Hollywood survive to set up collision with Avoca

HOLLYWOOD ENNISKERRY 2-12 2-11

THE second Junior ‘B’ football championship semi-final between Hollywood and Enniskerry, played at Ballinakill on Wednesday night last, finished in a welter of excitement.

With the game in the sixth minute of time added in the second period, Enniskerry were lining up to take a 13-metre free in front of goal.

On the referee’s score line, Hollywood were two points up. A goal would win the game. Gavin Barton shot for the underside of the crossbar. The packed goal line tipped the ball over the bar and Hollywood had survived.

The game was played in ideal conditions for the most part before a large attendance of partisan supporters for both sides. A heavy drizzle began to fall in the last quarter, but most people didn’t notice that.

Enniskerry have tried hard to win this competition in recent years but have fallen at the final hurdle on a couple of occasions. They made the early running on Wednesday night and had two points on the board in the first two minutes.

Brendan Barton lofted over a great point from the left wing and wing forward Colm Nolan followed up immediately with another.

Hollywood had yet to enter Enniskerry territory but when they did the accurate James Mooney landed their first point.

A great run through the middle by Hollywood midfielder Nathan O’Sullivan, when he gave to Brian Flynn, took the return and shot over the bar brought the sides level after five minutes.

Brian Flynn put the western side ahead with a point and one minute later he scored the first goal of the game.

He took a pass from Jack Cullen and his shot across the goalmouth went in off the post. Hollywood were now four points up after seven minutes.

The Enniskerry reply was swift. Centre forward Gavin Barton, who was getting on a lot of ball and beginning to cause problems for the Hollywood defence, went through the middle and netted Enniskerry’s first goal.

The ‘to and fro’ nature of the game continued, and Hollywood came back again with a Colin Tutty point in the 12th minute and should have had a goal when a James Mooney shot came back off the butt of the post.

It was well contested stuff now as both sides vied for supremacy. Gavin Barton continued to torment the Hollywood defence when he goaled again for the Black and Amber men.

They were now a point up, but a James Mooney pointed free levelled matters again on the quarter hour. The game swung towards Enniskerry in the second quarter and Gavin Barton had two points (one from a free).

Alan King pointed, Craig Williams pointed a 45 and Colm Nolan had his second point of the half just before the break. Hollywood’s only scoring response in the second quarter came with a point from play by James Mooney.

There was no score for either side in the first ten minutes of the second half. Enniskerry were playing a holding, possession game in the middle third of the field and seemed content to try and hold their lead without making too much effort to add to their score.

It seemed to work for a while but once Hollywood got their first point from a James Mooney free after ten minutes, the game began to change. Harry Houlihan added another point to reduce the leeway.

Brendan Barton, who up to now in the second half had looked an isolated and forlorn figure up front for Enniskerry, scored a great point when he lofted over from a very narrow angle. Back came Hollywood with a point from substitute Philip Dunne and James Mooney reduced the lead to the minimum with a point from a sixteenth minute free.

The decisive score came after 20 minutes when John Mooney rose highest in the crowded goalmouth to punch home the second Hollywood goal. Sub Keith Peppard and Mooney again added two points and Hollywood appeared to be running out comfortable winners.

However, Enniskerry came back strongly in an effort to save the game. Gavin Barton, who had been well marshalled for the second half kicked over Enniskerry’s second point of the period just as the game entered time added on.

In a very exciting final six minutes Hollywood sub Andrew Corrigan got their final score. Enniskerry pressed hard and the game finished with every player on the field inside the Hollywood 13-metre line. Gavin Barton’s free went over and that was that.

Hollywood were deserving winners if only for the fact that they scored 1-7 to 0-3 in the second half. Enniskerry had a disappointing second half and left it too late to attempt to rescue the game.

Scorers - Hollywood: James Mooney 0-5, Brian Flynn 1-1, John Mooney 1-1, Nathan O’Sullivan, Colin Tutty, Harry Houlihan, Philip Dunne, Keith Peppard and Andrew Corrigan 0-1 each.

Enniskerry: Gavin Barton 2-4, Brendan Barton 0-2, Colm Nolan 0-2, Alan King 0-1 and Craig Williams 0-1.

Jamie Tutty; Kevin Cullen, Stephan Burke, Harry Houlihan; Thomas Kelly, Ross Tyrell, Conal Byrne; Nathan O’Sullivan, Liam Callanan; Dan Burke, John Mooney, Jack Cullen; James Mooney, Brian Flynn, Colin Tutty. Subs: Philip Dunne, Keith Peppard, Ciaran Corrigan, Andrew Corrigan.

Ian Kirwan; Mark Mullins, Seamus O’Gorman, James Maloney; Luke Dalton, Dan Kelly, Stephan Cahill; Craig Williams, Eoin Corrigan; Colm Nolan, Gavin Barton, Rhys Cope; Jack Conroy, Alan King, Brendan Barton. Subs: Tom Egan, Luke Dillon.

Darragh Byrne (Ballymanus)