Clubs’ exertions could be to Kenmare District’s detriment

COUNTY SFC QUARTER-FINAL

Austin Stacks v Kenmare District Sunday, October 2 Fitzgerald Stadium, 3.30pm

AS statements of intent go it was pretty bold. Austin Stacks beat the team everybody was talking about as though they’d go through the entire season unbeaten.

It wasn’t even so much that Stacks beat them, but where and when they beat them. On a Fitzgerald Stadium pitch many felt would play to Dr Crokes’ strengths, Austin Stacks defeated their fellow black and amber side and claimed the season’s first championship silverware – the Senior Club title.

Granted it’s a title that lacks the cache of the county senior championship, but a win is a win is as win and for the Rockies this was a sweeter victory than most. It was proof positive that they still have what it takes to compete at the very top level.

They’ve veered from the very good – against South Kerry in Cahersiveen, for example, where they earned a fully merited draw – to the mediocre at times this season – against South Kerry on their home turf they were beaten by eight points.

Striking the correct balance between highs and lows is key if they want to challenge for this championship and, at this juncture at least, they look well capable of doing so. As good a chance as anybody else, we’d suggest.

It’s all about momentum over the next three or four weeks and a victory on Sunday over Kenmare District would give them all the momentum they need for whatever they may face in a potential county championship semi-final.

On paper Kenmare look to be at least a match for Austin Stacks, they’re got arguably even more firepower what with Stephen O’Brien, Killian Spillane and Seán O’Shea if he starts (and we see no reason why he woudn’t, he’s a special talent).

The trouble is two of Kenmare District’s constituent clubs – the two most important of those in fact – were in action in County Intermediate Championship semi-finals last weekend.

Those games will have been the priority of the players from those clubs in the weeks leading up to them, leaving manager John Galvin with a very difficult task to get them tuned in and focused on this contest and a very small window in which to do so.

At most he’ll have had two training sessions this week to bring them down from last weekend and turn attentions towards Austin Stacks. Easier said than done, even if we must admit Galvin is a man who more than knows his stuff.

There was a sense last year that for all the talent at their disposal – and with a number of their younger players a year old they should be stronger still this year – they didn’t quite get the best out of themselves in the semi-final against South Kerry.

That said they were but a kick of a ball away from a place in the final. If both teams play to their full potential we could be in for an absolutely cracking contest and if they did we’d just about lean towards Kenmare District.

However, with preparations hampered by Templenoe and Kenmare Shamrocks’ exertions last weekend, the smart money has to be on a Rock side with a seriously strong spine of players.

From Ferghal McNamara and Pa McCarthy at the back, Kieran Donaghy and Shane Guthrie at centre field, and Shane O’Callaghan and David Mannix up front this is a Stacks side that oozes quality.

VERDICT: Austin Stacks