Clifford sent off as holders bow out to Stacks in Kerry SFC

Kieran Donaghy of Austin Stacks celebrates

Austin Stacks ended East Kerry’s hopes of a third successive Kerry senior football championship crown tonight after securing a hard-earned 1-7 to 1-5 victory in Tralee.

In a game which saw former Kerry star Kieran Donaghy breaking the record for most championship appearances in the Austin Stacks colours, the Tralee side were full value for their two-point win in this opening round clash.

Donaghy’s point helped Stacks to lead by 0-5 to 0-2 at the break and the veteran attacker would even end up playing the closing quarter of the game at full-back for his side.

Fiachna Mangan’s goal had the victors’ seven to the good after nine minutes of the restart prior to Niall Donohue being red-carded for East Kerry.

The holders would be reduced to 13 men when David Clifford picked up his second yellow card in injury-time and a goal from Paul O’Shea two minutes afterwards would prove too little, too late as Stacks advanced.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Kerins O'Rahillys over St Kierans (1-16 to 0-9) and South Kerry against Feale Rangers (2-6 to 0-5), while the Legion defeated Spa 5-4 in a penalty shootout after it finished 1-13 to 0-16 at the end of extra time.