Then a great goal by Jordan Kissane seemed to give our boys the lift and confidence that they needed and from then on the opposition only scored 0-1. Shane Bastible pointed again, Gavin Slattery goaled and Jordan Kissane capped a fine display with 1-1. A well-deserved victory for The Rock panel and mentors! The Lee Strand Cup rests happily in The Rock! All games/scores on www.austinstacks.ie. The 31st Lee Strand Under 13 Tournament ran smoothly, thanks to meticulous organising and hard work by Michael Lynch and his meitheal mhór chumasach. Mórbhuíochas to Lee Strand Co-op Creamary Ltd (Tralee), sponsors for the 31st time. Even the weather was on our side…buíochas mór le Dia! The Rock Lee Strand heroes: Ben Quilter; Dean Rusk, Joey Nagle, Josh Lynch; Brian McElligott, Ruairí Ó Conaill, Cian Ó Duilleáin; Jordan Kissane, Armin Heinrich; Evan Foley, Conor Horan, Gearóid Kilgallen; Donnacha Mac a’ tSaoir, Shane Bastible, James Charles; Gavin Slattery, Donncha Fox, Johnny Fealy, Enda Cahill, Dylan Hurley, Mike Lesniak, Caoimhín de Barra, Calpen Carter O’Flynn, Colin Browne, Jack Murphy. Captaen na Foirne: Shane Bastible; Player of the Final: Joey Nagle; Nóta: And Shane Bastible’s younger brother, Cormac, was captain of the U9 team that brought home the Canty Cup from the St Finbarr Club Tournament in Cork. great days! Great memories! (And, when we think of the Lee Strand Tournament, we fondly remember our own Dinny O’Connor, who put so much effort into the organising of this important and successful yearly event in our club programme. Tá sé ar Shlí na Fírinne le breis is trí bliana agus ocht mí. Requiescat in pace).
DAIDÍ NA NOLLAG: As Santa knows and understands the workings of our club, the receiving of club gear (tops, etc) by our young players on the night of the 24th shouldn’t be a problem for him. He has been around before and COVID won’t bother him or his réinfhianna in 2020. Go to www.austinstacks.ie
LOTTO: Austin Stack Club lotto tickets may be purchased at (i) Husseys’ Deli, Prince’s Quay, (ii) Maguires, Butchers, Caherslee, (iii) Kevin Barry’s Shop, Upper Rock Street, (iv) Paudie Commane’s Book Shop, Rock Street, (v) Terry’s Butcher Shop, Oakpark, (vi) The Burger Shack, Monavalley, (vii) O’Flynn Interiors, Rock Street, (viii) Kirbys’ Brogue Inn (An Bhróg), Rock Street, and/or (ix) go to www.austinstacks.ie
KERRY: Best wishes to the Kerry seniors in their preparations for their All-Ireland clash v Aontroim i bPáirc an Chrócaigh. Let’s hope that Corn Mhic Dhonncha will be brought to The Kingdom to brighten our Christmas. We’ll be able to cheer them on on the telly; they’ll be in action before the Limerick/Waterford Liam McCarthy Cup clash on Sunday week (13ú Nollaig). Unfortunately, there are no Rock hurlers in the Green’n’Gold at present but who knows what the future may bring! And we eagerly look forward to the clash of Waterford and Limerick!
PEIL: We look forward to this weekend’s feast of football (alas, without Kerry) between An Cabhán agus Baile Átha Cliath and between Maigh Eo agus Tiobraid Árann. All four teams will be fighting for a place in the ‘COVID’ All-Ireland final! Between them, these four teams have won a total of 40 finals. Mayo won 3 All-Irelands (1936, 1950, 1951) and lost 13 (8 of those losses were in the last 25 years). Tipp men played in 5 All-Ireland football finals and won four (1989, 1895, 1900, 1920); they lost only one (1918)! Tipperary footballers have won more All-Irelands than Mayo! This year’s Tipp team has a Kerry connection….their corner back (Colm O’Shaughnessy)’s granny ‘emigrated’ from Knocknagoshel. Cavan footballers won 4 All-Irelands (1933, 1935, 1947, 1948); they lost six (1925, 1928, 1937, 1943, 1945, 1949). The Dubs have been victorious 29 times (a good bit behind Kerry’s 37!!) and have lost 13 finals. An exciting weekend lies ahead for followers of the ‘pigskin’!