Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2015 13:35:57 GMT
Another Kerry connection to the weekend is former Kilmoyley and Kerry hurler and selector Christy Walsh is over the Bennettsbridge team that play in the Junior Hurling Club Final on Sunday,a Kerryman training a Kilkenny club in hurling!!
But of course Christy is probably one of the all time greats when it comes to hurling here in Kerry,also played football with Ardfert and St Brendans in the 92 county final,
Best of luck to him,Ardfert and Brosna next weekend.
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 11, 2015 8:48:58 GMT
Another Kerry connection to the weekend is former Kilmoyley and Kerry hurler and selector Christy Walsh is over the Bennettsbridge team that play in the Junior Hurling Club Final on Sunday,a Kerryman training a Kilkenny club in hurling!! But of course Christy is probably one of the all time greats when it comes to hurling here in Kerry,also played football with Ardfert and St Brendans in the 92 county final, Best of luck to him,Ardfert and Brosna next weekend. Christy Walsh is one of natures gentleman
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 11, 2015 8:51:31 GMT
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 11, 2015 23:36:06 GMT
Patsy Bradley: Slaughtneil rise is due to Mickey Moran
Colm Keys
Slaughtneil midfielder Patsy Bradley has hailed the tactical acumen of evergreen coach Mickey Moran ahead of Sunday's AIB All-Ireland club football semi-final against Austin Stacks.
Moran has the distinction of managing more counties at senior level than any other manager - including Mick O'Dwyer - with stints with Derry (twice), Sligo, Donegal, Mayo and Leitrim.
But his success in guiding Slaughtneil to only a second Derry senior title and a first provincial crown ranks right up there with anything he has achieved in his coaching career.
Derry clubs dominate the Ulster roll of honour, with seven clubs winning 13 titles between them. But Slaughtneil's 2014 victory in such a competitive championship is among those to stand out.
Gentleman
"Mickey would be a very quiet man," said Derry midfielder Bradley. "He's vocal when he has to be but he's a real gentleman and has been involved in a lot of teams.
"Maybe in years gone past, as a small club you go out and play off the cuff and hope for the best. This year Mickey has brought more tactical awareness and more of a game-plan."
Slaughtneil swept the boards in a memorable season and Bradley doesn't believe "we'll ever see the likes of it again".
"I think the only thing we missed out on was the camogie. We were beaten by Owenroe in the final. But we picked up most other trophies," he said.
"For the community, it has done massive things. We're not a big club, we're a very, very small club and everybody knows everybody.
"It just hasn't come together up until now. You would ask yourself the question in the past, is it ever going to come? Our last win in Derry was 10 years ago and it wasn't looking good but I'm glad I stuck in there and it's great just to be part of it."
Bradley says Slaughtneil won't exert all their energy on dealing with the obvious threat of Stacks' totemic forward Kieran Donaghy.
"That's probably the thing you'd be afraid of," he admitted. "But that's not the case, one man doesn't make a team. If you your focus is solely on Kieran Donaghy, you're going to let your focus off some other man who is going to step up to the mark."
Meanwhile, Corofin's Gary Sice accepts that the Galway club have underachieved at this level in the recent past, with previous semi-final defeats in 2008 and '09.
"We've come to this stage in two other years we didn't drive on. We've had good players so hopefully this time we can fulfil what's been spoken about and what (potential) we have," he said.
"We were a young squad in those years, many of us hadn't been there before. We weren't naive but maybe Kilmacud in 2008 were more seasoned.
"We were missing one or two lads like Mike Comer - he was a serious Galway player at that stage. You need everyone."
Offaly GAA is mourning the death of former county player Mickey Gunning, a brother of former All-Ireland winner and well known referee Jody.
Irish Independent
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Post by Seoirse Ui Duic on Feb 12, 2015 11:53:36 GMT
AIB GAA Junior and Intermediate Club Championship Finals February 14th & 15th at Croke Park -
A Chara,
As you know, your 2015 GAA Season Ticket covers entry to the AIB GAA Junior and Intermediate Club Championship Finals at Croke Park on February 14th & 15th.
