Killeavy 1-08 Keady 1-07

After the debacle of last week against Cullaville, Killeavy were back at home on Friday night to face Keady in yet another crucial league encounter. The game was played on the old field in great dry conditions, without a breath of wind. Killeavy shuffled the pack for this one, Gary Reel and Tony Kelly promoted from defence to the half-forward line to bring greater speed and penetration, while John McKevitt started at full forward and Michael Connolly got a start at corner forward.
Killeavy were clearly the better side in the opening quarter, with Gerard Byrne and John McKevitt winning an ocean of ball in the inside forward line, possession set up by a strong platform, with James Duffy in utter control of midfield and some intelligent passing from Paul McArdle at centreback and Gary Reel at centreforward. The problems of poor shooting reared its ugly head again, however, with a host of easy chances missing the mark. Keady opened the scoring with a free, before Gerard Byrne replied with a free of his own. Killeavy then worked some fabulous points, interspersed with some glaring misses. John McKevitt gave Killeavy the lead, before Paul McArdle got the point of the game, a good move out of defence, and an intelligent crossfield ball leaving McArdle to score from forty yards. Michael Connolly got another fine point, and Keady kept in touch with two good long range points from play.Then came the crucial moment of the match. Tony Kelly picked up a ball on the right wing sixty yards from goal and embarked on a solo run. Such was the acceleration of the teenager, that he simply breezed past three defenders and kept going and going. Ten yards out and just reaching top speed, he guided a beautiful drive past the Keady stopper for a true wonder goal. Gary Reel hit another beautiful point on the run with half-time closing in to give Killeavy a five point advantage. This could easily have been ten, but for some shocking wides.

Half-Time: Killeavy 1-05 Keady 0-03

Chris Hickey, back from his round the world jaunt entered the fray at half-time for the injured Karl O'Hare, while the lack of a recognised free taker meant that Michael Connolly was sacrificed for Paddy Hannaway. Whereas Killeavy were on top in the opening half, the second half was a huge letdown. The team played no constructive football whatsoever, any forward play blighted not by wide balls, but the much greater evil of dropping the ball short to the keeper and fullback. At least six shots failed to go dead, while another three or four were blocked and landed short of the target. Keady had two or three very quick runners from the middle of the field and used these players effectively on the break from all the attacking breakdowns Killeavy suffered. This put the defence under untold pressure and good performances were needed in the fullback line from Finbar Mallon and Conor Quinn in particular to stem a wave of Keady attacks. Killeavy's cause was also helped by some very poor wides from the Keady forward line.
Nevertheless, with a string of attacks Keady were soon back in the hunt. A long hopeful ball was snapped up by a forward to fire a low shot to the Killeavy net and leave only a point between the sides. A good long range free from Gerard Byrne stopped the rot, before he scored an amazing point on the run from the right corner. Keady matched these points but just couldn't get the all-important equaliser, and another free from Gerard Byrne gave Killeavy just enough breathing space to crawl over the line.
Another important victory means its five wins from six for Killeavy, but its very apparent they need the likes of Barry Duffy(injured) and Adrian Doran(honeymoon) back in the side to fire on all cylinders. One win from the last five should see Killeavy safe. Hopefully that will come at home to Ballyhegan on Sunday.

Full-Time:Killeavy 1-08 Keady 1-07

Killeavy Team: B. Teggart, C. Byrne, F. Mallon, C. Quinn, B. McKevitt, P. McArdle(0-1), K. O'Hare(C. Hickey(30 mins)(K. McArdle(50 mins)), J. Duffy, P. Rocks, S. Carroll, , G. Reel(0-1), T Kelly(1-0) , G. Byrne(0-4, 2f), J. McKevitt(0-1), M. Connolly(0-1)(P. Hannaway(30mins)).

BACK

(0-1_