After the two week holiday break, Killeavy were eager to atone for their woeful display in Ballymacnab last time out, when Cruppen arrived in Killeavy on Sunday night.
Conditions were perfect for football, and Killeavy had a strong squad to pick from, Stevie McDonnell and Mark Stanfield now back in club football for the rest of the year.
Stanfield started on the bench, while Stevie was on the 40. Conor Quinn returned at corner back after a long absence, while Anthony O'Hare also returned from ankle trouble.
Killeavy got off to a great start, a free from Gerard Byrne settling the side. O'Hare then pulled up with his ankle again troubling him, and was replaced by Stephen Malone.
Malone, studying in England, didn't even have his name on the teamsheets at the start of the season, but has returned to dramatic effect. His first action was to play a ball in to
Seamus Toner at full forward, sprint to take the return pass and lash a great shot to the roof of the Cruppen net. Malone and Toner were irrepressible in the opening half, tormenting
an overworked Cruppen defence, Malone scoring 1-2, while Toner ran up three consecutive points and set up at least three more, with some terrific fielding and distribution from the edge of the square.
Cruppens goal came after ten minutes, O'Hanlon making a fine save for Killeavy, but the ball bounced to the net off a Killeavy player, keeping Cruppen in the hunt. However, Killeavy went on a real scoring spree,
Toner's three points followed up by scores from James Duffy, Malone and Gerard Byrne. McDonnell eventually got in on the scoring act as well, banging over two points in a minute. Both sides almost added further goals,
but the Cruppen keeper made a great save from Justin Reel, while at the other end, a shot for goal clipped the Killeavy bar and went over. Killeavy went in at the break well worth their eight point lead.
Half-Time:Killeavy 1-10 Carrickcruppen 1-02
After an explosive opening half, Killeavy played a lacklustre second. Early on they gave away possession around their half back line on at least half a dozen occasions, but Cruppen couldn't capitalise,
kicking three wides and dropping four balls into Sean O'Hanlon who had a fine game in goal for Killeavy. Killeavy also deviated from the effective long ball to Toner and their attack suffered because of it.
Nevertheless points from Malone , McDonnell and the newly-introduced Stanfield, meant Killeavy maintained their eight point advantage fifteen minutes into the half. Cruppen eventually got their act together in front of goal,
to chip over a few scores, but the goals they so badly needed never materialised. McDonnell finished the game strongly for Kileavy, banging over a fifty before picking up the break form the kickout and firing over
a great point from the right wing. This was a super two points for Killeavy, with some great football in the first half especially, and it was heartening to see a very strong bench available. It will be important to follow this result
up, as they face a very difficult away game in Newtownhamilton next week.
Full-Time: Killeavy 1-15 Carrickcruppen 1-09
Killeavy: S O'Hanlon, K Martin, F Mallon, C Quinn, G Reel,P Watters, L O’Hare, J Reel, J Duffy(0-1), A O'Hare, S McDonnell(0-5, 1 50), C Hickey, G Byrne (0-2, 1f),
S Toner(0-3), A Doran. Subs: S Malone(1-3) for A O’Hare(10 mins), M Stanfield(0-1) for J Reel(40 mins) , P Hannaway for G Byrne (50 mins), P Donnelly for L O'Hare(55mins),
K McArdle for S Toner(55 mins). 4 wides.
