Senior Football League Division 2: Killeavy 2-15 Ballyhegan 0-03
Killeavy hosted Ballyhegan on Sunday afternoon on a pleasant sunny, warm day. Having started the league with seven points from eight, and after a useful challenge game with Cooley during the week,
Killeavy were in confident mood against the pointless Ballyhegan. Indeed, it looked bleak for the visitors before the start, down their highly influential county contingent, and with a threadbare squad
of sixteen players. Killeavy dominated from the outset, on top in all areas, and playing with the breeze were probably a little slack in putting the game to bed early.
James Duffy was gobbling up everything in the middle of the field, but Killeavy failed to get much good interplay between half back and the forward line. This was an area of their play that has improved
recently, but suffered a minor relapse on Sunday.
Most of their first half scores came when the forwards were strong in the tackle, dispossessing the Ballyhgan backline, or forcing them into poor clearances.
After the customary volley of wides to start the game, Gary Reel, looking at home in the forward line, scored a fine point, closely followed by points from Seamus Toner and Adrian Doran, two players back to
full health after recent injuries. Raymond Teggart, another player back from injury, was on song, scoring well from frees and play throughout the afternoon. He scored two points, sandwiched by another score from Gary Reel.
The backline is looking really strong this year, and had a vicelike hold on the Ballyhegan attack. Stuart Stokes took a ball on his own fifty to run to the far end and set up a score for Raymond Teggart.
Despite scoring twice, Ballyhegan were demoralised, and only a wholehearted display from their keeper and fullback line curtailed the scoreline. Nevertheless, Anthony O'Hare poached his first goal of the the year shortly before
the half to really twist the knife.
Half-Time: Killeavy 1-07 Ballyhegan 0-02.
Eight points up going into the second half, an Adrian Doran goal on the restart put the game beyond all doubt. Killeavy were in complete control, Ballyhegan failing to register a score in the second half.
Good to see the introduction of Paul Watters, a man injured since the start of the year, and the selection issues that face the Killeavy management in all sectors is beginning to grow as more players return from injury.
The second half performance was sharper from the home team, and the game petered out to a close. Seamus Toner had a fine second period, although he still looks some way off full fitness. Hard to know how much Killeavy can take from
the game apart from the two points. With a tough championship game in a fortnight, they were hoping for a tougher challenge. However, keep the victories coming!!!
Full-Time: Killeavy 2-15 Ballyhegan 0-02.
Killeavy Team: J. Maguire, S. Stokes, B. McKevitt, C. Quinn, P. Donnelly(D. Lee(45mins)), L. O'Hare, C. Byrne,R. Goodall(R Trainor(35mins)) , J. Duffy,
A. Doran(1-1)(P McArdle(45mins)(0-1)), G. Reel(0-2), R. Teggart(0-5, 2f), J. McKevitt(0-1)(P Watters(45mins)), A. O'Hare(1-1)(P. Hannnaway(55mins)), S.Toner(0-4).
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