Templenoe 4-10,       Austin Stacks 1-16.

An injury time goal from Stephen O’Sullivan sealed a hard-earned win for Templenoe in a match played in ideal conditions in Templenoe last Saturday evening.  This game ebbed and flowed all through and could have gone either way.

The home side, playing with a slight breeze, got off to a dream start with a goal from Brian Crowley, who drilled a low shot to the net, giving goalkeeper David Hennessey no chance. However, Austin Stacks hit back with four unanswered points, all from play, through David Mannix, Alan Duggan, Shane O’Callaghan and Jack O’Shea, to put the visitors one point in front.  Templenoe squandered a few chances, before a Danny Cahalane shot from way out took a bounce to the take the ball all the way over the crossbar.  David Mannix and Stephen O’Sullivan (free) exchanged scores to leave the sides level after 15 minutes.  Then Killian Spillane (free) and Cian Hallissey both raised white flags for Templenoe, but these points were cancelled out by Alan Duggan and Jack O’Shea efforts for the Tralee men. Then, Stacks foward Fiachna Mangan got inside the Templenoe full back line and despatached the ball to the roof of the net from close range, to give them a three point advantage. To their credit, the home side responded strongly with well taken scores from Stephen O’Sullivan and Brian Crowley (0-03) to give Templenoe a slender lead at the break.

Half Time Score: Templenoe 1-08, Austin Stacks 1-07.

Austin Stacks opened the scoring in the second half with two pointed frees from David Mannix, either side of a score from Jack Morgan, who split the posts after making a great solo run up the field.  The home side went close for goal twice, before the visitors stretched their lead with an impressive third point from their centre back Jack O’Shea.  However, Templenoe eventually did get their second goal in a move involving John Rice and Sean Sheehan, who put Stephen O’Sullivan through to finish superbly.  However, Stacks replied with scores from Mikey Collins and David Mannix, before Josh Crowley Holland pounced to fist a high ball into the net from a Teddy Doyle free for a crucial goal to the home side.  Yet again, Austin Stacks kept their composure and hit back with Darragh O’Brien and Jack O’Shea both landing the ball over with bar, to give the away side a one point lead coming into the closing minutes. But with the match in the melting pot, it was Templenoe that got on top when it mattered most and they pressed home with points from Killian Spillane (free) and Brian Crowley, before the ever dangerous Stephen O’Sullivan sealed the match with an injury time goal.  Austin Stacks did respond with one more pointed free, but Templenoe despite losing Teddy Doyle to a second yellow card, held on for a much needed second county league win.  Final Score: Templenoe 4-10, Austin Stacks 1-16.

Teams & Scorers:

Templenoe:  Anthony Sheehan, Joesph Sheehan, Kieran O’Neill, Mike Hallissey, Kieran McCarthy, Danny Cahalane 0-1, John Rice, Sean Sheehan, Cian Hallissey 0-1, Josh Crowley Holland 1-0, Brian Crowley 1-04, Teddy Doyle, Stephen O’Sullivan 2-02 (0-1F) , Killian Spillane 0-02(F), Martin Reilly.  Subs: Shane Cremin

Austin Stacks:

David Hennessey, John Murphy, Fearghal MacNamara, Denis Costello, Pa McCarthy, Jack O’Shea 00-4, Jack Morgan 0-01, Shane Carroll, Shane Guthrie, Sean Ryan, Fiachna Mangan  1-0, Alan Duggan 0-02, David Mannix 0-06 (0-3F), Shane O’Callaghan 0-01,

Darragh O’Brien 0-01.  Subs: Mikey Collins 0-01, Sean Dukes, Dale Counihan