Molloy’s side get job done

Annacurra beat Hollywood

ANNACURRA HOLLYWOOD 2-13 1-12

THIS was a hugely enjoyable game for the neutral observer, a roller coaster for the respective managers, Ballymore Eustace’s Jarlath Gilroy with Hollywood and Rathvilly’s Paddy Molloy with Annacurra. Who would want to be a team coach?

This game came down to guts, spirit and desire, and Annacurra had these in abundance. Dead and buried with ten minutes of normal time remaining they resurrected their season.

There is sympathy for Hollywood, who despite being overwhelmed in midfield displayed terrific forward play particularly in the first half. There is no doubt Annacurra held the greater experience against a young Hollywood side.

And so, to the story of the match. Hollywood dominated the first 15 minutes and led 1-3 to two points at the first water break. They had opened the scoring with a point from a hugely impressive Matthew Kelly but Annacurra equalised five minutes later through that man of all seasons, Alan Byrne, although playing number five.

Ben O’Keeffe put Hollywood two points to one up and then a great move started with an Eoin Burke lineball saw Matthew Kelly set up PJ O’Keeffe for a Hollywood goal and, following another great individual run, Matthew Kelly tapped over another point, with Gearoid Murphy kicking a 45 for

Annacurra in the meantime.

After the first water break, Annacurra at last had the scoreboard ticking over and thanks in the main to their number 13, Gearoid Murphy. The quarter had not started perfectly, however, for him as a 40-yard effort drifted wide, but then proceeded to add four, two initially from frees and then two terrific efforts from play.

Hollywood’s Matthew Kelly kept his side a point up at half-time, 1-5 to 0-7, with two points, one of those from a free.

Annacurra had played with the breeze in the first half and dominated midfield possession on both their own kickout and those of Hollywood.

However, the lively Hollywood forwards had caused havoc for the Annacurra defence.

Nothing much changed up to the second half water break, both sides only adding a point in what was a scrappy quarter. It was a quarter where Annacurra supporters may have felt the game was drifting away, Gearoid Murphy untypically kicked wide a 30-metre free and captain Ian McDonald gets black carded.

The start of the final quarter appeared to indicate that the Annacurra goose was definitely cooked; Matthew Kelly with two points from frees and a wonderful point from the side line from Robert Kelly put Hollywood 1-9 to 0-8 up with five minutes remaining.

Gearoid Murphy pointed a free, Nevan O Sullivan added another, while PJ O’Keeffe lifted the siege with a Hollywood point.

Time was running out and then right at the death Annacurra turned over an attempted Hollywood clearance and who was there only the number five, Alan Byrne, to drill a low shot to the net and draw the game in normal time at 1-10 each.

Hollywood will rue the extra-time. Itt belonged to Annacurra. Paddy Molloy’s side kicked three wides immediately before their substitutes Colm Maher with a point and Nevan O Sullivan after a great team move which denied Hollywood a goal chance put Annacurra in the driving seat with a great team goal.

Gearoid Murphy added a further two points, one a huge effort from 30 metres out on the sideline. Hollywood threw everything into the final five minutes which saw the Annacurra defence boot a clearance off the line after a Bob Fitzgerald save. It ended after a pulsating game, 2-13 for Annacurra to 1-12 for Hollywood.

Man of the match goes to a real warrior, Alan Byrne, and equally thereafter to a squad who fought tooth and nail for each other, knowing too that they had a sublime free taker in Gearoid Murphy. For Hollywood, Eoin Burke and Ciaran Tyrell led admirably, there are better days ahead with their quality young players about.