Kiltegan save senior status
Hollywood make the drop
KILTEGAN 2-10 HOLLYWOOD 0-9
THE majority of scores in Gaelic football are scored by the boot. And in reality, hand passing will only get you so far up the pitch until the real ball players come to the fore and have the courage and space to strike for goal or point.
Hollywood have the players to work it to a certain phase within a play through the hands, but then the opposition crowd the space, making it difficult to get the shot off. Too often, hand pass build up play can be slow and it can suit the opposition.
On the other hand, Kiltegan are a direct footballing team and possess some serious talent throughout the middle, Rory Finn, Padraig O’Toole, Ciaran Doyle and the Furlong’s on the inside line. Big lads who can really play, comfortable on the ball, comfortable in the tackle and very good decision makers in possession.
In fact, there seemed to be an inevitability about Kiltegan. Yes, they were under pressure on the scoreboard, but their scoring class was always present. It seemed like they could pull it out of the bag if required and that they did.
In comparison, Hollywood played through the hands on a very wet day which made perfect sense, but you still have to make space and execute a score, usually with the boot!
The first half seemed like a warm-up for the all-important second half and both teams were evenly matched throughout. The Kiltegan goal coming from a Stephen Kearney free, direct ball into Seanie Furlong, laid off to Rory Finn to score. Kitegan had a onepoint margin at the break, 1-4 to 0-6 and all to play for.
Kiltegan upped their game in the second period and Hollywood found it difficult to find the scores, only managing three to Kiltegan’s 1-6.
But this match wasn’t decided till the final ten minutes, with Anthony Furlong taking a score on 22 minutes to opening up a comfortable three-point gap, Kearney responded for Hollywood, but Kiltegan hit back to take the next two scores through Seanie Furlong and the gap was four points with one minute of normal time to play.
Hollywood were a beaten docket and Anthony Furlong put the game to bed in injury time with a well worked goal, straight down the middle. Padraig O’Toole to his midfield partner Rory Finn, hand pass to Anthony Furlong, who finished with composure. Game over.
Kiltegan keep their Senior status for 2020 and Hollywood drop down to Intermediate.
It’s a known fact that Hollywood have been lacking a few scoring forwards for one reason or another this season. Address this issue and they should bounce back to Senior very soon.
As for Kiltegan, talent and ability wise, perhaps the best Senior football team down the middle. If they could unearth some talent down the wings and build on their squad, they could match any team on their day.
KILTEGAN: Daniel Twyford Troy, Bryan Kearney, Blaine Harmon, John Farrell, Liam Keogh, Stephen Farrell, Colm Keogh, Rory Finn, Padraig O’Toole, Michael Foley, Ciaran Doyle, Aaron Byrne, Steven Coogan, Anthony Furlong, Seanie Furlong.
HOLLYWOOD: Jamie Tutty, Shane Kelly, Harry Wilson, Eoin Burke, Conor Burke, Michael Healy, Harry Houlihan, Cian Tyrrell, Ciaran Tyrell, Robert Houlihan, PJ O’Keeffe, Seanie O’Keeffe, Matthew Kelly, Stephen Kearney, Robert Kelly.