Deadly Denver to the rescue

Bray through to semi-finals

BRAY EMMETS KILTEGAN 0-8 0-6

A couple of golden opportunities missed in the second half, including a penalty superbly saved by Bray goalkeeper Tony Denver, subsequently cost Kiltegan a place in the JBFC semi-finals as Bray booked their place in the last four after a two-point victory in Ballinakill on Thursday night.

A game that was not jam packed with action, was made difficult by a strong breeze blowing across the pitch that both sides found tricky to adjust to.

If anyone it was slightly helping Kiltegan in the opening period, as they posted the first score through Laurence Murphy on 3 minutes.

Kiltegan kicked three very early wides that were decent opportunities to get a foot hold in the clash.

A lot of the early play was high up the field by Kiltegan but they conceded two consecutive points against the run of play, as Marc Lyons and Liam Morgan fired over for Emmets.

Bray began to play some decent football, with midfielders Sean Liddy and Ciaran O Connor starting most of the good play.

A lack of action in the middle third of the half, with no scores being posted and not much entertainment for the spectators. Some very poor shooting was seen also as several poor wides were seen from both sides.

When Kiltegan got forward, they usually attacked in numbers as half backs Luke Byrne and Michael Foley advanced well up the park. But this left their side vulnerable at the back as Bray extended their lead to 3 with seven minutes to go in the half, a Liam Morgan free and Aaron Walsh pointed off his right.

Both sides were making a lot of mistakes in the difficult conditions as a lot of easy balls were overturned. There was lots of space on the field that was not utilised as the two sides were usually tightly bunched up.

Kiltegan finally posted a score 23 minutes after their first as Darren Hobson pointed from close range.

Kiltegan full forward Mark Ryan dropped deeper later in the half to try help his side with the high ball battle, but the side couldn’t get up the field.

Tadhg Dornan scored an excellent free from off the ground to round off his sides tally for the half.

The score was five points to two as referee Eugene Doherty blew his whistle to signal the intermission. A poor first half display from both outfits but neither will care about the performance if they prevailed victorious.

Kiltegan did come out playing better football in the second half, as they reduced the deficit to two early on, as midfielder Jonathan Tallon put over a free from just outside the 21.

A huge moment came eight minutes after the restart as Doherty blew for a penalty for the trailing side after Bray goalkeeper Tony Denver picked the ball up off the deck. The Bray contingent were raging as this would have squandered their first half lead within eight minutes of the second. Jonathan Tallon stepped up to take the kick. But Denver redeemed himself as he flew through the air to get his fingertips to the ball and parry it over the bar for a point.

This point brought the game back to one point, but Oisin O hAinnaidh pointed around 20 seconds after the penalty save.

Bray did manage to recapture their three point lead before Tallon scored a super point to bring it back to two.

Again, there was a period in the middle of the second half without a score, in fact it was ten minutes before Liam Morgan pointed.

Kiltegan then had a golden opportunity to net a goal late on. A poor kickout from Denver landed straight in the chest of Mark Ryan, who played the ball into the path of Darren Hobson, who punched wide of what was pretty much an open goal.

Kiltegan were getting high up the field in the last few minutes but Bray held off extremely well as their full back line reclaimed possession and blasted the ball clear.

Kiltegan did bring the scores back to one before Sean Liddy rounded off the scoring to finish off what was a low scoring game.

So, in the end it was Bray who progressed and put their name in the hat for the semi final draw. Both sides will probably be disappointed in their attacking displays as there were more wides than points.

Final Score: Bray Emmets 0-8, Kiltegan 0-6.

Scorers: Bray Emmets – Liam Morgan 0-3 (1f); Marc Lyons 0-1; Aaron Walsh 0-1; Tadhg Dornan 0-1 (1f); Oisin O hAinnaidh 0-1; Sean Liddy 0-1.

Kiltegan – Jonathan Tallon 0-3 (1f); Darren Hobson 0-2; Laurence Murphy 0-1.

Bray Emmets: Tony Denver; Con Green, Cormac Martin, Cian Lafferty; Andrew Reynolds, Tadhg Dornan, Declan Snow; Sean Liddy, Ciaran O Connor; Pat Gallagher, Aaron Walsh, Ross Masterson; Liam Morgan, Oisin O hAinnaidh, Marc Lyons. Subs: Tom Molloy for Lafferty (52 mins).