If you wish to attend the club finals this weekend simply present your Season Ticket card for scanning at the turnstiles. Please note that only the Lower Hogan Stand is open on both days and unreserved seating will be in operation.
Le meas,
GAA Ticket Office
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G_S_J
Senior Member
With greatness already assured, history now awaits.
Posts: 647
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Post by G_S_J on Feb 12, 2015 11:58:30 GMT
Stephen Stack: “I Don’t Want Us To Have Any Regrets…We Have To Go For It” traleetoday.ie/stephen-stack-dont-want-us-regrets-go/“NO REGRETS” has been the Austin Stacks mantra since they began their club championship campaign nine months ago. For many of the players, Sunday will be the most important game of their lives. Stephen Stack and his team have been doing their homework on Ulster opponents, Slaughtneil, in the All-Ireland club championship semi-final this Sunday. They’ve waited a long time since the Munster final in November, but Stephen Stack and his charges are ready for battle. “It’s uncharted territory for us because we’ve never had this sort of a layoff between championship matches. We took a week or maybe ten days off just before Christmas, we got straight back into it then, we’ve been working away really for the last six or seven weeks fairly hard.” Challenge matches against the Clare senior team and the Cork U21s, plus a town championship final against O’Rahilly’s has helped Stack and his charges prepare for Sunday’s big match. Ronan Shanahan remains the only injury worry, a decision on the defender’s fitness is expected at the end of the week. “The lads at this stage can see that they’re getting very close to the game coming around. We’ll be tailing off the week of the match and getting in the right frame of mind because that’s going to be very important,” said Stack. “Ok, the year does drag out, but we’ll take that. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these players, and I think they recognise that themselves,” said the manager. “The bookies have us as fourth favourites. We bridged a 20 year gap by winning the county title and bridged a 37 year gap in Munster, but I don’t get a sense that either the management or the players are settling for that. This is a once off opportunity. If we lose, I don’t want us to have any regrets, I don’t want them to be conservative. It’s an All-Ireland semi-final, we’ll have to go for it” said Stack “In the last twelve months I’d say nearly every player has improved on aspects of their game. Some fellas previously might not have worked as hard, but they’re doing that now. It might not be the most natural part of their game, particularly some of the forwards.” In 2014, their opponents, Slaughtneil, picked up their first provincial title which added to their second county championship in their history, the previous title coming in 2004. “We’ve huge respect for them. Their background coming into the competition is very similar to ourselves. They’re very strong around the middle of the field. We’ve looked at five of their games on video and a friend of mine who’s a good judge of the game was at the Ulster Final, so he came back and spoke to our players about what they can expect.” “They are very strong around the middle, good at retaining the ball. They don’t give it away too often and are very physical, but within the rules. They’re also very patient, those would be some of their characteristics.” “There is a lot of similarities between how both teams will play. They’ve come through a lot of tough battles as well.” “I think it’s going to be a physical battle, I think the middle third of the pitch is where the game will be won and lost. It’s the area where they have dominated nearly every team they have played. Patience and decision-making are the kind of things that will swing the game in club football. If you have a period of dominance it’s all about capitalising on that. It’s something we’ll be hoping to do.” “It’s going to be a very tough game there’s no question about that, but I think we’ll be prepared for it,” he said.
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Post by Seoirse Ui Duic on Feb 12, 2015 20:52:54 GMT
Sheehan to lead Stacks' black and amber march 12 February 2015
Laois footballer Billy Sheehan will lead the Austin Stacks '16th man' march to O'Moore Park in advance of Sunday's All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final showdown against Slaughtneil of Derry.
The former Stacks player has helped organise the march, which will commence at 3pm at O'Loughlin's Hotel in Portlaoise, in his adopted county.
The black and amber march is a tradition that stems back to the early nineties and club secretary Elma Nix explained to The Examiner. “Billy comes to all our games and would be very much part and parcel of all the razzmatazz.
“He’s been telling us the best places in town and so on.”
Stacks have booked six buses for the trip and the secretary is expecting a big show of support.
“I’ve spoken to people who haven’t played for the clubs since U12 but are going to the match. I’m finding anybody with an allegiance is travelling.
“People are making a special effort.”
