U-21 Championship Killeavy 1-09 Dromintee 2-10
When is a home tie not a home tie? Apparently when the referee decides to switch the game to the opponent's venue on the morning of the game. There was no member of
Killeavy present when the decision was made two hours before throw-in, however there was a Dromintee official present in Killeavy at the time.
Weather conditions were apocalyptic, driving wind and rain the order of the day. Killeavy played with the gale in the opening period and were in the ascendacy from
the throw-in. A free from halfway was belted over by Barry McKevitt, on the start of what was a fine kicking display from the Killeavy midfielder. He followed that effort up with a sideline
free from halfway that bounced its way over the bar. Killeavy were winning fifty fifty ball all over the field and profitting from the possession, accurate from long range frees throughout the half.
Gerard Byrne fired one over from forty, before adding another from fifty yards. Dromintee were in shock, and didn't offer much in attack. Two more monster frees from Barry McKevitt saw Killeavy gain a six point lead,
and better was to follow, a long ball in from Gary Reel deceiving the Dromintee keeper to find the net. Killeavy maintained their dominance right until the break, Paddy Hannaway kicking an excellent free before Barry Magee
kicked a lovely point on the turn to leave Killeavy eleven nil up at the interval.
Half-Time: Killeavy 1-08 Dromintee 0-00
A Dromintee backlash was expected at the start of the second half, but they still looked rudderless for the first five minutes. Indeed frustrations were boiling over when their manager was sent off the pitch by the referee for
dissent. The game turned on the introduction from the line of Miceal O'Rourke after thirty five minutes. By this stage another Barry McKevitt free had Killeavy twelve in front. A long hopeful ball from Dromintee to the edge of the square
broke to Miceal O'Rourke to fire Dromintee's opening score to the the net. Fromt he kickout another long ball was punched over by the full - forward before O'Rourke scored the first of six second half frees. Another goal swiftly followed, and
from an unassailable lead Killeavy had conceded 2-2 in five minutes and were looking vulnerable. Free after free followed from the accurate boot of O'Rourke in the final twenty minutes as Killeavy, like their counterparts couldn't make any impression
into the hurricane force wind. It was an extremely disappointing end on a day that started so brightly for Killeavy. The weather conditions at this time of year made a mockery of the game, and the county board will have to look at playing these matches
at some time other than the dead of winter.
Lots of good performances from Killeavy, especially round half back and midfield but Miceal O'Rourke stole the headlines with a suerb display of accurate shooting from frees.
Full-Time: Killeavy 1-09 Dromintee 2-10
Killeavy Team: B. Cromie, C. Quinn, R. Sheridan, S. Stokes, P. Donnelly, G. Reel(1-0), P. Hannaway, P. Rocks, B. McKevitt(0-6, 5f),
G. Magennis(D. O'Hanlon(50 mins)), S. Toner, J. Watters, G. Byrne(0-2, 2f), K. McElroy, B. Magee(0-1).
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