CENTENARY GALA DINNER: To celebrate Austin Stacks Hurling and Football Club’s centenary year, a Gala Dinner was held on Saturday last,14th October at The Rose Hotel, Tralee. The night kicked off with a champagne reception followed by dinner. During the meal, guests were entertained by video interviews and photos of Austin Stacks from the past 100 years. Medal presentations were made by Club Chairman, Liam Lynch to club footballers who had won All-Ireland medals over the years, and in the case of those who had passed away and absentees, medals were presented to family representatives. MC on the night was Brian Hurley who performed an excellent job, interviewing many of the award recipients and recalling match action with video footage from the archives. Music was provided by Keep in Touch followed by a disco with Austin Stacks resident DJ Francie Breen. Well done to the organising committee, especially Noreen Power, Mary McQuinn, Lorraine Scanlon, Yvonne O’Brien & Siobhan Power who co-ordinated the whole event and to Tim Slattery on his excellent research on all the individual recipients. A special thanks to The Rose Hotel for the superb meal. Our thanks to Adrienne McLoughlin for the above report and for her excellent photography, as usual, of the event.
MINOR FOOTBALL: The Minor Championship, as we have known it, is about to change next season and will now become an U17 competition. In operation since 1929 Kerry is the most successful county wining the last four All Ireland titles, the only county, in the almost 90 year history of the competition, to accomplish that feat. In the 15 titles won by Kerry since the first victory in 1931the Club had at least one representative on the team on all but one occasion (1975). Twenty six Club players have won a total of 32 All Ireland medals. Brendan Reidy, the very first winner of a medal, is the only player to have won three (1931-1933). Four other players have won two each – Frank O’Neill and John Paul Doyle in 1931 and 1932; Henry McKinney in 1962 and 1963 and Jack Morgan in 2014 and 2015. To celebrated these achievements the Club is holding a function in the Clubhouse on Friday night week (27th Oct) where past and present winners, together with family representatives of deceased members will be honoured.
HURLING: The Annual Trevor Barrett Tournament, played in ideal if windy conditions in Connolly Park on last Saturday afternoon (14th Oct), was another resounding success. This year, for the first time, it was based on a seven-a-side competition and comprised of eight teams. There were four first round games played, with the four winners going through to the Cup semi finals and the four losers competing in the Shield semi finals. And after some great games and some marvelous hurling the four teams to reach both finals were Stacks and Cauesway B in the Shield final and Ardfert and Causeway A in the Cup final. The Shield final, played first, saw the home side win in a high goal-scoring game (8-3 to 5-4). Our own Colm Ó Giollagáin was on fire, scoring six goals, three in each half. The Cup final, not to be outdone, also produced eight goals by the winners, with Ardfert coming out on top  by 8-9 to 2-8. The player of the tournament was Ardfert’s Shane Griffin with Mikey Davis the Ardfert Captain. Our thanks again to everyone involved. Thanks to Dr. Crokes and Duagh, the other two Clubs who participated in the Tournament. Thanks to referees Paddy White, Jim and John McCarthy and Finbarr Canty. Thanks to our own organizing committee, including Ronan Gilsenan, Peter O’Regan and Andrew Morrissey. Thanks to our team mentors on the day, including Mike OHalloran, Tadgh Meehan, Ger Scollard and Andrew Foley. And as always a special thanks to our catering staff, including Annette Carmody and Gemma O’Connell and to John Breen and Dex Carmody who will always have the playing facilities in perfect order. Finally it’s always nice to see Trevor’s family and his many relations and friends present for the occasion.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL:Â The Junior Town League final between ourselves and Na Gaeil has now been refixed for Sunday, 5th November at 12 noon with the venue to be confirmed in due course.
CONGRATULATIONS: to former Club Footballer, Pádraig Sugrue (son of John Joe and Eileen) and Jennifer Kelly (from Effin, Co. Limerick) who were married in Cork last Friday.
BEST WISHES: to Helen McSweeney (wife of former Club Footballer, Terry) who has recently retired as senior administrator at the Tralee Sports Complex. Helen spent 30 happy years at the Sport Complex and to mark the occasion her colleagues are holding a party in the Stacks Clubhouse on this coming Friday night (20th Oct).
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties and Functions. Enquiries about Club Bookings should be made by contacting Harry Hynes at 087 2467286.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last Night’s (17th October) Jackpot, worth €6,800, was not won. The numbers drawn were 12, 15, 18, 19. The €20 winners were: Michael Quinlan, Kieran O’Callaghan, and Kieran Donaghy, all c/o The Club; Melissa Leahy, c/o John Breen; and Eileen Harris, c/o Rock Street Post Office. A reminder that tickets are on regular sale at the Rock Street Post Office and at the Stacks Clubhouse, as well as from the other usual outlets.
SYMPATHY:Â Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Kieran Curran, Oakpark and formerly Dublin; and Eddie Howard, Connolly Park, and formerly Lissanearla.