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 12, 2015 22:05:29 GMT
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Post by townend on Feb 13, 2015 10:38:09 GMT
Sheehan to lead Stacks' black and amber march 12 February 2015 Laois footballer Billy Sheehan will lead the Austin Stacks '16th man' march to O'Moore Park in advance of Sunday's All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final showdown against Slaughtneil of Derry. The former Stacks player has helped organise the march, which will commence at 3pm at O'Loughlin's Hotel in Portlaoise, in his adopted county. The black and amber march is a tradition that stems back to the early nineties and club secretary Elma Nix explained to The Examiner. “Billy comes to all our games and would be very much part and parcel of all the razzmatazz. “He’s been telling us the best places in town and so on.” Stacks have booked six buses for the trip and the secretary is expecting a big show of support. “I’ve spoken to people who haven’t played for the clubs since U12 but are going to the match. I’m finding anybody with an allegiance is travelling. “People are making a special effort.” Billy will do anything to get the media attention it seems,
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Post by Seoirse Ui Duic on Feb 13, 2015 11:38:43 GMT
By Eoghan Cormican AIB All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final: Austin Stacks (Kerry) v Slaughtneil (Derry): Sunday.
If it’s open, free-flowing football you’re looking for this weekend, Kieran Donaghy recommends taking in tomorrow’s club semi-final encounter involving Corofin and St Vincent’s.
There’ll be no such showcase at O’Moore Park on Sunday, with Donaghy predicting a dogfight between two sides with nothing to lose.
In truth, though, he’s not overly bothered by the route taken. The destination is his sole concern. Their 3-5 to 2-4 Munster final victory over The Nire last November certainly wasn’t attractive fare. Not that it troubled Austin Stacks, mind you. The Kerry champions deal solely in the currency of producing results.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity to be involved with all your friends in an All-Ireland semi-final, and whatever about thinking about a Munster championship after a county final, this definitely wasn’t on the radar,” said Donaghy.
“We have nothing to lose. We are playing against another team that I don’t think have anything to lose either which is going to make for a great game. I think they have a toughness in them and we have a bit of toughness in us.
“I think it’s going to be an edgy game and whoever wants to fight the hardest for it will come out on top.
“There is a load of football in the other semi-final, Corofin and St Vincent’s are two very classy teams. I think our semi-final may be more of a dogfight, but we don’t mind whatever way it comes once we can find a way to get over the line and get to the next stage. That’s the way we’ve approached it all year.”
Dr Crokes failed on three successive occasions — 2011 to 2013 — to navigate the semi-final hurdle of a competition dubbed by sponsors AIB as ‘the toughest’.
Donaghy says bettering their Kerry rivals in reaching the St Patrick’s Day decider is not a priority.
“It’s not in the back of my head, honestly. If we get over the next game, the final will be all I’ll think about probably for a month.
“Right now, it’s about trying to win a semi-final to give yourself an opportunity to think like that. If you are thinking like that now (about a final), I think you are in trouble as a player.
“It’s something Stephen Stack has emphasised and we’ve been good at that all year, taking the next game as it comes, and I know it’s a cliché. If we’d looked past Dingle in the county semi-final, we’d have been beaten hands down, but we didn’t care about the other game, we just concentrated on the match in front of us. It was really just about getting to a final and giving yourself that chance to win it. It was the same with Munster and it really will be the same the next day.”
He added: “These boys are tough boys to come out of Ulster, to come out of crowds like Crossmaglen and Omagh, and these kind of teams and Clontibret, and to come out of that environment. It will be a barnburner, as my basketball coach used to say. It will be one of those games you look forward to if you are up for the fight, and if you’re not you won’t look forward to. It’ll be a great game for us. If we find a way to get over the line then I’ll obsess about the final.”
© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved
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Derek
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Post by Derek on Feb 13, 2015 11:59:52 GMT
Sheehan to lead Stacks' black and amber march 12 February 2015 Laois footballer Billy Sheehan will lead the Austin Stacks '16th man' march to O'Moore Park in advance of Sunday's All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final showdown against Slaughtneil of Derry. The former Stacks player has helped organise the march, which will commence at 3pm at O'Loughlin's Hotel in Portlaoise, in his adopted county. The black and amber march is a tradition that stems back to the early nineties and club secretary Elma Nix explained to The Examiner. “Billy comes to all our games and would be very much part and parcel of all the razzmatazz. “He’s been telling us the best places in town and so on.” Stacks have booked six buses for the trip and the secretary is expecting a big show of support. “I’ve spoken to people who haven’t played for the clubs since U12 but are going to the match. I’m finding anybody with an allegiance is travelling. “People are making a special effort.” Billy will do anything to get the media attention it seems, To be fair, i dont see Billy quoted anywhere in the article?
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Post by Seoirse Ui Duic on Feb 13, 2015 12:22:19 GMT
As a Stacks man living in Laois it is quite lovely that he still shows his love for his old club. It says more about the club culture at Stacks than the marches and the atmosphere they bring. I have been two a few of their matches and was more than impressed with their supporters at the Munster final. I'm not a big fan personally of blowing airhorns and aal the stamping and clapping during a game, but they did do it in such a way that it did not interfere with the game. Where a lot of "supporters" use airhorns to distract free takers taking their kicks, they did not. Free taking is a great skill and I like this to be given the proper respect. Yes, Stacks supporters are loud, but they are also very passionate and bring great atmosphere. The parades, marches and the singing are all a sideshow to the game, but they do show a lot of support and I'm sure the players get a great lift from it. Stephen Stacks seems to converse often with the supporters during games and this leads to even more interaction between players and supporters. Having Mr. Sheehan leading the parade and having six buses going to the game shows how strong their support is. I'm wishing them all the best in the semi final and if it was up to support alone they will cruise into the final.
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Post by buck02 on Feb 13, 2015 14:39:27 GMT
I laughed when I saw the Kerryman's preview of before Ardfert and Brosna's semi finals a few weeks back. The Ulster teams would be too strong they said and both Kerry sides will lose.
Kerry club football at Junior and Intermediate will always be above the standard of most other counties. Just look at Glenbeigh and the players at their disposal who still havnt won the Junior.
The Senior Championship disappointed but in fairness to Crokes they have probably paid for the lack of any real challenges when it came to February.
Best of luck to all teams this weekend. While I have no idea of the opposition, Ardfert if they can deal with being favourites surely shouldn't have too many problems given their experience at Croke Park. Brosna will hardly leave it behind them after the struggle against the Tyrone side but of course we don't know how the Croke Park nerves will effect players.
Stacks and Slaughtneill could be a cracker and even though Stacks are like marmite in the county, most would still like to see them get through.
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Post by Seoirse Ui Duic on Feb 13, 2015 16:31:18 GMT
Star: we have nothing to lose 13 February 2015
Kieran Donaghy is gearing himself up for a 'dogfight' against Slaughtneil of Derry in Sunday's All-Ireland Club SF semi-final.
With a place in the All-Ireland final up for grabs, the Austin Stacks and Kerry star believes it will boil down to which team wants it the most.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity to be involved with all your friends in an All-Ireland semi-final, and whatever about thinking about a Munster championship after a county final, this definitely wasn’t on the radar,” he remarked to The Examiner.
“We have nothing to lose. We are playing against another team that I don’t think have anything to lose either which is going to make for a great game. I think they have a toughness in them and we have a bit of toughness in us.
“I think it’s going to be an edgy game and whoever wants to fight the hardest for it will come out on top.
“There is a load of football in the other semi-final, Corofin and St Vincent’s are two very classy teams. I think our semi-final may be more of a dogfight, but we don’t mind whatever way it comes once we can find a way to get over the line and get to the next stage.
“That’s the way we’ve approached it all year.”
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Post by Seoirse Ui Duic on Feb 13, 2015 16:33:36 GMT
Rock of ages as Austin Stacks return to Portlaoise On Sunday, Austin Stacks return to Portlaoise, where, in 1977, a team packed with legendary players took a giant step towards All-Ireland glory in front of 10,000 in O'Moore Park. Liam Kelly reflects on that team of yesteryear
by Liam Kelly PUBLISHED 13/02/2015 HORDES of Austin Stacks supporters from the Rock Street area of Tralee will make their presence felt in Portlaoise on Sunday for the AIB All-Ireland club football semi-final, just as their forebears did 38 years ago.
