Granemore 1-10 Killeavy 0-08With the spectre of relegation, which has haunted Killeavy like the sword of Damecles for much of the season, well and truly vanquished, the team could afford to use this match, as well as their last two league games as build up for the championship game with Dromintee. In reality, with the game played on a Friday night, and Armagh still going strong, the team really took this match as relief from the pressure of recent weeks, put their feet up and just enjoyed an hour of pressure free football. The build up for the championship can start from this week on. At least we all hope that is the story, beacuase instead of putting on a refreshing pressure free hour of revitalised football, Killeavy chose to put on a half-heartened, listless and throughly disinterested display against a Granemore side battling for their life in the division.Captain James Duffy was on the injured list, a blow at the best of times, and allied to positive start to the game from Granemore, Killeavy were soon in trouble. Playing a packed defence and a two man full-forward line paid dividends for Granemore, both front men causing real trouble, and the extra defender breaking up a lot of Killeavy attacks. Killeavy were letting the Granemore defence clear the ball far too easily, and thus setting up penetrating attacks. In short, exactly the same pattern as the corresponding game in Killeavy, which Granemore won easily. Granemore got the first two points before Raymond Teggart replied with a free. Granemore then worked the ball through the Killeavy defense to score a goal, and they remained in the driving seat for the rest of the half. Points from Seamus Toner, a real beauty, and one from John McKevitt left Killeavy with a disappointing three points at half-time. Half-Time: Granemore 1-05 Killeavy 0-03Killeavy had the aid of the breeze in the second half, and started to get to grips with the Granemore attack. They battled back and scored some lovely points, Seamus Toner with a powerful run and monster effort from the right wing before John McKevitt showed well for a pass that he swivelled sharply to score. When Raymond Teggart and Gerard Byrne added further scores, Killeavy found themselves only two behind with ten minutes to play. In a great position to come back and win, some poor play from Killeavy resulted in Granemore coming back into a game that was running away from them. This was the most disappointing aspect of the match, as Killeavy failed to show any killer instinct when the game was there clearly to be won.After six wins from seven before this, we will forgive the team this abheration, but preparations for the championship must now get underway in earnest. Full-Time:Granemore 1-10 Killeavy 0-08Killeavy Team: B. Teggart, B. Hannaway(K McArdle(30 mins)), F. Mallon, K. O'Hare, B. McKevitt, P. McArdle, D. McKevitt(G O'Hare(0-1)40 mins), G. Reel, P. Rocks(J Duffy 50mins), M. Connolly, J. McKevitt(0-2), T Kelly , G. Byrne(0-1), S. Toner(0-2) , R. Teggart(0-2, 1f). |