Stack pays tribute to ‘superior force’

He remembers being at a function — as an employee of then-sponsors AIB in 2009 — in the Fáilte bar in Killarney with a defeated Dr Crokes side.

The Killarney men had just lost to South Kerry in that year’s county final — what he saw impressed him and provides the Austin Stacks manager with solace after his side’s crushing loss.

“They had shipped a terrible defeat but their togetherness really impressed me. I said if these guys ever start winning then they will go on a roll — and they have.

“That is what has made that team great. Plus they are on a crusade to win an All-Ireland.”

He harked back to something said by one of his players in the pre-match build-up during the week.

“I think Kieran Donaghy put it very well during the week. He said that we [Stacks] were trying to bridge a gap in Kerry and they [Crokes] were trying to bridge a gap in Ireland.”

Stack had nothing but praise for the now four-in-a-row champions.

“We played against a superior force. The one striking aspect of the game was that in the physical exchanges they dominated us. Whether it was in the break, in the tackle or on the burst. That was the reason we lost.”

That physicality is an element of the game he feels they have concentrated on.

“They seem to have learned from the Ballymun game last year when they were physically blown away.”

Stack had words of consolation for his own charges.

“What they have achieved this year is in no way rubbished by our performance today. They have made a lot of progress. In 1990 as a Kerry player I was on the wrong end of a 19-point defeat to Cork above in Páirc Uí Chaoimh — the famous day they were shouting ‘lock the gates and keep them in’. The same group of Kerry players came back the following year to play a Cork team with six or seven All Stars and we beat them in Killarney by two points.”

He added: “I’m very proud of my players. The real spirit of any team is not tested when you win, it’s always tested when you lose. We’ll stay tight tonight. There won’t be one player giving out about another because if they do I’ll tell you they won’t play for Stacks again as long as I’m involved.”

The Listowel native was inspired by his club’s colourful support. “That put a smile on my face. They have been great all year.”