Senior Football League Division 2: Ballymacnab 2-08 Killeavy 1-10
Killeavy finally lost their unbeaten record in the league in Ballymacnab on Friday night. A still eveing, perfect for football, saw Killeavy take to the field with a settled backline, but they shuffled their attack,
Gordon Magennis making hs first league start for Killeavy at half forward, while Gareth O'Hare returned to the side at corner forward after injury. There were a few things that didn't bode well for Killeavy before the
game. Ballymacnab were playing on their home patch for the first time in six months, and the sound of the national anthem ringing out before the game showed the home side were really up for it. Killeavy were coming off a
very easy home game and were also possibly distracted by the big Clann Eireann the next week, which will probably now be postponed.
Ballymacnab were a youthful, mobile side, and their movement up front and especially in midfield saw the usually water-tight backline coming under some sustained pressure. Ballymacnab hit the first two or three scores before Killeavy
began to get a grip on things. James Duffy and Ronan Goodall began to dominate their smaller opponents in midfield, while Barry McKevitt and co. in defence were suddenly getting the better of things. Based on this platform, Killeavy
went on to kick four very bad wides before troubling the scorers, Raymie Teggart striking a sweet point from thirty yards. Gordon Magennis, who distinguished himself on his league debut added a second, and with Anthony O'Hare having his best game
to date in a Killeavy jersey at full forward, things seemed to be coming together nicely. However, a period of missed goal opportunities followed. A stunning move, involving ordon Magennis, and Anthony O'Hare placed John McKevitt to cannon a shot off the
inside of the goalpost and back out into play. Anthony O'Hare then had a shot into the sidenetting, while a hasty blown free by the referee, denied Raymie Teggart an easy goal chance, the resulting free scant consolation, although Teggart converted it for
a point.
In a game that swung one way, then the other, Ballymacnab hit a superb goal from a running midfielder to snatch the lead. At last Killeavy finally hit the net to respond, excellent work from Gary Reel and Gareth O'Hare giving John McKevitt a straight run on
goal which he buried. A monstrous free from the ground from long range saw Ballymacnab go in at half with a one point lead.
Half-Time: Ballymacnab 1-05 Killeavy 1-04.
Handily placed to take the game by the scruff of the neck, Killeavy proceeded to let Ballymacnab have by far the better of the first fifteen minutes of the second half. Quicker to the break ball on the tight pitch 'Nab hit a few wides , but their number eight hit
two more fantastic long range frees. Some poor Killeavy defensive work saw the quick corner forward nip in for a Ballymacnab goal, and Killeavy were five behind with ten minutes to play. Suddenly Killeavy sprang to life, having been asleep for most of the second half.
A great move set up by the goalkeeper saw Anthony O'Hare bang over a fine score. Substitute Toner then answered the call and hit a point. Gareth O'Hare then flicked a long ball just over the bar, before Anthony O'Hare banged over another great point. It was a complete
transformation, but came just too late. Colm Byrne busted his guts to push up for a last gasp point from halfback and could have had a free for the equaliser, but it all came just too late.
Full-Time: Ballymacnab 2-08 Killeavy 1-10.
Killeavy Team: J. Maguire, S. Stokes(K O'Hare(45mins)), B. McKevitt, C. Quinn, P. Donnelly, L. O'Hare, C. Byrne(0-1), R. Goodall(S. Toner(45mins)(0-1)) , J. Duffy,
G. McGuinness(0-1)(P. McArdle(50mins)), G. Reel(0-1), R. Teggart(0-2, 1f), J. McKevitt(1-0), A. O'Hare(0-3),G. O'Hare(0-1).