The date was February 20, 1977, Portlaoise were the opposition, and the Stacks were in the semi-final for the first time in the club's history.
Their supporters flocked in their thousands to watch the Rockies, backboned by Kingdom All Stars Mike Sheehy, John O'Keeffe and Ger Power, take on the Leinster champions at their O'Moore Park home ground.
The estimated attendance was 10,000 and they saw a thrilling contest against a strong Portlaoise team.
It was a hard-fought encounter, with the Tralee club only pulling clear in the closing stages for a slightly flattering 1-14 to 2-6 result.
Former Kerry great Power has a memory of that game being played in heavy underfoot conditions.
"It was our first time to get that far and I suppose at that time we were lucky enough that we had a lot of county players," said Power.
The win set the stage for a March 13, 1977 date - no St Patrick's day for the club finals then - against Derry's Ballerin, who gave Stacks a mighty battle before the Kerry side, captained by O'Keeffe, won by 1-13 to 2-7.
Power was delighted that the Stacks broke a 20-year hoodoo to capture the Kerry title last October and the team's progression through Munster to the All-Ireland series has echoes of his playing days
"That win in '77 was great, but the run started in 1973. That year was a very important breakthrough year, because we won the county title for the first time in 37 years," says Power.
"We went on to win a few county titles after that, but it's something similar to the present team, except that our gap for a county title was 37 years, the boys' gap was 20 years."
Slaughtneil of Derry stand between the Kerry champions and a second All-Ireland final, and they won't be easily overcome. In fact, Power reckons it's difficult to make any predictions.
"With a county team you've a fair idea how they're going to play and perform, but on the club scene, I don't think you've any idea," says Power.
"You just have to give them a 50-50 chance, and, from our point of view, hope the Stacks go on to win it because both teams are an unknown quantity to an extent."
Austin Stacks fans will travel by train, coach, buses and cars to Portlaoise, and will parade at 3.0 from O'Loughlin's Hotel to O'Moore Park.
Among the leaders of the parade will be Laois footballer Billy Sheehan, who played with Stacks until 2004, and has settled in Laois. Billy's father, Timmy, played on the 1977 Stacks side.
There are a number of connections that link the panels of 1977 and 2015, starting with current selector Paul Lucey, who is a '77 man.
Colm Mangan, who played in the '77 semi-final and came on as sub in the final, has sons Fiachna and Brian on the current panel.
Denny Long, a former Cork star domiciled in Tralee for decades, has son Darragh on the squad; and Tony and Ger O'Keeffe's nephew Paul Galvin is also a member of the present panel.
Irish Independent
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keane
Fanatical Member
Posts: 1,267
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Post by keane on Feb 13, 2015 16:43:20 GMT
There's a lot of pain I'd happily accept to see Stacks beaten!
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Post by Seoirse Ui Duic on Feb 13, 2015 16:57:58 GMT
There's a lot of pain I'd happily accept to see Stacks beaten! In my opinion the county championship can be very hard fought and there should be little room for softness, but as soon as clubs get out of Kerry and into the Munster and All-Ireland series, I believe we should support the Kerry club. In the same way that I respect Ulster clubs and county teams for supporting each other. You can be very sure that every clubman in Ulster will want Slaughtneil to win even though there will be a lot of animosity between clubs in Derry and probably even more so between Derry and Tyrone clubs. Why can't we do the same? Why this bitterness?
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Post by kerrygold on Feb 13, 2015 17:28:47 GMT
There's a lot of pain I'd happily accept to see Stacks beaten! That's as delightful as Mickey Sheehy's free kick/chip on Paddy Cullen in '78
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Post by glengael on Feb 13, 2015 17:29:06 GMT
The best of luck To Brosna, Austin Stacks and Ardfert in their pursuits of glory. The County has a great tradition in Club competition and hopefully that will continue with 3 sporting encounters over the weekend.
I agree Seoirse, I can't understand this mentality of not wishing your own fellow county men well as they represent Kerry. It has been a theme over the last few years.
