Stacks rise to see off Gaeltacht

IN what was a contest which featured all of the fervour one normally associates with championship encounters Austin Stacks had to dig deep to see off a determined challenge from An Ghaeltacht last Sunday afternoon in Connolly Park.

For periods the game was more about endeavour rather than expertise and given that the home side had a more potent scoring spread with all of the forwards scoring from play and always able to respond whenever their lead was threatened in contrast to the West Kerry side whose attack returned just two points from play, taken in the overall analysis the locals just about deserved to succeed.

They got to grips with the situation from the outset, and were four points to the good inside the opening six minutes of play, with the Ó Brien brothers Ferdia and Darragh, along with David Mannix, impressing, and scoring.

However, after Dara Ó Sé had opened his side’s account at the end of a trademark surge through the heart of the defence, Brian Ó Beaglaoich was narrowly wide at the near post with a goaling chance in the tenth minute.

Ahead by five points 0-6 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, Stacks, more resourceful and purposeful produced some passages of impressive combination play, but, gradually An Ghaeltacht got to grips with the situation largely through the efforts of Éanna Ó Conchuir in the middle third of the pitch.

Some penetrating runs by Briain Ó Beaglaoich with Dara Ó Se in support opened up gaps through the Rockies rearguard unit, and indeed but for two superb saves by goalkeeper David Hennessy the scoring advantage of the home side could well have been wiped out.

The locals added just one more point to their tally in the second quarter, and, some indisciplined defending allowed An Ghaeltacht to claw back three points of the deficit from pointed frees.

Just a point 0-7 0-6 separated the teams at the half time break and it reflected a half of fluctuating fortunes with each side being dominant in the respective quarters. An Ghaeltacht levelled matters within three minutes of the restart, but points from Greg Horan, Shane O’Callaghan, and a brace of pointed frees from David Mannix meant that the home side had restored a four point cushion 0-11 0-7 by the end of the third quarter.

That lead was extended by another pointed free from their top scorer David Mannix, and, in a game in which scores were very much at a premium for periods, the deficit represented a significant lead at that particular juncture.

However, with forty seven minutes having elapsed An Ghaeltacht struck for the game’s only goal, when, some clever link play in the build up created the opening for the overlapping Dara Ó Se, and, his finish to the roof of the net was pretty emphatic.

It reduced the margin to just two points 0-12 1-7 and once again posed questions about the capabilities of the Rockies to respond. A fisted point from Kieran Donaghy, at the end of a lofted delivery from distance and a precise finish from Ronan Shanahan having initiated the move himself from a deep position meant that Stacks were in front by four points once again going into the final ten minutes of play.

An Ghaeltacht pushed forward in waves of attacks with Briain Ó Beaglaoich to the fore on occasion, but Stacks were committed and compact and even if they did lose Ronan Shanahan to a second yellow card in the dying minutes they soaked up the pressure and survived the late onslaught to keep their hopes alive in the group.

Not exactly a vintage performance from Stacks, but it was one which owed much to their battling qualities and to the leadership of their team captain Shane Guthrie who put in a huge shift throughout in all quarters of the pitch.

David Hennessy’s first half saves ultimately proved to be extremely crucial to the eventual outcome, while the attack individually and collectively produced some extremely productive passages of play.

AUSTIN STACKS: David Hennessy, Barry Walsh, Conor Jordan, Ronan Shanahan (0-1), Pa Mc Carthy, Jack O’Shea, Denis Mc Elligott, Shane Guthrie, Greg Horan (0-1), Shane O’Callaghan (0-1) Darragh O’Brien (0-2), Michael O’Donnell (0-1), David Mannix (0-6 0-4 frees) Kieran Donaghy (0-1) Ferdia O’Brien (0-2) Subs: Sean Ryan for M O’Donnell, Mikey Collins for D Mannix, Shane Carroll for D McElligott, Michael Slattery for F O’Brien

AN GHAELTACHT: Tomás Mac an tSaoir, Peter Paul Sauerland, Marc Ó Se, Cathal Ó Luing, P.J. Mac Laimh, Padraig Ó Se, Briain Ó Beaglaoich, Dara Ó Se (1-4 0-2 frees) Ciaran Ó Coileain, Tomás Ó Se, Cathal Mac Gearailt, Colm Ó Muircheartaigh, (0-1), Oigi Ó Se, Eanna Ó Conchuir (0-1 free) Sean M Ó Conchuir (0-3 0-2 frees) Subs: Sean Ó Gairbhi for Ó Ó Se, Adam Mac Amhlaoibh for S M Ó Conchuir