Hollywood survive
Donard-The Glen miss late chance in dramatic finale
HOLLYWOOD 1-08 DONARD-THE GLEN 1-07 HOLLYWOOD set out their stall of making a quick return to the Senior ranks when taking on near neighbours Donard-The Glen in the opening round of the Darcy Sand Intermediate Football Championship on Friday evening last.
However, both sides with big shouts for this championship will have to vastly improve their shot to score ratio if they want to progress in this race as we were served up with nearly 30 wides in this encounter.
The only real excitement was in the closing moments off a very scrappy game.
The big pitch in Blessington was in tip top condition and burned up a lot of energy out of both teams, as a nice crowd had gathered for this game
Conor Healy got the Glen men up and running in the opening minute with a point after a great ball in from Brian Lennon.
Both sides traded a couple of bad wides as there was no rhythm to a very scrappy start as neither team settled.
Matthew Kelly opened Hollywood’s account in the ninth minute with a point from an acute angle after a fine pass from Joe Glennon. Donard hit three more wides. Mikey Healy was winning a lot off dirty ball and also breaking down a lot of Donard play.
A Matthew Kelly shot cannoned back out off the post and Tony Hannon was in like a light for the ball, his shot was brilliantly saved by Colm Toomey out for a 45. Tony Hannon split the posts from the resultant 45.
Moments later Stephen Kearney was fouled going through and up stepped Hannon to tag on another point from the free to close out the first quarter.
Hollywood persisted with sending in high balls to their forwards which were being mopped up by the Donard defence.
It was the 20th minute before the Glen side tagged on their second point by Darren O’Neill after great work by Sean Branningan. Up the other end Joe Glennon was fouled and Tony Hannon pointed the free.
Alan Daly picked up a yellow card for a heavy tackle on Stephen Kearney.
Joe Glennon won possession and burst through and fed Matthew Kelly who put Tony Hannon one on one with Colm Toomey, Hannon finished to the net with aplomb for the first major of the match.
Mikey Healy brilliantly caught a high ball and fed Stephen Kearney who hit a smashing point for Hollywood.
The Donard side applied a lot of pressure in the final two minutes of the half but could only manage a pointed free from Harry Mangan to bring an end to the half with the scoreboard reading 1-05 to 0-03 in favour of Hollywood.
The second half started of very scrappy with Hollywood hitting two bad wides. Alan Daly punished them with a fisted point and Harry Mangan added another pointed free for the Donard side who were finding a bit of momentum.
Kevin Kealy should have levelled the game in next attack after a mix up in the Hollywood defence after a quick kick-out, but Kealy took the paint of the outside off the post with the goal at his mercy. Another free by Harry Mangan, hit the upright and tailed wide.
William Rooney was lucky to survive with a yellow card for a robust high tackle on Paul Kelly. Harry Wilson and Mikey Healy tightened up the defence to take some of the pressure off.
Tony Hannon got Hollywood’s first point of the second half in the 44th minute, however they added six more wides to let Donard of the hook.
Cian Tyrell seemed to be harshly substituted for the Hollywood side.
Stephen Kearney picked up a yellow card for kicking the ball away. Brian Lennon pointed a free to leave three points in it with 53 minutes played.
PJ O’Keefe added on a point before Tony Hannon landed a monster of a point for the score of the match from 58 meters out in the final minute of normal time.
Stephen Kearney had a one on one chance for a goal but Colm Toomey saved and cleared as Donard went up the other end and Ian Burke brillianty saved a shot from Kevin Kealy, the rebound fell to Conor Healy who was fouled and a penalty was the result. Alan Daly goaled from the spot kick in the 64th minute to leave two points in it.
The Hollywood support were baying for the full-time whistle, but on we went. Donard got one more chance in the 66th minute but centre-back Colin Osborne blazed his effort over the crossbar as the full-time whistle sounded to let Hollywood of the hook.
None the less, at the end of the day a win is a win and Hollywood move on to play Ashford in the next round. Donard-The Glen only managed four points from play but they will regroup and face neighbours Stratford-Grangecon in another mouthwatering derby.
Bring it on!
Scorers - Hollywood: Tony Hannon 1-05 (2f, 45), Matthew Kelly 0-01, Stephen Kearney 0-01, PJ O’Keefe 0-01.
Donard-The Glen: Alan Daly 1-01 (p), Harry Mangan 0-02 (2f), Conor Healy 0-01, Darren O’Neill 0-01, Brian Lennon 0-01 (1f), Colin Osborne 0-01.
Hollywood: Ian Burke; Keith Traynor, Harry Wilson, Eoin Burke; Conor Burke, Micheal Healy, Paul Kelly; Kevin Murphy, Cian Tyrell; Peader Traynor, Ciaran Tyrell, Stephan Kearney; Joe Glennon, Tony Hannon, Matthew Kelly. Subs: PJ O’Keefe for Cian Tyrell (48min).
Donard-The Glen: Colm Toomey; Kevin Osborne, William Rooney, Alan Tutty; Dermot Daly, Colin Osborne, Eoin Kelly; Harry Mangan, Brian Lennon; Sean Brannigan, Ray Halloran, Darren O’Neill; Kevin Healy, Conor Healy, Alan Daly. Subs: Bill Flynn for Darren O’Neill (38min), Niall Curran for Harry Mangan (50min).
Referee: Eddie Leonard (St Patrick’s)