Rockies remain on course for final

Austin Stacks 1-16 Kilcummin 2-10

PRECIOUS League points were at stake in Connolly Park last Saturday evening for different reasons with Stacks endeavouring to reach a fourth successive final and Kilcummin battling to preserve their status in the top flight. It was a game which produced a quite thrilling and enthralling encounter which included many of the ingredients one normally associates with championship contests.

Certainly, Stacks had to dig deep into their reserves of character to fashion a hard earned win at the end of what was every inch a titanic struggle. They looked comfortable and in control initially and created and converted some very good scores, but Kilcummin as ever extremely dogged and determined dug deep to overturn a six-point deficit into a threepoint lead.

The Rockies with David Mannix a leading light up front responded, but, still had to withstand a strong Kilcummin challenge in the concluding stages before victory was assured.

Initially, both sides lacked any real level of cut and thrust up front, with, Stacks marginally better in this particular aspect, being 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after eleven minutes. Stacks for a period were in the ascendancy, but indisciplined defending allowed Kilcummin to stay in touch with returns from placed balls.

Scores were very much at a premium throughout all of the opening quarter at the end of which Stacks had retained their lead, 0-4 to 0-2, with David O’Sullivan as a target proving to be a most effective outlet, even if the link up play with him was at times inadequate in terms of supporting runners.

Kevin McCarthy at the other end was also proving to be quite a handful for the Stacks defence and certainly his pace on the turn was a vital component in terms of his side’s attacking options.

Kilcummin lost the services of their goalkeeper in the nineteenth minute through injury necessitating attacker Richie O’Connor replacing him between the posts. A purple patch from the Rockies for a five minute spell from the 20th minute onwards produced five points with outstanding corner back Sean Ryan converting two in swift counter attacking moves and certainly his input at this particular juncture was a significant factor in his side’s dominance of proceedings.

However, the admirable efforts and endeavour of towering midfielders Shane McSweeney and Kevin Gorman in midfield kept Kilcummin’s challenge intact and four points in the latter stages of the half, said as much about Kilcummin’s spirited efforts and expertise as it did about Stacks lack of concentration and defensive lapses which Kilcummin capitalised upon with great efficiency. It ensured that the deficit was reduced to just three points, 0-9 to 0-6, at half time with six different players having scored from play for the locals.

Within four minutes of the restart the contest had been turned completely on its head with Kilcummin dismantling Stacks kick out strategy which once again came unstuck with Daniel O’Leary who was one of his side’s better performers throughout converting their first goal and Philip Casey making inroads along the end line before setting up the chance for Daniel Moynihan to palm the ball to the net for the second.

It certainly asked questions about Stacks ability to stay afloat and they duly responded with a Mikey Collins point and a goal from David O’Sullivan with the assist from David Mannix being one of many he provided during the half.

The ability of different Stacks players to kick points from all angles and distances with both Fiachna Mangan and Pa McCarthy with a brace apiece landing a few fine efforts was a feature of their play as they reasserted a grip with David Mannix adding scores to his overall input.

Alan Nestor continued to make a notable input, with Ronan Shanahan providing stability in defence along with Jack O’Shea, but Kilcummin’s challenge never faltered with Shane McSweeney effecting a series of defence splitting runs, Noel Duggan being particularly industrious on the forty, and Kevin McCarthy, as ever, a constant threat on the edge of the square.

Both sides could have added further goals being denied by the crossbar at opposite ends of the pitch, and certainly, Stacks had to survive some anxious moments in front of their own goal with goalkeeper Darragh O’Brien coming to their rescue on a few occasions with some fine saves before victory was assured.

It means that Stacks travel to Templenoe for their final game with a win or a draw ensuring their participation in another final. Kilcummin need a win in their final game against Glenbeigh/Glencar and require John Mitchels to lose out to Kerins O’Rahillys to ensure their survival in the top flight. AUSTIN STACKS: Darragh O’Brien, Ronan Shanahan, Fearghal Mc Namara, Sean Ryan (0-2), Pa McCarthy (0-2), Jack O’Shea, Jack Morgan, Barry Walsh, Conor Jordan, (0-1), Fiachna Mangan (0-3) Shane O’Callaghan, Mikey Collins (0-1), David Mannix (0-4, 3f), David O’Sullivan (1-1), Alan Nestor (0-2) Subs: Sean Dukes for B Walshe KILCUMMIN: Tommy Brosnan, Sean Brosnan, Damien O’Leary, Wiliam Maher, Daniel O’Leary (1-0), Gavin O’Connor, James Devane (0-1), Shane McSweeney, Kevin O’Gorman, Daniel Moynihan (1-1), Noel Duggan, Eric O’Connor, Chris O’Leary, Kevin McCarthy (0-7, 5f), Richie O’Connor Subs: Philip Casey (0-1) for T Brosnan, Paul O’Riordan for E O’Connor, Shane Smith for J Devane, James Devane for G O’Connor

REFEREE: Mike Hennessy (Ballyduff)