Stars of the Intermediate

Hollywood men prominent

GENERALLY considered the hardest championship of all to win, the Intermediate football battle of 2017 was yet again a hotly contested campaign with the men of Hollywood proving to strong for a gallant Dunlavin in the end.

Given their success and their rapid return to Senior ranks, it’s natural that their players will feature strongly in the Wicklow People’s IFC Team of the Year.

1. Ian Burke (Hollywood): The experienced Burke was excellent in the championship winning Hollywood team in 2017. Confident and safe, he also came up with some vital saves to keep a Dunlavin fightback at bay in the final.

2. Thomas Kearns (Ashford): The young Ashford man is definitely one for the future. A competent defender who can get forward and take a score. A player who will be influential for club and county in years to come.

3. Harry Wilson (Hollywood): The Hollywood full-back has seen his great club form rewarded with the call from John Evans and is settling in well to inter-county action.

Strong and determined, he won a lot of his one on one contests in 2017.

4. Philip O’Neill (Rathnew): The step up to Harry Murphy’s Senior team is next on his to do list. He had a fine year on the Village intermediate team. Full of energy and purpose, he is unquestionably one to watch in 2018 and a promising career beckons.

5. Eoin Murtagh (Dunlavin): The Dunlavin powerhouse had a fine championship and was dominant in Dunlavin’s run to the final. He has become an important player at county level and is always a regular in the squad.

6. Mikie Healy (Hollywood): His man of the match display in the final was memorable. Time and again all summer he broke forward and gave defenders nightmares with his persistent and profitable running game.

7. Peadar Traynor (Hollywood): When injury free his contribution to club and county was first-rate. His movement and energy caused plenty of problems for Hollywood’s opponents

8. Ciaran Tyrrell (Hollywood): The Hollywood man got his deserved rewards in October winning a championship medal. Always gives 100 per cent and drags Hollywood through games when others are struggling. A player you would rather on your side than against you.

9. Padraig Byrne (Ballymanus): The Ballymanus man could have commanded a position in any line. A real threat close to goal and a strong runner with ball in hand. His scoring exploits in 2017 helped the Billies no end.

10. Ed Doyle (Rathnew): The Rathnew scoring machine in 2017. Posted plenty of high tallies as the Village men reached the last four. Possesses a classy left peg and is equally as accurate from play and placed balls.

11. PJ O’Keeffe (Hollywood): Small in stature but a massive player for Hollywood with his ability to run at defences. An unselfish player, he made Hollywood tick in the forward division.

12. Roan Lynch (Ballymanus): The young Ballymanus man always has that moment of magic in his locker. A scorer of great goals and a gifted footballer, an injury free campaign for him could see the Billies go all the way.

13. Cillian Gilligan (Carnew Emmets): The Carnew player is full of tricks, pace and has a lethal left foot. Had a really good first year and made the step up look easy at times. Will be a big player for Carnew in the future.

14. Tony Hannon (Hollywood): The former county star returned to action in 2017 and he made a significant contribution to Hollywood’s great year.

His intelligence and accuracy were vital to what Mick Murray’s men achieved. Possibly still the best dead ball kicker in Wicklow.

15. Aaron Nugent (Ashford): Equally at home with a hurl in his hand, Nugent has now made many sit up and take notice of his footballing ability with some high scoring returns.

His cultured left boot has also earned him a call from John Evans in 2018. GAELIC football fans in Wicklow will never forget Laragh’s magical year of 2017.

Their memorable run through the Junior ‘A’ football championship was capped by their dramatic victory over Kilcoole in the decider.

The scenes when the final whistle sounded were magical as the Laragh men, under the managerial spell of Rathnew’s Decky Byrne, had finally reached the promised land after a long and difficult drought. The celebrations will never be forgotten, or is that remembered?

Following those heroics, a superb victory in Leinster followed, over Kilcavan of Laois and then they ran the eventual Leinster champions, Multyfarnham of Westmeath, close before bowing out.

Here is the 2017 Wicklow People JAFC team of the year

1. Paul Miley (Valleymount):

the former Blessington man had a really great year and is a great addition to the Valleymount squad, clever and experienced.

6. Ronan Keddy (Kilcoole): Better known as a hurler he is a super athlete who has played football at county level. Leaves it all on the field every day.

7. Ciaran McGettigan (St Pat’s): The young St Pats man has bags of talent and was superb in the St Pats team’s run to the quarter final.

8. Damien Hanlon (Laragh): He was unplayable at times around the middle. He can kick long range frees off the ground which was an added bonus for the Laragh men.

Another fine dead ball merchant. Can also score plenty from play and be as good as he wants to be. Part of a very good forward unit for Kilcoole.

13. Mark Miley (Laragh): Lethal when offered goal chances. Regularly found the net during their championship winning campaign, elusive and strong on the ball.

14. Danny Kavanagh (Kilcoole): Every now and again a player comes along that you feel could make a difference and Kavanagh fits this bill. If he is in the mood, then he is almost unplayable close to goal. Almost single handed put Baltinglass to the sword in the semi-final.

15. Derek Kavanagh (Knockananna):