Wonderful Walker kicks Hollywood into submission
AT half-time this game had all the hallmarks of a wrestling match with both teams rolling around grappling for position. The game, it appeared, would go the distance until Conor Walker emerged in the second half to unleash a flurry of scores and give Coolkenno victory long before the final whistle went.
Walker scored seven points from play in the second half but credit must also go to a mean defence and a midfield that ruled the skies.
Paddy Dalton played out around the middle for the second half and for a small man he was dominant. He was content to tap the ball down and a teammate would rush in to claim it. Unable to get past midfield, Hollywood’s scoring opportunities were greatly diminished in the second half and they could only score three points.
The first half was much more even as Coolkenno took a while to get into their scoring rhythm and Hollywood’s Garrett Bell was an effective target man.
Coolkenno scored the opening two points owing much to Don Jackman’s aerial ability on kick-outs.
First he tapped the ball down for James Cushe to get forward and pass to Eamon Rossiter for a point and then Dalton won a breaking ball and a free just outside the 45 metre line. Jackman stepped forward to split the posts while shooting into a strong enough breeze.
Matthew Kelly replied for Hollywood before Conor Walker got his first point when Eamon Rossiter gave him the pass.
However it would take another thirteen minutes before another white flag was raised as the teams shared two wides each and tried to break the other down.
The game stopped for a couple of minutes when Eamon Rossiter had to be carried off injured unable to put pressure on his left leg. He’ll be a big loss.
Bell broke the scoring deadlock with a couple of frees to level the game and then played a very good ball across to Eoin Burke to put Hollywood ahead for the first time in the 28th minute.
Walker won and converted a free to level matters again before P.J. O’Keefe scored the final point of the half and it was five points to four at half-time.
Playing with the aid of the breeze in the second half Coolkenno obviously decided to play good old fashioned football by kicking the ball in long.
Jackman levelled the match inside the first minute with a fisted point. Ciarán Tyrell briefly took back the lead when Philip Dunne was allowed to run up the field without a glove laid on him and Tyrell gratefully knocked the ball over the bar.
However, that was enough for the Coolkenno defence which shut up shop and only conceded another two points for the half. Walker reeled off five points in a row from play to open a four-point lead by playing very simple football. He would win the ball in front of his marker, create a yard of space and shoot accurately over the bar.
Bell knocked over his third free to Hollywood some hope, but another two points from Walker and a point each for Brian Rossiter and Paddy Dalton gave Coolkenno a lead of double scores with time almost up, fourteen points to seven. Bell converted his final free late of the game and Hollywood did attack in search of a consolation goal that never came.
Coolkenno march on, Hollywood will hope the draw is kind for them and they can rebuild their season. COOLKENNO SCORERS: Conor Walker (0-9, 1 free); Don Jackman (0-2, 1 free); Paddy Dalton (0-1, ‘45), Brian Rossiter, Eamon Rossiter (0-1 each). HOLLYWOOD SCORERS: Garrett Bell (0-4 frees); Ciarán Tyrell, PJ O’Keefe, Eoin Burke, Matthew Kelly (0-1 each). COOLKENNO: John Corcoran; Shane Walker, Cathal Rossiter, Willie Doyle; James Gregan, James Cushe, Robert Keogh; Conor Doyle, Colin Murphy; Brian Rossiter, Don Jackman, Paul Murphy; Paddy Dalton, Eamon Rossiter, Conor Walker. Subs: Stevie Cushe for Conor Doyle (4 mins, inj.); Ben Jackman for Eamon Rossiter (17 mins, inj.); Barry Doyle for Colin Murphy (52 mins). HOLLYWOOD: James Tutty; Paul Kelly, Philip Dunne, Shane Kelly; Robert Kelly, Harry Wilson, Conor Burke; Ciarán Tyrell, Kevin Murphy; P.J. O’Keefe, Eoin Burke, Niall Clarke; Matthew Kelly, Garrett Bell, Thomas Burke. Subs: Peadar Traynor for Niall Clarke (HT); Stephen Kearney for Matthew Kelly (36 mins); John Teahan Burke for Eoin Burke (50 mins). REFEREE: Garrett Whelan.