Killeavy 3-13 St Peters 0-08Killeavy hosted St Peters in the Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon, again in the scenario where Peters needed two points to stave off relegation, while Killeavy were looking to win their final league match and then wait on Cruppen results to see if promotion could be clinched without the need for the playoffs. A lot of car stereos around the pitch had the radio coverage from Cullyhanna playing in the background, as Killeavy set off at a gallop. Playing with a good breeze, three early shots all landed for points, as Stevie McDonnell, Stevie Malone and Barry McKevitt all scored from forty yards from play. After that opening salvo, Killeavy stuttered for a while, probably playing the ball too long into their forward line, rather than working the ball closer to get a telling final pass. St Peters are always a good possession team, but were surprisingly wasteful, playing at least half a dozen passes straight out over the sideline. They did have a dangerous coner forward, who accounted for their three point tally in the opening half, two from play and one from a free. Indeed a mixup in the Killeavy defence did give Peters a shot on goal, which Sean O'Hanlon saved well. Adrian Doran got two points in a minute to put Killeavy back on track, while a McDonnell free and a point from Stanfield gave Killeavy a four point lead at the interval, and a tough second half looked in prospect. Killeavy celebrate promotion!!! Half-Time:Killeavy 0-07 St Peters 0-03Again Peters showed glimpses of a revival, one shot for goal cannoning off the bar on its way over. However, Killeavy were soon on the scoring trail. A clever fifty from Stanfield placed McDonnell for the first point of his 2-4 second half tally. Stanfield added another before Killeavy got a great goal, a fine penetrating run from Gary Reel after he won the kickout placing Stevie to fire home from straght in front. News was coming through that St Pats were pulling away from Carrickcruppen, and it was soon a festive mood when McDonnell hit another beautiful point before Anthony O'Hare laid his second goal on a plate. Raymond Teggart fisted another great goal before the end, as St Peters challenge was well and truly snuffed out. It was a great end to the year for Killeavy, who dropped only eight points all year long. After last year, they really showed throughout the season they deserve a crack at division I. Bring on next year, and top flight football will be back for the foreseeable future hopefully. Well done to management, players and supporters alike. A word of thanks too, to our generous sponsor Niall Clarke Oils. Lets hope our U21 players can keep this season ticking over for another while!Full-Time: Killeavy 3-13 St Peters 0-08Killeavy Team: S. O'Hanlon, K. Martin, F. Mallon, P. Donnelly, G. Reel, L. O'Hare, B. McKevitt(0-1), P. Watters, J. Duffy, S. Malone(0-1), A. Doran(0-2), C. Hickey, M. Stanfield(0-2), S. McDonnell(2-6,1f), A. O'Hare(0-1).Subs: P Rocks(35 mins) for A O'Hare, P. Hannaway(50 mins) for J. Duffy, R. Teggart(1-0)(50) for C Hickey(45 mins). 9 wides. |