Hollywood do just enough to progress
BLESSINGTON HOLLYWOOD 2-5 0-11
IT was Hollywood by the skin of their teeth in this tense Junior B Football Championship match played at Blessington last Thursday.
The Blues had to win to advance while Hollywood only needed a draw. Hollywood with points from John Burke, Brian Flynn, Colin Tutty and a brace from James Mooney charged into a five points to nil lead after thirteen minutes.
With Philip Dunne at centre back, John Mooney at midfield, Keith Peppard at centre half forward and Brian Flynn and James Mooney in the forward line it looked like the young Blues side were in for a torrid evening as their only equivalent experienced player was Damian Breen.
Nobody saw the next six minutes coming as Stephen Carroll added a point and shortly afterwards Peter O’Connell got on the end of a rebound in the Hollywood square to punch the ball into the Hollywood net.
Immediately afterwards Stephen Carroll hit the post with a rasper with Alan Roddy beaten, however, Sean Mescall was on target a minute later with a cracking goal, so after eighteen minutes Blessington had turned it around to lead by two points, 2-1 to 0-5.
Hollywood regrouped and Thomas Kelly and Keith Peppard added points before half time with Sean Mescall adding a point for the Blues to leave Blessington leading 2-2 to 0-7 at the break.
On the resumption James Mooney immediately levelled the game at 2-2- to 0-8 and the game was tense and tight in the second half and level on four occasions.
It was nip and tuck through the second half, Adam Boland adding a point on four minutes cancelled out shortly afterwards by an Andy Corrigan point.
Adam Boland landed another point on fifteen minutes cancelled out by a Keith Peppard free. Daniel Ryan looked like he had secured a win for Blessington on 28 min- utes however, with time running out John Mooney equalised for Hollywood.
The young Blessington forwards did have several chances to win the game in injury time, one shot coming back off the post and two others landing in the relieved arms of goalkeeper Alan Roddy in the Hollywood goal.
There is no doubt experience and strength told in the end for Hollywood and the young Blessington side can be proud of their efforts in this group, the only loss being to Arklow Geraldines.