All to play for at the bottom
BLESSINGTON’S dramatic win over Rathnew last week secured their spot in the Dunne Cup Division 1 final against St Patrick’s on July 4.
Blessington’s victory was Rathnew’s second defeat of the league play-off campaign and Harry Murphy’s men are down to play St Pat’s this Thursday in Merrymeeting in their play-off which is basically a dead rubber.
The destination of the league title remains up in the air following the awarding of a double walk-over after both Pat’s and Rathnew refused to field for a clash in May just prior to the Leinster championship meeting of Wicklow and Offaly.
That case is believed to be going forward to the DRA after both Rathnew and St Pat’s lost their appeal to Leinster Council.
Depending on the result of that DRA case, the destination of the league title is very much unknown.
If Rathnew win the case with the DRA then they will win the league.
However, if the walk-overs stand then Hollywood will be crowned Arklow Nay Hotel Division 1 champions on nine points after what the west side will feel was an excellent league campaign and perhaps a perfect launchpad towards the Senior football championship in a matter of weeks when they will open their campaign with a tricky clash with Éire Óg Greystones on July 22 in Joule Park Aughrim.
At the other end of the table Kiltegan face a huge game this evening (Wednesday) against neighbours Baltinglass in terms of their survival in Division 1 of the football league.
A Kiltegan win in the game in Baltinglass with Declan Peppard in command will see Trevor Doyle’s men safe.
However, a Baltinglass win will see Ciaran Walshe’s side secure for another season and will bring the possibility of a play-off back into the mix to decide who joins the men of Dunlavin in the drop to Division 1A for 2019.
A draw in the the Baltinglass v Kiltegan game will be enough to condemn Bray to relegation.
With the league action almost complete now it leaves the way open for a fascinating football championship where the question of whether a team can carry their league form through to the cauldron of championship will be answered. Team Rathnew St Patrick’s Hollywood Blessington Bray Emmets Dunlavin Baltinglass Kiltegan P 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 W 5 4 4 4 3 2 2 1 D 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 L 1 1 2 3 4 4 4 6 FADP 83 51 32 10 57 46 11 9 94 87 7 9 89 83 6 8 9198-76 8493-95 91 103 -12 5 57 85-28 2 DUNLAVIN put in a blistering late finish to secure a draw against Baltinglass in the relegation section of the Division 1 football league last Wednesday evening in front of a decent following.
In ideal conditions for football, Jonathan Daniels’ men will have rued a couple of missed chances along with hitting crossbar while Ciaran Walshe will be wondering how his men let Dunlavin get back in this game after the visitors were five points ahead with four minutes left on the clock.
However, history does repeat itself as much the same happened in their previous encounter back a couple of weeks ago.
John McGrath landed a stunning long-range point from a sweet pass from Jason Kennedy immediately from the throw in to give the visitors a flying start.
Chris Heaslip added a brace of points as the home side were slow getting into the game.
A couple of wild shot selections went amiss for the home side before Cian O’Sullivan got them off the mark from a placed ball in the 70th minute.
John McGrath fielded the resultant quick kick-out, (which were a feature of the game throughout by both sides) and laid off to Daniel Kelly to knock over a mighty point.
Goalkeeper Mark Jackson landed another point from the carpet