Fighting for a Final

 Holloway Gaels: 11-07
 KKG: 1-09

Control the Controllables
A heavy Downhills Park hosted the final group game of the 2020 Championship for Holloway on Saturday October 17th . Whilst many outlets were preparing for a Parnells – Round Towers Final the following weekend, the Gaels were set on creating a stir and were not giving up their chance of a final easily. The variables were known (we’d need a significant win and for Parnells to beat Round Towers in their group encounter) and goals, goals, goals were the order of the day. Holloway got off to a blistering start with a goal from the boot of Car Mac at full forward after great work from wing-forward Charlotte Faughnan. This is the third time in the group stages that Holloway have started off with a goal in the opening sequence and highlights the speed and skill of the girls in red. Charlotte added a point herself in the first half whilst midfield maestro Cliona made a powerful run through the centre to slot over a point of her own. Car Mac added a further two points from play but it was the Marian O’Donnell show in Downhills on Saturday and her performance, as always, was top class. The Sligo woman rattled the KKG net three times in the first half…..and she was only getting started. KKG were not sitting back and letting Holloway run away with the game however and had a number of strong players who created many chances for the visitors. Solid performances from the Holloway backs thwarted many attacks but the girls in green and gold managed 1-06 of their own in the opening half. Score line at half time had Holloway leading 4-04 to 1-06. Holloway were going in the right direction but needed a lot more scores to be in with a shout for the final.

Second-Half Dominance
Holloway hit a purple patch after the half time huddle racking up 3-02 in the opening 15 minutes whilst keeping the opposition scoreless. Huge credit to the unshakeable backs and keeper during this period. Holloway were a woman up for much of this half and played fast surging football to keep the KKG players on the back foot. However, it wouldn’t be long after the second half water break when Holloway would have to deal with being a player down themselves after Eoin Kelly showed Hanley the yellow card for dangerous play (So soz gals!). The girls in red and black were not phased and pushed on to score a further 4-01 in the latter stages of the second half to ensure a Holloway victory on a score line of 11-07 to 1-09 at the final whistle. After a tense wait, the phone call from Greenford came with confirmation that Holloway had done enough to secure a Championship Final spot.

#extraordinarycircumstances

Panel & Management: A.Clifford, E.Murphy, R.Hunt, C.Flanagan, C. O’Murchadha Flynn, M.Jordan, S.Grozotis, C.Twohig (1-02), C.Hanley, E.Mulhern, C. Faughnan (0-01), S. Walshe , K.O’Brien, C.McCarthy (3-04), M. O’Donnell (7-00), S.Kerins, A.Walsh, G.Cahalane, N.Kelly, S. O’Sullivan, ME. Cannon, E.deCaires, L.Keane, K.Bradshaw, C.Brosnan, S.Colleran, AM.Micallef, T.Adams, A.Greene,
C.McElhinney, J.Day

Huge thanks again to Aileen, Caitriona and Holland on the side-line, to Stevie for
umpiring (& getting grief from the ref) and to our merry band of supporters including
Liv and Katrina (looking forward to seeing ye in a Holloway shirt soon).

Witten by C.Hanley

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