Conditions were fabulous in Killeavy for the opening game of the league against Ballymacnab on Sunday afternoon. A light breeze up the field cooled the players from the bright sunshine, as the
home team bid to lay down a marker in a league they feel they should have won promotion from last year. The game started well, Paul Watters winning the throw-in, and playing it up to
Stephen McDonnell at full-forward who turned and pointed from thirty yards. This started a complete procession of scores for Killeavy, who completely dominated Ballymacnab in the opening period.
A whirlwind move saw Gerard Byrne fist home a cross to an empty net. The goal was disallowed for square ball, but it merely proved to be a stay of execution. Another forward move saw Gerard Byrne cross for
Darren O'Hanlon to fre home the opening goal. This was O'Hanlon's debut for the senior team, and his strength and direct running caused endless problems for the swamped Ballymacnab defence. Further points from
Gerard Byrne, Seamus Toner and Stephen McDonnell had Killeavy in front by a distance. The long early ball was paying dividends, and Seamus Toner fielded everything that came hs way, laying off scores for the rest
of the forward line. He took another long ball from Barry McKevitt to place Darren O'Hanlon for his second goal. As if it was Groundhog day, Toner won the next ball in, laid it to O'Hanlon who was hauled down this
time before he could finish off his hat-trick. McDonnell fired home the penalty. Further points came from O'Hanlon, Raymond Teggart and Gary Reel who covered every blade of grass from half-back, and had a great hour.
Killeavy also had Sean O'Hanlon making his debut in goal and he acquitted himself excellently, making a great stop and several of hs clearances ended up in points for Killeavy at the other end of the field.
Half-Time:Killeavy 3-08 Ballymacnab 0-01
Paul Watters retired hurt and hs place was taken by Anthony O'Hare. O'Hare and Raymond Teggart brought excellent saves from the Ballymacnab keeper. Killeavy's attack wasn't just as fluid in the second half, but
eventually points came from McDonnell and Stanfield, before McDonnell cracked home another fine goal. Ballymacnab had the breeze, and were more competitive in the second half, scoring half a dozen points, but really
were never in the match. O'Hanlon, McDonnell and substitute Paddy Hannaway all hit points to finish off the scoring bonanza. This was a good start to the league campaign, many good performances all over the field, but
a tougher game would have been more benificial, with some big games coming up quickly, and the match with Carrickcruppen should be a cracker next Sunday. Lets hope Killeavy and new manager David Reilly can keep the momentum going.
Full-Time: Killeavy 4-13 Ballymacnab 0-07
Killeavy Team: S. O'Hanlon, C. Quinn, F. Mallon, K.O'Hare, G. Reel(0-1)(P. Donnelly(50mins)), B. McKevitt, L. O'Hare, P. Watters(A O'Hare(28mins), J. Duffy,
R. Teggart(0-1),M. Stanfield(0-1)(K. Martin (55mins)), D. O'Hanlon(2-2), G. Byrne(0-1)(P. Hannaway(0-1)(40 mins)), S.McDonnell(2-5, 2f, 1pen.), S. Toner(0-1)(J. McKevitt(44mins)).
