THE passion went into every play in the Wicklow end of season final at Ballyhenry Polo Club saw the tournament bear fruit for the Keelings’ team that worked for every goal since coming together in late July.

The line-out could not have been better with Caroline Keeling, Michael Connolly, Siobhan Herbst and Diego Vargas taking the reins in a round-robin of cumulative scoring throughout the tournament.

On the line for rivals Horseware though were Tom MacGuinness, James Connolly, Barry Finnegan and Emily Beere.

LHK’s Colm Kelleher, Robert Patton, Alejo Tagle and Alejandro Guevara were in the lead in the first leg of the tournament, winning two matches out of three to one from Keeling’s while Horseware straggled behind without a single win.

James Connolly turned in a spectacular goal just at the end of their first match against LHK, a backhand on the diagonal crossing 180 yards of open ground and more than enough for the lead on 2.5 to one on top of the bonus handicap adjustment.

It was clear though when Keeling’s secured two wins against Horseware and LHK respectively in the finals that practise sessions as a team paid off.

“Playing with a team is very good, it really makes the game,” said Caroline Keeling.“It is great playing with nice horses and with Mike (Michael Connolly).”

Horseware failing to win any one of their matches throughout the tournament may have been down to the close marking of James Connolly employed by LHK’s Colm Kelleher and Alejandro Guevara, at times double-teaming him to block his forward momentum. Connolly’s tried and tested open-ground run before hitting out to a well positioned teammate may have been rumbled.

“It’s playing the same team every week that makes a big difference, and being able to practise together and work on set plays and positions definitely helps,” said Michael Connolly. “It has made a big difference and it is great to see players like Keelan (McCarthy from NIPC) and Jock (Thompson of Waterford Polo Club) coming through. There are a lot of young players that will hopefully get to two, three and four goals (handicap).

While two-goal tournaments have been the norm for quite some time, any four-goal tournaments have been scarce on the ground. The hope among the stronger players, including the three-goal handicapped Michael Connolly is that younger players as they improve their skills and team play will move up through the ranks.

Keeling’s beat Horseware in the finals with eight goals to 7.5 and LHK on three goals to two to earn tournament win.

LHK won their final against Horseware on nine goals to 3.5 for second place.