Kiltegan: Daniel Twyford Troy; Jamie Daly, Niall Foley, Ferghal

HOLLYWOOD DUNLAVIN 2-6 1-7

HOLLYWOOD Juniors made it a double joy weekend for the west village club by just about qualifying for the semi-final of the Philip Doyle Junior B Football Championship in a re-arranged fixture against Dunlavin on Sunday evening last.

The original game on Thursday evening last, lasted only ten minutes when it had to be called off due to a heavy collision of two opposing players.

An ambulance was required, as both players had to go to hospital and with daylight fading the referee was left with no choice but to abandon the game.

In fairness, both clubs agreed between themselves there and then to play the game at the weekend, rather than leave it to the CCC to refix, as we were already behind due to a three-way play-off in this championship.

Gladly, both injured players were at the game on Sunday evening, but couldn’t partake due to concussion issues.

Hollywood hit the ground running when Ross Tyrell pumped in a high ball to Brian Flynn who goaled in the first minute.

Full-forward Dermot Deegan drew a powerfull save from Jamie Tutty in the next attack. Alan Hughes was winning plenty of ball around midfield for Dunlavin, supplying great ball into his forwards, who were guilty of some cruel misses.

Dermot Deegan took the paint of the wrong side of the upright, first for a point and then for a goal as Hollywood rode their luck.

Another three wides didn’t help Dunlavin’s cause. They were punished when Colin Tutty pointed, and Brian Flynn raised his second green flag to close out the first quarter leading 2-1 to amazingly no score.

Liam Callinan tagged on a point before Gary Carroll got Dunlavin off the mark with a decent score.

Nathan O’Sullivan fed Conal Byrne who split the posts for Hollywood.

There was some heavy tackles flying in on both sides.

Dan Burke fired over a longrange point before a 35-meter shot from Dean Phelan rocked the back of the Hollywood net.

Yet again, in the next attack Hollywood got off the hook when Harry Houlihan intercepted the ball, from going over the goal line after a Dermot Deegan shot. Noel Kinsella’s half-time whistle sounded with the score reading 2-4 to 1-1.

Philip Dunne steadied the ship for Hollywood with a point on the restart. James Mooney kicked over another point in the next attack as Hollywood looked like driving on. However, this was to be Hollywood’s last score in the 32nd minute.

Both sides emptied their benches. Niall Faherty landed a trio of pointed frees to eat into the lead with the score now 2-6 to 1-4. Gary Carroll shot on goal, but a sensational save by Jamie Tutty tipped the ball over the bar.

It was all Dunlavin at this stage as Hollywood looked out on their feet. Gary Carroll tapped over another point. Dunlavin were in for another goal but a last gasp touch by Steven Burke put the ball out for a 45, which ended with a Niall Faherty point in the 62nd minute.

The Hollywood management moved Philip Dunne from the forward line to the back line to stem the ball going into man mountain Dermot Deegan.

Dunlavin tried in vain but could not deliver a goal, which could have won the match.

Hollywood will be mighty relieved, to get into a repeat of last year’s semi against Enniskerry, while Dunlavin will ponder how this game got away from them with all the possession and chances they had.

Scorers - Hollywood: Brian Flynn 2-0, Colin Tutty 0-1, Liam Callinan 0-1, Conal Byrne 0-1, Dan Burke 0-1, James Mooney 0-1, Philip Dunne 0-1.

Dunlavin: Niall Faherty 0-4 (3f), Dean Phelan 1-00, Gary Carroll 0-3 (2f).

Colin Tutty; Kevin Cullen, Stephen Burke, Harry Houlihan; Paul Kelly, Ross Tyrell, Conal Byrne; Liam Callinan, Nathan O Sullivan; Jack Cullen, John Mooney, Dan Burke; Colin Tutty, Brian Flynn, James Mooney. Subs: Philip Dunne, Andrew Corrigan, John Burke, Keith Peppard, Gary Tutty.

Brandon O’Rourke; Ronan Byrne, Conor Deering, MJ Moran; Brian Thackaberry, Lee Armitage, James Kelly; Alan Hughes, Andrew Howard; Niall Faherty, Gary Carroll, Stephen Doyle; Dean Phelan, Dermot Deegan, Dara Figgis. Subs: Mikey Phelan, Paddy Healy, Shane O’Rourke.

Noel Kinsella (Kilbride)