Acorn U21 Club Championship
15th October, 2012
THE ACORN LIFE U21 FOOTBALL CLUB FINAL
Legion hit back to deny Stacks with extra time win
Legion 1-16 Austin Stacks 1-13
By Murt Murphy
Killarney Legion retained their County U-21 Club Football title with a hard earned extra time victory over Austin Stacks, in the curtain raiser at the Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney on Saturday.
This was a game that could have gone either way, with Stacks being guilty of kicking far too many wides, despite the accuracy of full-forward David Mannix who finished with a tally of 0-10.
Both sides had a liberal sprinkling of seniors on view, but the game was disappointing with too much pulling and dragging and very little in the way of flowing football, as Kerry U-21 manager Darragh O’Se looked on.
Shane O’Callaghan was very lively for the Stacks all through, while Shaun Keane emerged as the dominant player at midfield for Legion, with David O’Sullivan scoring 0-5 of their first half total (4 frees) as Legion led 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval.
The sides were deadlocked at 0-8 apiece at the end of the third quarter, with David Mannix adding three points for Stacks and Shane O’Callaghan one.
However points from David McCarthy, David O’Sullivan and Tom Moriarty appeared to have given Legion the edge, as they led 0-11 to 0-9 with four minutes remaining.
However Stacks struck the front when Kerry minor Greg Horan blasted the ball to the Legion net but two wides followed that proved costly for the Rockies, when Padraig Lucey got his fist to a David O’Sullivan free in last play of the game, to force extra time.
Legion finished the stronger in extra time and once substitute Tom Slattery finished a four man move to the net seven minutes into the first period, Stacks despite the free taking of David Mannix, could never threaten the Killarney side again. In the second period, points from Shaun Keane, David McCarthy and Tom Moriarty, saw Legion go on to retain their U-21 crown.
(Picture: Ger Galvin, Vicechairman Kerry Co Committee, presenting The Tom Naughton Cup to Killarney Legion Captiain, Billy McGuire, Pius Horgan & Tim Slattery (Tom Naughton's son in law)
Ger Galvin the Vice Chairman of Kerry County Committee presented the Tom Naughton Cup to The Killarney Legion Captain Billy McGuire. He thanked Acorn Life for sponsoring the competition and The Naughton family for the Tom Naughton Cup. Pius Horgan from Acorn life presented the Acorn Life man of the match to Shaun Keane from Killarney Legion.
(Picture: Pius Horgan presenting The Acorn Life Man of the Match to Shaun Keane from Killarney Legion)
Scorers:
Killarney Legion
D O’Sullivan 0-7 ( 0-5 frees), T Slattery 1-0, T Moriarty 0-3, S Keane and D McCarthy 0-2 each, J O’Neill and P Lucey 0-1 each
Austin Stacks
D Mannix 0-10 (0-7 frees), G Horan 1-0, D O’Brien 0-2, S O’Callaghan 0-1
Teams:
Killarney Legion
A O’Connor, C Davies, S McCarthy, C Sheehan, D Lyne, D Sheehan, J O’Neill, S Keane, P Lucey, B Maguire, D McCarthy, T Moriarty, D O’Sullivan, D Gleeson, C Keane
Subs: K Treacy for B Maguire (45), a Slattery for D Gleeson (53), T Slattery for C Sheehan (56), S O’Mahony for C Keane (e/t)
(Picture: Killarney Legion the Acorn Life U21 Club Champions 2012)
Austin Stacks
B Galvin, S Walsh, F McNamara, A Crean, S Bastible, R Shanahan, G O’Connor, S Carroll, C O’Connell, S O’Callaghan, G Horan, D Carroll, D Courtney, D Mannix, D O’Brien
Subs: C Jordan for S Walsh (h/t), K Fitzgibbon for D Carroll (40), J Kelly for S Bastible (e/t)
(Picture: Austin Stacks U21 Club finalist 2012)
Referee: S Mulvihill (St Senan’s)
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At 2-00pm – Acorn Life County U-21 Club Final – Preview
Legion v Austin Stacks
Rockies could deny Legion the 2 in a row but it will be close
There is little doubt but that the cream came to the top in this final as Legion and Austin Stacks are the top two club sides without a doubt at this level.
If one just look at both clubs senior teams, both are littered with young talent so this promises to be a cracking encounter.
In fact there is history between the sides as they met in the semi final of the County U-21 Championship and Legion won that contest by a point, and in the eyes of many neutral, fortunate to have won.
Legion are the holders of this competition and only lost the County Final to a Kilcummin/Rathmore combination this year so they have a good record in this grade.
Stacks will be without senior wingback Ronan Shanahan who got injured against the Crokes and he is a huge loss but Wayne Quillinan has plenty quality to choose from.
