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Kerry-Cork showdown on the cards after Austin Stacks advance to Munster final

The Kerry kingpins were too strong for Limerick counterparts Newcastlewest this afternoon in Tralee.

brendan-osullivan-celebrates-scoring-a-goal-with-kieran-donaghy Brendan O'Sullivan is congratulated by Kieran Donaghy after finding the net for Austin Stacks. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Austin Stacks 1-15 Newcastlewest 0-8

Paul Brennan reports from Tralee

AUSTIN STACKS WILL play Cork champions St Finbarrโ€™s in next monthโ€™s Munster Club Senior Football Championship final after easing past Newcastlewest in Tralee, with Brendan Oโ€™Sullivanโ€™s 42nd-minute goal breaking whatever faint resistance the Limerick champions could still offer.

Stacks were in control from the very start once Sean Quilter pointed them into the lead from a third-minute free. By the water break they were five ahead, with Oโ€™Sullivanโ€™s point in the ninth minute the pick of the five.

Newcastlewestโ€™s first score arrived courtesy of an Eoin Hurley free in the 24th minute, but Stacks were relentless in their efficiency, and scores from Donaghy (from play and a mark) and two converted frees from Oโ€™Brien had Stacks in the ascendancy at half-time, leading 0-9 to 0-1.

The Limerick champions had offered plenty of positives in that first half, defending reasonably well and curtailing Donaghy for the most part, but some sloppy tackling conceded too many frees which Oโ€™Brien was always going to punish

It was up front, however, where Newcastlewest really fell down. Too often an inside forward was too isolated, and when they did get ball in hand, or venture inside the Stacks 45, they found themselves with few options and less space.

Credit for much of that to Stacks, whose defending was excellent โ€“ collectively and individually. As they have been all season, they defended in numbers and with great discipline, forcing the visitors into low percentage shots when they could eventually find a sliver of time and space.

conor-jordan-and-shane-stack Austin Stacks' Conor Jordan under pressure from Shane Stack of Newcastlewest. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Oโ€™Brien hit two early scores after half-time to stretch Stacksโ€™ lead, but then the Limerick men enjoyed their best period. Shane Stack had a sniff of a goal but was fouled in the build-up and Hurley converted the free. Mike McMahon then converted a mark, sub Diarmaid Kelly scored from play, and then their county man, Iain Corbett, fired over from distance to make it 0-11 to 0-5.

It gave the sizeable travelling support something to cheer about but their excitement and hope was short-lived. Greg Horan whipped over a good point just before Joe Oโ€™Connorโ€™s surging run fed Sean Quilter near the end line, and his inviting cross was tapped to the net by Brendan Oโ€™Sullivan to make it 1-12 to 0-5.

Oโ€™Sullivan followed up with a point to put Stacks 11 ahead at the water break, and it was elementary thereafter.

Newcastlewest managed three consolation scores after that but Stacks were home and hosed.

Scorers for Austin Stacks: Darragh Oโ€™Brien 0-8 (5f); Brendan Oโ€™Sullivan 1-2; Kieran Donaghy 0-2 (1m); Greg Horan, Sean Quilter (f) and Shane Oโ€™Callaghan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Newcastlewest: Eoin Hurley 0-3 (3f); Diarmaid Kelly 0-2; Cian Sheehan, Iain Corbett and Mike McMahon (f) 0-1 each.

Austin Stacks

  • 1. Wayne Guthrie
  • 2. Colin Griffin
  • 3. Dylan Casey
  • 4. Jack Oโ€™Shea
  • 5. Paul Oโ€™Sullivan
  • 6. Conor Jordan
  • 17. Barry Shanahan
  • 8. Joseph Oโ€™Connor
  • 9. Greg Horan
  • 10. Michael Oโ€™Gara
  • 11. Fiachna Mangan
  • 12. Brendan Oโ€™Sullivan
  • 19. Sean Quilter
  • 14. Kieran Donaghy
  • 15. Darragh Oโ€™Brien

Subs:

  • 21. Armin Heinrich for J Oโ€™Shea (42)
  • 13. Shane Oโ€™Callaghan for F Mangan (43)
  • 18. Michael Oโ€™Donnell for K Donaghy (51)
  • 23. Jack Morgan for P Oโ€™Sullivan (53)
  • 25. David Fitzmaurice for M Oโ€™Gara (54)

Newcastlewest

  • 1. Andrew Ruddle
  • 2. Michael Oโ€™Keeffe
  • 3. Darren Carmody
  • 4. Brian Oโ€™Sullivan
  • 5. Eoin Murphy
  • 6. James Kelly
  • 7. Steven Brosnan
  • 8. Cian Sheehan
  • 9. Iain Corbett
  • 18. AJ Oโ€™Connor
  • 11. Shane Stack
  • 12. Brian Hurley
  • 13. Bryan Nix
  • 14. Mike McMahon
  • 15. Eoin Hurley

Subs:

  • 17. Diarmaid Kelly for B Hurley (29)
  • 10. Sean Murphy for S Brosnan (ht)
  • 30. Thomas Quilligan for S Stack (39)
  • 20. Lee Woulfe for J Kelly (46)
  • 19. Donnchadh Woods for M McMahon (52)

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)

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    Mute Harry O'Callaghan
    Favourite Harry O'Callaghan
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    Dec 7th 2019, 1:48 AM

    If any player can deal with the pressure of being captain itโ€™s this guy!

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    Mute David
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    Dec 7th 2019, 9:15 AM

    He is one dangerous looking man in that photo. Iโ€™m not sure if he should be made captain yet. Have a 6 nations run first maybe.

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    Mute Michael Murray
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    Dec 7th 2019, 6:27 AM

    โ€ฆ..there will be a โ€˜changing of the guardโ€™ needed in Irish rugby soon with some brilliant players who have served the cause well put out to pasture. Rightly it should be sooner rather than later. . Can see AF giving himself a couple of games, even a full 6N, to position his squad for the inevitable heave that has to come.At that point putting young Ryan in charge should be considered.

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Dec 7th 2019, 8:02 AM

    @Michael Murray: Hopefully we will all recognise the necessary rebuilding process for what it is and accept a fee bad results in the 6 Nations along the way.

    I have my doubts. These pages can make for harsh criticism at times.

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    Mute Michael Murray
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    Dec 7th 2019, 10:19 AM

    @Paul Ennis: โ€ฆ.agree and ill-informed criticism at that.

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