Armin Heinrich shines as Austin Stacks lay down marker against Templenoe

Kerry Senior Club Football Championship: Austin Stacks 1-18 Templenoe 1-5

With their entire tally coming from open play, Austin Stacks laid down a serious marker to all future opponents with an impressive victory over Templenoe in this Kerry senior club FC (Group 1) opener at Connolly Park in Tralee.

On their return to the Kingdom’s top club table after intermediate glory last season, Darragh Long’s side built up a seven-point lead by the interval (0-9 to 0-2), and never looked back thereafter, against a visiting outfit who couldn’t deal with their intensity levels.

The Rockies were ravenous for turnovers from beginning to end and, when you consider that Kerry hero Joe O’Connor was only introduced for the second half, and that key figures like Jack O’Shea and Joey Nagle were absent, Stacks are likely to improve as the weeks go on.

Kingdom squad member Armin Heinrich was simply magnificent, raiding forward from defence at every opportunity, and his five-point haul was, undoubtedly, what stood out. Growing from his involvement with Jack O’Connor’s All-Ireland champions, he is primed for further development.

Paddy Lane wasn’t far behind his team-mate. The Kerry U20 forward operated in a much deeper playmaking role on this occasion, but it didn’t restrict his scoring potential. His total of 1-4, including the game-clinching goal in the 50th minute, were all converted with aplomb.

Templenoe, despite plenty of hard graft from the likes of Tadhg Morley and Gavin Crowley, were given an early second half lifeline by a thundering Adrian Spillane green flag. However, with Killian Spillane suffering from a lack of supply, and the close attention of Dylan Casey, they struggled for penetration.

Lane’s goal, created by O’Connor and Luke Casey, made it a nine-point game (1-12 to 1-3) entering the last ten minutes, and there was no way back for the visitors. Austin Stacks were able to utilize their bench to good effect, with another young gun in Daniel Kirby adding two points.

With nine different players on the scoresheet by the game’s conclusion, the winners will be more than satisfied with their collective work. A Tralee derby with Na Gaeil next weekend will whet the appetite even further on Rock Street.

Scorers for Austin Stacks: P Lane 1-4 (1tp), A Heinrich 0-5, S Quilter (tp), D Kirby 0-2 each, R Shanahan, D O’Brien, S O’Callaghan, E Carroll, F Mangan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Templenoe: A Spillane 1-0, G Crowley 0-2 (tp), T Morley, C Crowley, K Spillane 0-1 each.

AUSTIN STACKS: M Tansley; C Griffin, A Heinrich, D Casey; P O’Sullivan, N Fitzmaurice, R Shanahan; L Casey, D Fitzmaurice; E Carroll, D O’Brien, F Mangan; S Quilter, S O’Callaghan, P Lane.

Subs: J O’Connor for D O’Brien (ht), D Kirby for Carroll (38), J Murphy for O’Sullivan (45), C Browne for D Fitzmaurice (51), M O’Donnell for Shanahan (56).

TEMPLENOE: M Looney; M Hallissey, K O’Neill, Ciarán Crowley; G Crowley, J Spillane, J Rice; S Sheehan, T Morley; C Crowley, M Casey, B Crowley; K Spillane, A Spillane, A Crowley.

Subs: M Reilly for Casey (51), J Sheehan for Rice (56), R O’Byrne for G Crowley (60).

Referee: B Griffin (Clounmacon).

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