An Ghaeltacht captured a historic first Kerry senior football championship title when they put Austin Stacks to the sword at a sun-drenched Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney yesterday. It may not have a been a top-quality affair but An Ghaeltacht will not complain as they made up for last year's shattering defeat with a display full of confidence and hunger for victory.

Austin Stacks were simply outclassed and they never recovered from the loss of their inspirational captain and centre back, Pa Laide, after only six minutes and from then on they drifted like a rudderlees ship. Darragh ╙ SΘ showed no ill effects from his trip Down Under and simply strode the pitch like a colossus, totally dominating the middle.

Dara Long opened Stacks' account inside a minute with a free after Billy Sheehan had been fouled, but that was as good as it got for the Tralee side. Darragh ╙ SΘ began to find Aodhβn MacGearailt with regularity, and An Ghaeltacht seized the initiative.

Aodhβn MacGearailt and ╙ CinnΘide had the west-Kerry side 0-2 to 0-1 in front by the sixth minute. Cathal ╙ Dubhda then collected a kick-out from goalkeeper Ruiseal and ran 70 yards to kick a mighty point which seemed to demoralise the Stacks. Further points from Rob MacGearailt and ╙ CinnΘide had An Ghaeltacht four clear at the end of the first quarter.

Dara Long kept Stacks in the game with his frees but An Ghaeltacht were physically stronger and rampant as Mac Gearailt, Corduff and ╙ CinnΘide added points to see them lead 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time.

While Stacks improved marginally in the second half Darragh ╙ SΘ controlled midfield and neither William Kirby nor Mike Finn could do anything about it. Stacks seemed to freeze on the day and this allowed An Ghaelthacht to dictate the pace of the game. In the second half, Long added two frees for Stacks before An Ghaeltacht struck for the crucial goal in the 40th minute.

AN GHAELTACHT: P Ruiseal; M ╙ Conchuir, S MacSithigh, M ╙ SΘ; C Brathneach, T ╙ SΘ (0-1), R ╙ Flatharta; D ╙ SΘ (0-1), P ╙ Cuinn; JJ Corduff (0-1), D ╙ CinnΘide (0-5), R MacGearailt (0-2); C ╙ Cruadhlaioch, A MacGearailt (1-2), C ╙ Dubhda (0-1). Subs: F ╙ SΘ for P ╙ Cuinn, S ╙ Conchuir for R Mac Gearailt, Micheal ╙ SΘ for JJ Corduff, T ╙ Muircheartaigh for C ╙ Cruadhlaioch.

AUSTIN STACKS: D Hennebery; K Leen, M McGivergan, B Dennehy; P Quillinan, P Laide, T J Hogan; W Kirby, M Finn; D Sayers, J Walsh, B Sheehan (0-1); D Long (0-6), C Kennedy (0-1), M Collins (0-1). Subs: D Bohan for P Laide injured, D McEvoy for J Walsh, F Smith (0-1) for M Finn.