Yes there are intense rivalries at Club level and that is fine, but it would be nice to put them aside and be positive for a change.
As a great American sports guru once put it "the bitter man takes an easy path, hiding from opportunity behind a safe wall of negative thoughts".
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Jigz84
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Post by Jigz84 on Feb 13, 2015 17:34:28 GMT
The best of luck To Brosna, Austin Stacks and Ardfert in their pursuits of glory. The County has a great tradition in Club competition and hopefully that will continue with 3 sporting encounters over the weekend. I agree Seoirse, I can't understand this mentality of not wishing your own fellow county men well as they represent Kerry. It has been a theme over the last few years. Yes there are intense rivalries at Club level and that is fine, but it would be nice to put them aside and be positive for a change. As a great American sports guru once put it "the bitter man takes an easy path, hiding from opportunity behind a safe wall of negative thoughts". Each to their own but quite alot of football folk in this county find it hard to warm to either the Crokes or Stacks. It's always been, is and will be the case for whatever reason.
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keane
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Post by keane on Feb 13, 2015 18:49:44 GMT
If they lose by ten I'll be sour that they didn't lose by 20 personally!
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 13, 2015 19:01:27 GMT
'Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little'. Gore Vidal
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keane
Fanatical Member
Posts: 1,267
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Post by keane on Feb 13, 2015 19:04:49 GMT
A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends.
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 13, 2015 19:54:46 GMT
A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends. good one personally I would find it unconscionable to not support this mans club given the joy he has given us in 2014 and other years.
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Post by veteran on Feb 13, 2015 20:26:02 GMT
I find it hard to believe that there are some Kerry football supporters who would not support a Kerry club in their Munster/All Ireland campaigns. It is akin to denying your Kerry citizenship. No matter what code, no matter what team, no matter what gender to me it is Kerry against all comers until I draw my last breath.
On a different topic, I got around to watching a recording of the All-Ireland final for the first time last night. A couple of points: Paul Geaney's dominance in the first half. With a smidgen of luck he could have bagged two more goals. How consistently good Johnny Buckley was all through. How Paul Durcan was dicing with death all through with those short kick outs. How decisive Killian was. I had forgotten how David Moran fumbled the kick out from Paul Durcan that was going over the sideline. I was fuming at the time! I think it led to a Donegal score. In turn, I had forgotten how David wriggled his way through to kick a near impossible "point". It came off the post I think. Looking at the recording emphasised the important contribution, in spite of not scoring,made by JO'D. It also demonstrated,to me at least, that Jim McGuinness erred in not starting Christy Toye and Paddy McBrearty.
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Post by Seoirse Ui Duic on Feb 13, 2015 20:39:46 GMT
I find it hard to believe that there are some Kerry football supporters who would not support a Kerry club in their Munster/All Ireland campaigns. It is akin to denying your Kerry citizenship. No matter what code, no matter what team, no matter what gender to me it is Kerry against all comers until I draw my last breath. On a different topic, I got around to watching a recording of the All-Ireland final for the first time last night. A couple of points: Paul Geaney's dominance in the first half. With a smidgen of luck he could have bagged two more goals. How consistently good Johnny Buckley was all through. How Paul Durcan was dicing with death all through with those short kick outs. How decisive Killian was. I had forgotten how David Moran fumbled the kick out from Paul Durcan that was going over the sideline. I was fuming at the time! I think it led to a Donegal score. In turn, I had forgotten how David wriggled his way through to kick a near impossible "point". It came off the post I think. Looking at the recording emphasised the important contribution, in spite of not scoring,made by JO'D. It also demonstrated,to me at least, that Jim McGuinness erred in not starting Christy Toye and Paddy McBrearty. I watched the game today as well. Just felt like it. What I noticed is that each time Paul Geaney went forward James ran in a different direction dragging his two markers with him and thus creating space for Paul. What was most obvious to me is how much Kerry's play evolved during the year and how many different playing styles we have in our arsenal now. Kerry noticed how vulnerable the short kick out can be and like a good rugby constantly put pressure on Donegal every time they tried to go forward, pinning them back in their own half, forcing errors, securing ball and going for a point. It was very rugby like and I wonder if Kerry actually had a look at rugby for inspiration. In their previous matches Donegal were grinding teams down and finished with their strongest 15. They never really panicked though the final you could see the desperation in the last 10 minutes when the realisation krept in the ply wasn't going to work.
