Senior Club Championship Relegation Rd1: Austin Stacks 1-15; Kerins O’Rahillys 0-9.
After going down to the same opposition in the Town League Final just a fortnight earlier we were a little apprehensive going into this Club Championship Relegation game played at Austin Stack Park on this Sunday evening (30thApril). But a brilliant all-round display ended in a well-deserved victory which leaves us free now to concentrate on the season ahead.
Playing against a strong wind in the first half, or playing with the wind to our backs in the second half, made little difference to our performance. It was double scores in both halves – 1-7 to 0-5 in the first and a similar feat in the second period (0-8 to 0-4).
We were ahead by 0-4 to 0-2 towards the end of the first quarter (our four points coming from four different players – Greg Horan, David Mannix (free), Darragh O’Brien and Michael O’Donnell (free) – when a defensive error was latched onto by team captain, Shane O’Callaghan and Shane netted from close range. Three more points followed – all from play – with David Mannix, Pa McCarthy and Darragh O’Brien all on target. Two minutes before the interval Rahillys were given a life-line when they were awarded a penalty but David Hennessy made a brilliant save to preserve our five points lead at the break (1-7 to 0-5)
We continued to dominate in the second half – scoring five more points in the opening 12 minutes – four by David Mannix (3 frees) and a lovely effort from play by Jack Morgan. Rahillys then added three in succession – all from frees, but we ended the game the stronger adding a further three to one for the opposition – David Mannix on target again with two frees and the final point of the game being the score of the game with Greg Horan putting over a beauty with the outside of his right foot.
If there was a Man of the Match Award it would be hard to overlook the display at midfield by Shane Guthrie who, along with Kieran Donaghy, dominated the centre all through.
Team: David Hennessy, Ronan Shanahan, Barry Walsh, Fearghal MacNamara, Pa McCarthy (0-1), Jack O’Shea, Jack Morgan (0-1), Kieran Donaghy, Shane Guthrie, Shane Carroll, Greg Horan (0-2), Michael O’Donnell (0-1 free), David Mannix (0-8 – six frees), Shane O’Callaghan (Capt) (1-0), Darragh O’Brien (0-2).
Subs used: Denis McElligott (28m); Fiachna Mangan (ht); Denis Costello (47m); Wayne Guthrie (47m).
We now turn our thoughts to the first round of the Co. Championship which commences in two weeks time. We have a home game against St. Kierans. The game is fixed for Saturday evening (13th May) with a 6.30pm throw-in.