AUSTINSTACKS JUVENILES

FANSLÁN

Train when you can, keep up your fitness and avoid the dreaded virus. Fan slán! Stay safe!

20BLIAINAGFÁS

How was the club doing 20 years ago....sa bhliain 2000? (i) Our senior footballers worked hard to gain their ‘proper’ place in Division 1 of the League.

They had been in Division 2 for two seasons and, so, this was a great achievement! They also won the Tralee Town Championship. They were led by Brian Neenan (Bainisteoir), Frank Courtney, Kieran O’Callaghan and Damien McLoughlin.

The following season The Rock reached finals in both League and Championship. (ii) Our Junior ‘B’ team didn’t win the medals in 2000, though they had won the League the previous year and, in the following year, they achieved the League/ Championship double.

(iii) Our ‘C’ team had League success under the baton of Aidan O’Connor and Charlie Healy (RIP). They defeated Abhainn an Scáil....1-13 to 0-10....in the final and this victory was the ‘opener’ for three more League wins and four Championship successes in the following years. Mórghaisce i stair an chlub! (iv) Our Minors had a great run in the 2000 League and had a two-point win over Laune Rangers in the final. An painéal buacach: Martin Moriarty; Dáithí Ó Lionáird, Andrew Dineen, Billy Curtin; Keith Greensmith, Brian Dennehy, Eoin Colgan; TJ Hogan (0-5), Jason Mitchel; Martin Courtney, Alan Sheehan (0-2), Stephen Enright; Andrew McAllen (0-2), Colmán Ó Gadhra, Micky Collins (0-2); David Conway, Ciarán Donaghy, Daniel Bohane, Danny Ryan, Michael Edwards, Derek Shanahan, Brendan Smith, Anthony Morrisson, Seán Sugrue, Stephen O’Mahony. Some well-known names sa ghrúpa sin! (v) Following some unsuccessful seasons in the late 1990s, it was decided that our hurlers would drop down to Junior ranks. A big decision and a hard one for a club that had been a determined Senior Hurling Club for nigh on a century!

All true Rock followers would dearly love to see a Black’n’Amber-clad hurling team gracing Na Crua-ghoirt once again! Cá bhfios nach dtarlóidh sé? Our last team to play in the Senior Championship: Ger Scollard; Francie McLoughlin, Ray Whelan, Pat Murphy; Trevor Ó Sé, Peter O’Regan, Brian Shanahan; Pádraig Teahan, Colmán Ó Gadhra; Darren Crotty, Leo Dufficey, Dáithí O’Regan; Mark Greer, Tom Burke, Liam O’Keeffe; Andrew Dineen, Kieran Chadwick, Gearóid Madden, Martin McKivergan. (vi) Our Juvenile football activity, much like today, was in ‘a good place’ sa bhliain dhá mhíle. The numbers attending were very good, mentors were very generous with their time, the results on the pitch were consistently encouraging and, most importantly, the youngsters were enjoying their football. (vii) Crócaigh Chill Airne won a 5th Football Championship, Ballyheigue won a 5th Hurling Championship and Kerry won a 32nd All-Ireland title in 2000.

DEONTASGAELTACHTA

Apply to the club asap if you wish to avail of a GAA Gaeltacht scholarship/grant. NAOMH CORONA: Did you know that the relics of St Corona, patron saint of resisting epidemics, are in a shrine Germany’s Aachen Cathedral?

1AN ILL WIND....It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good!’ says the seanfhocal and the good that we can expect from the Coronavirus is that all our pitches will be in great condition when we resume playing (hopefully) in the not-too-distant future. Credit to our Coiste na Páirce. ‘Is olc an ghaoth nach séideann maith do dhuine éigin!’

ACLAÍOCHT

Exercise gives you energy, it lifts your mood and makes you feel good! Over 850 people have signed up to the Kerry GAA home-workout challenge. It’s not too late to sign up FREE for the Week 2 workout at gaa@clubforce.com. Health of body, health of mind...sláinte aigne, sláinte choirp!