‘Bruiser’ bags late goal to seal win for Rathnew
FITZGERALD KITCHENS JUNIOR ‘A’ FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
RATHNEW HOLLYWOOD 2-12 0-14
RATHNEW and Hollywood served up an absolute belter of a game in the Fitzgerald Kitchens Junior ‘A’ Football Championship in a sundrenched Blessington on Sunday afternoon last. Nothing could separate either in a fierce battle between two well balanced sides.
The game was packed throughout with hard-hitting football, fine free-taking and plenty of scoring chances.
Hollywood had taken the game to Rathnew early on in the second half and looked like they were in control but as ever Rathnew, not for the first time, battled themselves back into contention in a riveting game where extra-time was needed to find the winner.
Hollywood started the brighter with Liam Callanan opening the scoring in the third minute with a peach of a point. Kevin Murphy won possession of the kick-out and laid of a sweet pass into John Mooney who shook of his marker and unleashed a powerful shot which was excellently saved by Peter Dignam and cleared up the field where Stuart Murphy dropped a high ball into the danger zone where Sean Coffey rose highest to punch over the bar.
Dylan Smith put Rathnew ahead shortly afterwards as the play ebbed up and down the field, with both sets of management and supporters constantly updating the officials on the playing rules.
John Mooney was stopped in his tracks illegally by Chris Healy and Liam Callanan kicked over a beast of a point from the resultant free.
Corner-forward Michael Doyle pointed just before the water break to close out the opening quarter with Rathnew leading 0-3 to 0-2.
Hollywood tagged on two bad wides on the restart before Eoin Clarke restored parity with a pointed free after Dean Burke was fouled.
Enan Glynn started off a good move up the field which resulted in putting Michael Doyle through on goal, Doyle pulled on the ball on the ground, goalie Colin Tutty was well positioned to save and clear the danger, the ball worked up the field, Ryan Mulvey had just pointed after the whistle sounded, back we came for the free which Liam Callanan was off target with.
In the next passage of play Dylan Smith edged the village ahead with a sweet point. Hollywood steadied the ship with another pointed free to restore parity, as Chris Healy picked up a yellow for persistent fouling.
Rathnew closed out an absorbing first period with a brace of points from Michael Doyle and Dylan Smith as the referee scorecard read Rathnew 0-6 to Hollywood 0-5 in an exciting battle.
Hollywood hit the ground running on the restart, Kevin Murphy again gathered from the throw-in and made a dashing run through the village defence, Murphy laid off to John Mooney who turned and fired over off his right to level proceedings.
Hollywood dominated the next passages of play with Mooney tagging on another before another goal chance was spurned by the West side.
Ryan Mulvey and Thomas Kelly each pointed as Hollywood extended the lead. Another powerful run from Ryan Mulvey was rewarded with another beast of a point, Hollywood’s fifth point within six minutes to turn build up a small cushion.
Rathnew somewhat steadied the ship with a fine point from a Dylan Smith free and the same man tagged on another moments later after a great one-two with Phillip Murphy.
An off-the-ball incident followed which resulted with Kevin Murphy picking up a red card while Michael Doyle received a yellow.
Hollywood rallied again with John Mooney and Liam Callanan pointing to put them 0-12 to 0-8 ahead with ten odd minutes left as Michael Doyle picked up a second yellow card as both sides were now down to 14.
Back came Rathnew with a bang, wing-back Gavin Byrne steered a shot into the top corner of Colin Tutty’s net from the next attack after great play from Sean Coffey. Ross Tyrell cut out two more chances for Rathnew, Hollywood broke up the field and won a free, Eoin Clarke looked like he had pointed, however the referee overruled the umpire and it was struck off.
Enan Glynn missed a chance to level matters as his effort tailed off, as the tempo of the game rose ten-fold. Conall Byrne made it a two-point game with a monster of a point in the 60th minute.
What a finish we were in for, with that never-say-die attitude from Rathnew. Dylan Smith pointed a minute later to leave the game in the melting pot. Dale Franey levelled the game from the next attack with a mighty score in a storming finish as the full-time whistle sounded with the sides all square, Hollywood 0-13, Rathnew 1-10.
Both teams restarted with 15 each as Eoin Harkin and the evergreen Trevor Doyle entered the fray. Rathnew kicked two rushed wides with two gilt edged chances before Enan Glynn split the uprights with a sweet point in a cagey opening half of extra-time.
Wing back Gavin Byrne tagged on another point to close out the scoring as Rathnew now led 1-12 to 0-13.
Sean Coffey moved out to midfield for the final half of extra-time. Liam Callinan put the game back in the melting pot with another beast of a point.
Hollywood won possession of the kick-out and worked a splendid move up the field with John Burke putting Darren Healy through one and one with Peter Dignam. Dignam dived low and smothered the ball and again cleared his lines as Hollywood rued a great match winning chance.
Another long distance free from Liam Callanan was fisted clear by Dignam out of the small square as Hollywood went in search of an equaliser.
Rathnew broke up the field and Hollywood were caught out of position.
A long ball over the top fell into the hands of Steven Byrne, 14 out from goal.
We don’t know if it was cuteness or tiredness that the wing-back was in such a forward role, two steps and a low shot from ‘Bruiser’ found the back of Colin Tutty’s net for a huge score at this point.
Conall Byrne made a powerful run up the field and was fouled in his tracks 14 meters from goal as Hollywood battled on.
However, John Mooney kicked poorly as the final whistle sounded with Rathnew progressing to the quarter-finals where they will face near neighbours Barndarrig.