EPIC ENCOUNTER
‘Get up off the wet ground,’ says father after flattening son
HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS 3-7 HOLLYWOOD HEROES 2-7
HIGH noon, St. Stephen’s Day, the stars of yesteryear donned the beloved green and gold once again for the ‘Legends’ against the ‘Heroes’ in Hollywood GAA Club.
The Junior ‘B’ champions, who were aided by a few so called Seniors were up against the ‘Legends’ who were unbeaten, going for a two in a row, after destroying the Intermediate champions last christmas in aid of the National School Lip Sync for an all-weather pitch.
The catch was the ‘Heroes’ had to wear wellington boots against the ‘Legends’ outfit whose motto was: ‘Youth is temporary, class is permanent’.
The ‘Legends’ won the toss and played with the aid of a strong wind and got off to a flying start with Darragh Burke splitting the posts for a point followed by another sublime classic point, this time from the trusty left peg of John Traynor who rolled back the years with some fine interlinking play.
The ‘Heroes’ were finding it hard to get to grips, literally, with the sheer pace that the ‘Legends’ applied from the off.
A high ball into the dangerzone from Kevin Traynor was fielded by Paul Clarke, and the former Kilbride supremo, ice cool as you like, rattled the roof of the net from close range to close out the opening quarter.
Harry Wilson and Mikey Healy swapped positions but to no avail as a clinical Brian Keogh major was harvested from the next attack.
A brace of points followed before the half-time whistle sounded with the ‘Legends’ leading 2-4 to no score as the ‘Heroes’ couldn’t break through a well marshalled defence with well over 300 years of experience between them.
Somehow the ‘Legends’ got to play the second half of the game with the aid of the wind again.
Seamus Tutty fired over a brace of points from the wing as the ‘Legends’ drove on after good work by Dermot Clarke and Ger Traynor.
‘Legends’ goalkeeper Pat Dunne, whose only touch of the ball in the first half was when taking a 45 (that came back out of upright), brought a chair into the goals with him for the second period.
The subs were being used abuntdantly by each side, rolled on and rolled off.
Dave Tutty, only back from Dubai, had to go off due to jet-lag, seemingly, as he seemed very fond of staying on the ground, face down at times when in possession of the ball.
His brother Gary was doing the PA ,with running commentary through-out the game, along with some unique on-pitch interviews with players from each side during live play (something Wicklow GAA should consider come championship time).
A master stroke by the ‘Heroes’ yielded their first score with a point after a treble substitution, with noone going off.
Mikey Healy bore down on goal and was met by a brick wall, aka, Dad.
Liam Healy simply took possession of the ball and cleared up the field before telling Mikey to ‘get up of the wet ground, son’.
A lifeline came for the ‘Heroes’ when Colin Tutty fired in a major to cut into the deficit as the ‘Heroes’ found some momentum with the extra manpower.
The Kelly brothers fired over a couple of points before Colin Tutty lashed home a dodgy second major to level the game, however, umpire Breda Foster crossed the flags for a square ball infringement, but to no avail as the referee overruled her, and the goal stood, much to the sound of disgust by the vocal supporters.
Defender Kevin Traynor saw his name in the headlines in next week’s Wicklow People, and went for the winning score, however, his effort went well wide of ball stopping nets never mind the goals.
Conor Burke, in his blue tights (a half smurf accorinding to Gary Tutty), made a slippery run up the pitch and laid of to Colin Tutty whose bullet of a shot was brilliantly tipped out for a 45 by a fully stretched Pat Dunne, a pivotal point of the battle, as we went deep into injury time.
‘Woodwork’ was the roar as the 45 dropped short and one last play was signalled by the referee.
Davy Byrne cleared up to Darragh Burke who dropped a high ball into the dangerzone, where big Alan Kelly claimed to get a touch as the ball sailed into the net as the full-time whistle sounded.
‘Legends’ management of Ger Murphy, Liam Mooney and Johnny Byrne along with captain Darragh Burke accepted the trophy for the second year in a row on behalf of the ‘Legends’.