St Pat’s and Hollywood share spoils

Duffy saves the day for Pat’s

ST PATRICK’S HOLLYWOOD 0-11 0-11

LAST year’s Intermediate football champions, Hollywood, have gotten off to a good start in the 2018 Arklow Bay Hotel Division 1 football League.

Last time out, they played host to beaten county Senior football finalists Blessington and picked up their first two league points.

On Saturday last, they made the long journey across the gap to St Patricks’ home on Dunbur Road in Wicklow Town and came away with another league point when the sides finished level on a scoreline of 0-11 each.

Given the terrible weather we have had in recent times, the pitch in Dunbur Park was a credit to the St Pats’ club.

Saturday afternoon was cold but dry and sunny and conditions were as good as anywhere for a late February football game.

This was St Patrick’s first outing in the league and Hollywood settled well in the early stages, presumably benefiting from their outing last week.

Midfielder Cian Tyrell had their first point after two minutes from about 30 metres.

Hollywood continued their early dominance, but had a lucky escape when Jordan Pettigrew got his hand to the ball close to goal but it rebounded from the upright.

Garrett Bell added the westerners’ second point after eight minutes.

By now, St Pat’s had moved full-forward Stephen Duffy outfield to operate in a roving role in the middle third of the field.

Duffy began to handle a lot of the ball and the St Pats’ half backs and midfielders began carrying the ball forward.

The Hollywood defence began to come under increasing pressure and St Pat’s forwards began to find the range.

They scored five points in a row from the time Tommy Kelly opened their account after 13 minutes.

Kelly again scored one minute later and was followed by Stephen Duffy who scored a point a minute over the next three minutes – two of them from frees.

At this stage Pat’s led by 0-5 to 0-2 and were looking comfortable. Garrett Bell from a free and Robert Kelly from play had Hollywood just one point adrift with five minutes left in the half.

Tommy Kelly and Stephen Duffy pushed the Pat’s lead back up to three points as half-time approached. Hollywood full-forward Stephen Kearney reduced the gap to two points when he converted a free in the first minute of added time. Half-time: St Pat’s 0-7, Hollywood 0-5.

St Pat’s were turning over to play the second half into the clubhouse goal and, based in their first half display, the expectation may have been that Hollywood would struggle.

The opposite proved to be the case. Hollywood immediately took the game to Pat’s.

The westerners had drawn level by eight minutes with their points from Stephen Kearney and Garrett Bell.

Another point from Kearney, following a Pat’s mess up of a short kick-out, plus a point from Robert Kelly had Hollywood two points up after 12 minutes.

The westerners were very dominant at this stage and looked like they might drive on to victory.

Eamon Wolfe stopped the rot for Pat’s when he pointed from play. Immediately Stephen Kear- ney responded when he flicked a high ball over the head of the advancing Ian Murphy in the Pat’s goal.

Unfortunately for Hollywood the ball just cleared the crossbar. A Tommy Kelly point reduced the Hollywood lead back to the minimum.

Matt Kelly had a great chance to put the game away when he found himself one on one with goalie Ian Murphy but the Pat’s custodian proved himself equal to the task in hand and saved the day for St Pat’s.

Stephen Duffy levelled matters from a free with three minutes left. Kearney again put Hollywood ahead as the game entered added time but Stephen Duffy pointed a free with the last kick of the game to leave both sides getting a share of the spoils.

Hollywood will be disappointed in that they probably left a league point behind them, whereas Pat’s were glad to survive their second half fade out.

Scorers - Hollywood: Stephen Kearney 0-5, Garrett Bell 0-3, Robert Kelly 0-2, Cian Tyrell 0-1.

St Patrick’s: Stephen Duffy 0-6, Tommy Kelly 0-4, Eamon Wolfe 0-1.

– Ian Burke; Keith Traynor, Eoin Burke, Shane Kelly; Conor Burke, Mikey Healy, Robert Kelly; Cian Tyrell, Ciaran Tyrell; Peader Traynor, Matt Kelly, Robert Houlihan; Garrett Bell, Stephen Kearney, Sean O’Keeffe. Subs: Thomas Kelly for Ciaran Tyrell.

Ian Murphy; Eli Graham, Wayne Doyle, Padraig Higgins; Simon Bouchier, Conor Ffrench, Paddy O’Kane; Johnny Delahaunt, Paudge McWalter; Jack Dunne, Eamon Wolfe, Shane Morley; Jordan Pedigrew, Stephen Duffy, Tom Kelly. Subs: Ronan Murray for Simon Bouchier, Rossa Marron for Eli Graham, Paul O’Brien for Jack Dunne, Cian Reynolds for Paddy O’Kane.

John O’Brien.