Hollywood heroes
Championship joy in Aughrim as Burke’s men hold on
HOLLYWOOD AVOCA 0-8 1-4
HOLLYWOOD’S Junior footballers brought some much-needed joy and happiness to the club on what was a dark time when they held on for victory against a battling Avoca side in the Philip Doyle Junior ‘B’ Championship final in Joule Park Aughrim last Saturday.
A dominant first half display that saw them open up a 0-7 to 0-1 lead at the break against an Avoca side who seemed somewhat overwhelmed by the occasion set them up for a championship title that might in some tiny way assuage the pain of the untimely passing of Julieanne Bell.
Avoca will reflect on that opening half with horror in the weeks to come.
Over the course of the game they would produce a performance that was the exact opposite of their showings in the championship to date where they played a lovely confident brand of football and scored almost at will at times. On Saturday, they were heavy-legged and uncertain, and it seemed as though Joule Park Aughrim was a vast plain which they were unable to freely traverse.
The second half would be vastly different in terms of possession and pressure and Avoca, with the wind at their backs, laid siege on the Hollywood goal, but they would spurn chance after chance late on when they came galloping back to within one of Keith Burke’s side.
Hollywood had some standout performers on the day, none more so than centre back Ross Tyrrell who was exceptional all through this game. Harry Houlihan, Stephen Burke, Nathan O’Sullivan and Liam Callanan were also vital to the Hollywood cause on what was a wonderful day for the club.
The opening half showed Hollywood to be completely unfazed by the occasion while for Mark O’Neill’s outfit it was the exact opposite.
Against Bray Emmets in the semi-final and Baltinglass in the quarter-final the Avoca men had looked unshackled and fleet-footed all over the field. Alas for their supporters, on Saturday nothing went right for them and Hollywood opened up a five-point gap over the course of the first 22 minutes of the game.
Keith Burke’s side went wide on three occasions in the first few minutes while Avoca could only manage a shot dropped short to Jamie Tutty.
Dan Burke would add wide number four for Hollywood before the two men who really took the game to the Avoca side, Hollywood’s half-back pairing of Thomas Kelly and Conal Byrne, started to open up their shoulders.
Byrne was first to raise a white flag after a storming run from his position and Thomas Kelly was quickly on his tail with a fine effort.
Avoca had named Martin Kenny at full-forward but were playing him in midfield and he put in a serious shift for the black and amber side on a day when little would go right for them.
Colin Tutty enjoyed a useful first half and he added Hollywood’s third point of the day after 20 minutes and this was followed by Conal Byrne’s second and another from Tutty to open up that fivepoint gap with the sizeable Avoca crowd left somewhat stunned by this blunt and uncharacteristic performance.
A free won by Andy Doyle was swept over by Martin Kenny for that longed for opening score for Avoca but Hollywood would finish the half strong with a pointed free from Colin Tutty and a fine effort from Thomas Kelly who collected a short free from the aforementioned Tutty before walloping over to leave it 0-7 to 0-1 at the break with Avoca facing a mountain in the second half.
Mark O’Neill’s side would have the wind at their backs in the second half and not long after the restart they would send in Johnny Arthur in place of midfielder Paddy Kennedy as they went in search of a foothold in this game.
Martin Kenny went wide from a free and then Paul Kelly did likewise at the other end.
Dean Power missed the target soon after as Avoca started to dominate out around the middle and a foul on Johnny Arthur gave Martin Kenny the chance of a score and the midfielder took it with aplomb, 0-7 to 0-2.
On came Avoca with the roars and cheers of their supporters in their ears and PJ Fluskey’s point from play was greeted with a mighty roar at the end of the third quarter as Hollywood started sending in fresh legs.
One of those substitutes, Keith Peppard, fired over a vital score in the context of the game but Avoca grabbed a serious lifeline shortly after when Martin Kenny got on the end of the flowing move to blast home to the back of the Hollywood net and bring Avoca back to within two points of their opponents.
Things would get better for Avoca moments later. The impressive Stephen McCauley split the posts with a fine effort and Avoca were back to within a single point and had all the momentum with them with victory looking almost assured given that they had 10 minutes left in which to draw level and surge ahead.
However, winning a county final is no easy job, and Avoca found out to their cost just how difficult it is when they failed to add another score in this game despite having numerous chances to do so in those closing stages.
In the end it was pure joy for Hollywood when Brendan Furlong’s final whistle sounded. Their always incredible support streamed on to the pitch in Joule Park Aughrim where captain Brian Flynn accepted the cup from county chairman Martin Fitzgerald and spoke movingly about the loss of one of their most fervent supporters, Julieann eBell, just days before the final.
It was a wonderful scene on the green sward in Joule Park Aughrim as dozens of children sporting Hollywood jerseys and waving flags joined their victorious warriors with the cup.
Heartbreak for Avoca. Their season, their work, their dedication deserved more, but deserving and achieving are two very different animals.
They’ll be back without a shadow of a doubt.
Scorers - Hollywood: Conal Byrne 0-2, Thomas Kelly 0-2, Colin Tutty 0-3 (2f), Keith Peppard 0-1 (f).
Avoca: Martin Kenny 1-2 (2f), PJ Fluskey 0-1, Steven McCauley 0-1.
Jamie Tutty; Kevin Cullen, Stephen Burke, Harry Houlihan;
Thomas Kelly, Ross Tyrrell, Conal Byrne; Nathan O’Sullivan, Liam Callanan; Dan Burke, John Mooney, Jack Cullen; Colin Tutty, Brian Flynn, James Mooney. Subs: Paul Kelly, Keith Peppard, Dan Coyne, Philip Dunne.
Johnny Harpur; Anthony Doran, Rob Wilson, Colin O’Connor; Aaron Tuke, Mikey Fahy, Steven McCauley; Dean Power, Paddy Kennedy; Chris Arthur, PJ Fluskey, Andy Doyle; Adam Tuke, Martin Kenny, Jason Porter. Subs: Johnny Arthur, Brian Canavan.
Brendan Furlong (Tinahely)