Armagh Harps 1-09 Killeavy 1-14
Killeavy travelled to Harps on Friday night on the back of a first win at home against Cullaville the previous week. Killeavy welcomed back Mark Stanfield to the midfield, in a must win game. Playing with a sizeable breeze, Kileavy got off to a dream start, a booming long range free into the square from Stanfield saw the Harps keeper drop the ball under no pressure and Adrian Doran fisted the gift wrapped rebound to the net. Killeavy were playing most of the football, with Stanfield picking up a lot of ball around his own 65 and distributing to the forward line. Scores werent flowing freely , however, and Killeavy's next few scores came from good tackling up front, and some good long range frees, which aerially challenged the Harps full back line. Darren O'Hanlon scored Killeavy's first point, while two long range efforts from Stanfield had Killeavy well in command. However, a poor penalty was soon conceded, as Killeavy halfbacks were guilty of jumping with the midfield for a kickout, and Blain Cromie made a fine save, but I believe he was then penalised for overcarrying in the small square. The kick was converted to put Harps back in touch. Nevertheless, Killeavy still looked the better side, and points from frees by Raymie Teggart and Gerard Byrne, and a fisted point by Johnny McKevitt had Killeavy three in front at the break.Half-Time: Armagh Harps 1-03 Killeavy 1-06
The breeze died considerably at halftime, which helped Killeavy's cause, but they failed to capitalise, dropping two balls into the keeper, and Harps duly scored on the counter from both. Killeavy's midfield then won six consecutive Harps kickouts to camp in the Harps half, but they kicked six wides in ten minutes to still remain only two in front when the game should have been out of sight. One was a great goal chance for Anthony O'Hare who put his shot wide off the post. Pressure eventually told and Stanfield kicked a couple of fine points from play. Darren O'Hanlon really upped his performance also to kick two fine points, while Stanfield stroked another 50 over the bar. Harps, without their county men, and a few injured players looked severely depleted, and never really looked like fighting back against a superb Kileavy backline, with Gary Reel and Liam O'Hare at their brilliant best in the half backs and Finbar Mallon steady at fullback. Stuart Stokes had a great game in corner back, with his electrifying pace winning great ball in front of the Harps corner forward. It appears reports of Killeavy's demise seem over-exaggerated. We will see in the next few weeks, just how much chance they have to stay in the division. Crossmaglen arent looking over their shoulders just yet, but no doubt a few other teams will be! Anthony O'Hare fisted a good point at the end, and credit to him for switching his travel plans to accomodate the game. Gary Reel must be any wing forwards worst nightmare, and he got the best score of the game at the end running sixty yards up the wing and slotting over a spectacular finish to two very satisfactory points. It was also great to see Seamus Toner back in the reckoning after his long lay-off, coming on as a sub for the last five.Full-Time: Armagh Harps 1-09 Killeavy 1-14
Killeavy Team: B. Cromie, C. Byrne, F. Mallon, S. Stokes, G. Reel(0-1), L. O'Hare, P. Rocks, M. Stanfield(0-5, 2 '50), J. Duffy, G. Byrne(0-1, 1f), D. O'Hanlon(0-3), R. Teggart(0-1,1f), A. Doran(1-0), J. McKevitt(0-2), A. O'Hare(0-1).Subs:K. McArdle for G. Byrne for (25mins), G. Magennis for G. Reel(58 mins), S. Toner for A. Doran(55 mins).