Four of the senior attack will start, Shane Carroll, Shane O’Callaghan, David Mannix and Darragh O’Brien who had a great SFC game down in South Kerry.
Barry Galvin is a decent keeper, while Ferghal McNamara will backbone the defence, while other names to keep on eye for are minors, Greg Horan and� Ciaran O’Connell, along with� Seamus Bastible.
Legion have many stars and most of the team have been playing senior football all year. Chris Davies, the Sheehan’s Danny and Cathal are good defenders while Billy McGuire can play as a third man midfielder. Shaun Keane and Padraig Lucey will probably start at midfield,� but one wonders would Lucey be better employed at the edge of the square.
David O’Sullivan will kick frees for fun, while Thomas Moriarty is a dangerous operator, Conor Keane is as good a youngster as is around while Kieran Slattery will probably be in line for man of the match again.
Verdict:
Legion look the stronger side and will not want to lose two finals in the one year, so while I have a sneaky suspicion that Stacks could cause an upset, I am siding with Legion, but only by a whisker.
Austin Stacks 3-13 St. Pats/Ballymac 0-10
Austin Stacks and Killarney Legion will contest the Tom Naughton Cup in The Acorn Life U21 Club Championship Final 2012. In Ballymac on Saturday last, Austin Stacks strolled into their first County Club Championship final since 2008 after a brilliant display, especially in the first half at the end of which they led by 2-8 to 0-3.
The date for the final will be decided next week.
THE ACORN LIFE COUNTY CLUB U21 FOOTBALL SHIELD FINAL 2012
Dr. Crokes 2-08 Annascaul/Lispole 0-08
Dr. Crokes overcame the spirited challenge of the West Kerry combination in greasy conditions in Austin Stack Park on Tuesday Sept. 11.
Annascaul/Lispole started the brighter and led 0-03 to 0--00 after 13minutes thanks to a Jason Hickson brace from frees and a Noel O`Huigin effort.
Dr. Crokes who had numerous chances prior to their opening effort from a Bryan O`Shea free in the 14th minute, Annascaul/Lispole centre half forward James Crean stretched the advantage for the West Kerry men in the 17th minute which would prove to be their final score of the opening half, with Dr. Crokes adding 4 un-answered points from O`Shea (f) Keith O`Leary, Chris Brady and Gavin O`Shea to lead at the short whistle 0-05 to 0-04.
On the resumption Dr. Crokes were quicker out of the blocks and two further minors from Brendan Falvey and Bryan O`Shea stretched their advantage, Crean kept the Westeners in touch with a point in the 5th minute.
Between the 11th & 14th minute this game was settled when a two goal Dr. Crokes salvo from Cian O`Neill & Chris Brady put them beyond reach.
Annascaul/Lispole to their credit continued to contest vigorously and narrowed the gap with points from C. Hurley & T. O`Caomhanaigh, Falvey stretched the Crokes advantage with a minor in the 24th minute while M. S. Griffin brought proceedings to a close in the final minute with a shot just over for the losers.
Both sides deserve great credit for the quality of the game in difficult conditions which no doubt led to some poor finishing from both sides.
Crokes after a poor opening quarter adapted better their support play at times was excellent and were good value for their victory.
For the winners their defence was excellent excellently marshalled by Man of the Match Kieran Ward, ably assisted by Sean Coppinger & Mark Egan, while Bryan & Gavin O`Shea, Cian O`Neill & Chris Brady were the pick of the attackers.
Annascaul/Lispole were best served by Colum O`Gealabhain in defence, Jason Hickson in midfield while up front Declan Lynskey who ran himself to a stand still and James Crean were the pick.
After the game Patrick O`Sullivan Chairman Coiste Chontae Chiarraí presnted the trophy to Dr. Croke Captain Conor O`Neill and Pius Horgan from Acorn Life presented the Man of Match Award to Kieran Ward from Dr. Crokes
The round 1 draw for The Acorn Life U21 championship is as follows:
Legion V Bye
Ballydonoghue/Ballyduff V Spa/Gneeveguilla
Glenflesk V Knocknagoshel/Brosna
Keel/Listry V St/. Michael’s Foilmore
Skellig/Valentia V Laune Rangers
Listowel Emmett’s v John Mitchel’s
Annascaul/Lispole V Kilcummin
Firies V Templenoe
Ballyllongford/Asdee/Beale V Austin Stacks
Beaufort/Cromane V Rathmore
St Mary’s /Renard V Kerins O’Rahilly’s
St Senan’s V Ballymac/St Pat’s
Moyvane/Clounmacon V Milltown/Castlemaine
Currow V Dingle
Kenmare V Dr. Crokes
An Ghaeltacht V Churchill/Na Gaeil
All games at 7pm on Tuesday 31st July - Extra time in all games.
First named team has home venue.
