‘Holly’ steps down from Pat’s while Garrigan goes again

ST PAT’S Senior football boss Robert ‘Holly’ Hollingsworth has stepped down from the role that seen him guide his team to two county finals while new kid on the Senior block Paul Garrigan will be staying on in Baltinglass having secured the Miley Cup at his first attempt. Hollingsworth told the Wicklow/

Bray People that the decision had been a tough one but after 35 years of non stop involvement in St Pat’s GAA club it was time for a break.

“It took me from the county final (to decide),” said Robert, “and I only really decided on the day of the AGM (last Thursday). I’ve been involved with the club for 35 years without having a year out so it was a very tough decision to make.

“I love the club, I get on very well with all the players and with everyone up there and I’ve loads of good memories.

“It was tough though, tougher than I expected it to be. It was hard to go from playing with a group of lads to managing them. But, I’m still only 41 so I’ll take a few years out.

“There’s a great bunch of lads there and it’ll just take somebody to get them over the line and I think if they do get over the line they’ll have a really successful period,” he added.

A leading contender for the St Pat’s job must be Casey O’Brien who has finished with Carnew Emmets after guiding the dual club to the Senior hurling final replay.

Paul Garrigan said that he made his decision because he felt he “owed it to the players and to the club” to stay on.

“They put their faith in me so I felt I owed it to them to stay”.

He also said that with Ian Sheerin going away travelling and with some retirements likely it may be a case of “rebuilding again”.

Kiltegan are believed to be close to securing the services of Trevor Doyle for the year ahead.