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Post by seasiders on Feb 13, 2015 21:13:12 GMT
Best of luck to Brosna & Ardfert in tomorrows All Ireland finals
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Post by ansúilleabhánach on Feb 14, 2015 9:44:58 GMT
With all due respect, veteran and Seoirse, supporting whatever club emerges from our county is no different in principle to insisting we support whatever county emerges from our province...and I don't need to spell out who I'm referring to here. You'll find it in the lid of a wine bottle.
Seoirse, Ulster may not fight, but Ulster is not right. Personally I find the habit of leaping on the bandwagon of whoever flies the flag to be a rather cringeworthy practice.
Petty, bitter inter-parochial rivalry is what makes sport great. Otherwise it's just a bunch of franchises; the Sharks v the Chiefs or whatever. I grew up alongside, and went to school with honourable and honest boys, who are now of no less calibre as men, but once they donned the black and amber I prayed for their discomfiture. One of the current selectors is a close family friend and as fine a human being as I know. And one of my oldest and closest friends is from Baile Chaisleáin an Róistigh, but it'll be a cold day in Hell before I ever shout for D'Ribbles. Surely you're capable of dissociating that which lies within the arena from without? It's not nuclear war boys. Love the individual, hate the collective!
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 14, 2015 9:53:29 GMT
Daniel Collins is a gifted Kilmoyley hurler and is CHB for Ardfert footballers. Now for KIlmoyley people to shout for Ardfert would be hard in the extreme. Lots of them were in Portlaoise doing exactly that ...while wearing Kilmoyley colours on their heads.
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 14, 2015 9:58:31 GMT
By John Fogarty GAA Correspondent
AIB All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final Austin Stacks (Kerry) v Slaughtneil (Derry) Tomorrow: Portlaoise, 4pm TV: TG4
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If it wasn’t for a pair of fine days in February and March 38 years ago, Austin Stacks may consider tomorrow’s venue and opponents as ominous for their chances of victory.
O’Moore Park has been a graveyard for Kerry clubs in recent times. Dr Crokes (2012, ‘14), Dromid Pearses (2012) and Laune Rangers (1997) have all lost All-Ireland semi-finals in Portlaoise. Crokes also went down in an All-Ireland replay there eight years ago.
Facing Slaughtneil, Stacks may also be aware their county’s champions haven’t fared too well against Ulster sides in the All-Ireland stages.
Dr Crokes have lost twice to Crossmaglen (2007, 2012), Pearses were beaten by Tyrone’s Derrytresk three years ago.
It was in Portlaoise against Crossmaglen that the Killorglin men lost in ‘97. Then there was Finuge and Spa in the 2010 and 2013 intermediate finals, both defeated by Cookstown as were Duagh to Greencastle in the 2007 junior final.
If Stacks didn’t know better, the combination might be termed as a perfect storm but those of a greater vintage won’t be daunted. Those raised on the stories of ‘77, about that provincial and All-Ireland club campaign of comebacks, won’t travel with trepidation either.
Thousands will converge in Portlaoise just as they did when Stacks belied The Town’s home advantage all those years ago.
Centre-back Tony O’Keeffe remembers reading an annual report at the end of that year when it was revealed the game, watched by 10,000, was the fourth largest attendance in Leinster that year.
“When you consider Dublin were at their height that was significant. I was teaching in Galway at the time and there was quite a number of people at the match. They wanted to see the likes of Sheehy, Power, Long and Prendergast. There wasn’t TV at the same time either.”
Now the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee chairman, O’Keeffe’s other memory, apart from the relief at the final whistle, was his marking assignment on the aforementioned Tom Prendergast.
“There was a friend of mine living in New York at the time and sometime later he sent me a copy of the Sunday Independent in which there was a sentence like ‘Tom Prendergast won possession, leaving Tony O’Keeffe in his wake’. I never forget that.”
