Mooney hits right notes for Hollywood
HOLLYWOOD AVONDALE 1-13 1-11
FOR a long time this Philip Doyle Junior ‘B’ Football Championship encounter, played at Avondale on Thursday last between Avondale and Hollywood looked likely to end in a draw.
James Mooney of Hollywood, who scored 12 points for the men from the west, proved to be the major difference between the two sides.
Ian Heffernan who contributed seven points to the Avondale total was equally effective for his side but the Hollywood defence had the better of exchanges and were less inclined to give away scorable frees.
Exchanges were evenly balanced throughout the first half and it was tit for tat on the scoreboard with Avondale holding a one point lead at the break 1-6 to 1-5.
Both sides were inclined to play an inter-passing, running game with defenders from both sides moving freely into attack in support of passing movements.
Midfield was evenly balanced even though the ageless Seamus McGraynor handled a lot of ball and seldom put it astray.
A James Mooney point in the second minute was equalised two minutes later by Ross O’Sullivan. Jack Manley put the home side ahead with the simplest of goals in the sixth minute.
Hollywood net-minder Jamie Tutty fielded a lob into the goalmouth and, as he moved out to clear, the incoming Manley tipped the ball from his grasp over the line.
James Mooney and overlapping corner back Harry Houlihan reduced the gap to a point before Ian Heffernan converted the first of his pointed frees to extend the Avondale lead again.
Just on the quarter hour, Hollywood scored a fine goal.
A bout of inter passing in the forward line put corner forward Colin Tutty through to shoot into an empty net.
James Mooney immediately added a point and now Hollywood were ahead.
The next four points all went to Avondale. Full-forward Colm Pursey scored from play, Ian Heffernan converted two frees and Pursey again scored a neat point from the ground to leave the home side ahead by two points coming to the break. A pointed free by James Mooney left Avondale just one point ahead at the break 1-6 to 1-5.
Scores were slow to come in the early stages of the second half.
While Ross O’Sullivan put Avondale two points ahead in the first minute, it was a further ten minutes before James Mooney had a Hollywood score, a point from a free.
He pointed another free three minutes later to bring the sides level at 1-7 each.
By the 21st minutes Ian Heffer- nan and James Mooney had added two points apiece to leave the game still all square at 1-9 each.
Heffernan added two more points over the next five minutes (one a fisted effort) but Hollywood put on a lot of pressure over the final ten minutes.
James Mooney continued to deliver the goods and added four points on the trot to help Hollywood run out two point winners after four minutes of added time.
Hollywood scored eight points in the second half.
James Mooney scored them all. He was the difference at the end of the day.
Final score: Hollywood 1-13, Avondale 1-11.
Scorers – Hollywood: James Mooney 0-12, Colin Tutty 1-0, Harry Houlihan 0-1.
Avondale: Ian Heffernan 0-7, Ross Merry O’Sullivan 0-2, Jack Manley 1-0, Colin Pursey 0-2.
Jamie Tutty; Kevin Cullen, Stephen Burke, Harry Houlihan; Paul Kelly, Ross Tyrell, Conal Byrne; Kevin Murphy, Nathan O’Sullivan; Dan Burke, John Mooney, Jack Cullen; James Mooney, Brian Flynn, Colin Tutty. Subs: Keith Peppard for Colin Tutty, Liam Callinan for Kevin Cullen BC.
Joe Kennedy; Stephen Langan, Conor Sheehan, Harrison Penn; Karl Phelan, James Busher, Ciaran Penn; Anthony Byrne, Seamus McGraynor; Jack Manley, Darren Beaver, Donal McGraynor; Ross Merry O’Sullivan, Colm Pursey, Ian Heffernan. Subs: Shane Birch, Mikey O’Dea, Paul McGraynor.
Gerry Corbett.