With both sides into the playoffs, each management team was keen to keep their powder dry, so to speak, so Killeavy and Carrickcruppen fielded minus
several of their big guns in Carrickcruppen on Sunday afternoon. It was a blissfully sunny, pleasant day and the pitch was in superb order. With no pressure to
gain points, Killeavy were able to give a game to young players like Kevin McElroy, Gordon Magennis and Patrick Hannaway. All three have had exemplarary training attendance
records this year, and were clearly amongst the sharpest and most effective players on show. Killeavy were quicker out of the blocks, Seamus Toner dispossessing his midfield opponent,
and Killeavy profitted from a close-in free by Adrian Doran. Doran then hit a wonderful point from the sideline, before giving a quick free to Gordon Magennis to pop over another fine point.
Cruppen, for their part were living off free kicks, and their first five points came from frees inside the Killeavy 21 yard line, a statistic the Killeavy management will have to take note of.
Killeavy were probably playing the better football, although they did have a slight wind advantage. They then had a numerical advantage, Gordon Magennis slightly concussed by a high shoulder challenge
to the head by a Cruppen midfielder, who received a red card for his troubles. Two nice points from Gerard Byrne followed, before a close in free from Adrian Doran had Killeavy a point in the lead.
Right on half-time however, Cruppen's centreforward stole behind the Killeavy defence to fire home a goal to give the home side a two point lead at the break.
Half-Time:Carrickcruppen 1-5 Killeavy 0-6
Killeavy had a calamitous start to the second half, Adrian Doran also receiving a red card for booting at the ball as a Cruppen defender was picking it up. With the sides each down to fourteen, Cruppen failed to
make much headway, and the first score of the half was a beautiful strike to the top corner by Kevin McIlroy to put Killeavy back in front. Gerard Byrne got his third point, before Daniel McKevitt kicked a lovely score on the turn.
This had Killeavy well in control, but futher controversy was to follow. Paddy Donnelly was badly injured in a tussle for the ball, a facial injury which could end his season. Whle he was receiving attention, an off the ball incident led to
another Cruppen red card. A meaningless game on paper, both teams were now probably down two players each for the play-offs. Cruppen added only two points in the half, while Kevin McIlroy and Raymond Teggart kicked two further scores for Killeavy to
land their fifth win in a row in the league. These teams may meet again soon, in what will be a much bigger game. Let's hope to see less red cards and injuries in that one.
Full-Time: Carrickcruppen 1-07 Killeavy 1-10
Killeavy Team: M. Teggart, C. Byrne, P. Watters, C. Quinn, P. Donnelly, P. Rocks, P. Hannaway, R. Goodall,
S. Toner, G. Byrne(0-3, 1f), A. Doran(0-3,2f, 1 sideline), G. Magennis(0-1)(J. McKevitt(20mins)), D. McKevitt(0-1), K. McIlroy(1-1), J. Reel(R. Teggart(0-1f)(45mins)).