Just as it was for them in the Munster final against St Finbarr’s, Stacks squeezed over the line first. In that provincial decider in Tralee, Billy Curtin was brought down and won a late penalty.
According to a report at the time, there seemed confusion in the message directed to penalty-taker Mikey Sheehy. Instead of striking the ball over the bar to all but ensure a replay, he found the net.
“Grand larceny” is how one observer put it following the match. Sheehy wouldn’t go that far, but for the glittering team they had, he acknowledged Stacks were poor.
In Portlaoise, Prendergast score a goal in each half. Portlaoise led by one point at the interval and just as Sheehy had helped Stacks edge ahead, Prendergast goaled again.
Once more, Sheehy led the recovery only for Portlaoise to equalise. Substitute Paudie McCarthy turned hero for the Tralee men with a point, which was followed by a Timmy Sheehan goal in the last minute to end a topsy-turvy contest.
“We looked beaten for long periods of that game,” recalled Sheehan.
“I got the goal there near the end but Mikey Sheehy gave what you may call a Jonny Sexton display that day.
“The pitches that time, you were playing in fields of porridge. You could hear the squelching of Mikey’s boots as he was going up to kick frees. Anything inside their half of the pitch and with the old football, he was putting them on top of the net.”
The March 13 final against Derry’s Ballerin in Croke Park followed a slightly similar if more dramatic script. Ballerin struck for two early goals. After 20 minutes, Stacks trailed by 2-5 to 0-3. McCarthy found the net and they were four in arrears at half-time.
With the wind, Sheehy’s radar was deadly in the second half and Stacks were back on level terms only for Ballerin to go a couple ahead with 13 minutes left.
Fionan Ryan and Sheehy tied up the game once more when Ger Power took over, sticking over a point before winning a free for Sheehy to convert. And once more it was Sheehan who registered the last score, this time with a point from the right wing.
“Sean O’Connell was at the end of his career and was playing at full-forward for Ballerin,” recounts Sheehan.
“We looked goosed but we got a goal back and Mikey just started kicking points from O’Connell Street. I won’t say it was like Kerry last year, but in a season we weren’t expected to do it, we won.
“We played Thomond College the year after and we went to three matches and two extra-times down in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. They walked the All-Ireland after that. It was a kind of a Christmas present the year we won it because it was against all odds. Every game took a pattern that saw us having to come from behind to win it.
“In a way, we could have ended up like Mayo with people saying ‘You should have won an All-Ireland’. An Ghaeltacht had the Ó Sés, Dara Ó Cinnéide and Aodan MacGearailt and they never won it. The Crokes have been there for four years with the Gooch, Eoin Brosnan, Kieran O’Leary, Fionn Fitzgerald and Daithi Casey and they haven’t won it. When we look back we won the lottery that year.”
O’Keeffe didn’t join in the post-match celebrations after either game. Teaching in Galway in the time, he “had to go back both Sunday nights to teach the following day. I’ve no memories of celebrations other than the night there was a big dinner in Tralee shortly after.”
He thinks back to that day and his friend and Ballerin man Colum P Mullan, who’s since passed away, sitting in a wheelchair behind the goals after being involved in a car crash in 1973.
Eleven months later and O’Keeffe’s neighbour and Stacks’ corner-back Gary Scollard suffered the same fate as he tended to his engine coming home after a postponed National Hurling League game against Carlow.
“Himself and Colum got to know each other well in the national rehabilitation centre afterwards,” recalls O’Keeffe. “I’d have studied and played with Colum in Maynooth. For those reasons, that game would be poignant for me.”
Comparing Stacks then and now ends here. But just a few days short of 16 months since Dr Crokes sent them back to Tralee from Lewis Road after an unmerciful 16-point trimming, Stacks are within 120 minutes of lifting the Andy Merrigan Cup.
“We said to ourselves that we just had to it,” says Sheehan. “We had to win it once at least for all that was put in and for all the players we had. This team will see this for a lot of the players like William Kirby as the only chance they will have of winning an All-Ireland club. The same for Mikey Collins, Daniel Bohane.
“Will they put in the same effort next season? Crokes will be strong again so there’s no guarantee they’ll get where they are now again.”
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