Killeavy 1-12 Maghery 1-11
Killeavy hosted Maghery on Friday night, in what was a crucial must win game, in a series of must win games. Both teams were in the bottom two, although Killeavy's current form had been encouraging, with three wins out of four. Finbar Mallon was injured at full back, and Paul Watters filled the role. Killeavy coped easily with any early Maghery threat, and would have been disappointed to only lead by a few scores after fifteen minutes. Mark Stanfield had opened Killeavy's account with a well-struck fifty, while Anthony O'Hare scored after some good work from the industrious Darren O'Hanlon, who ran himself to a standstill for forty five minutes of the game. On the other side of the coin, Maghery's free taking was of an exceptionally high quality, with both left and right footed sharpshooters keeping Maghery well in touch. Indeed on the only occasion when the Maghery inside forwards looked dangerous, Killeavy were fortunate that the referee awarded a square ball, when the defence had been ripped open for a fisted goal to be disallowed. Maghery also then suffered two injuries to a forward player and their goalkeeper. The lengthly delays disrupted the flow of attacks for Killeavy. Two good frees from Raymond Teggart, meant the score was 4-4 after 25 minutes. In the final five minutes of the half, John McKevitt, who had struggled to get into the match, suddenly hit two lovely points from play to edge Killeavy into the lead.Half-Time: Killeavy 0-06 Maghery 0-04
Seamus Toner was withdrawn at half-time, and James Duffy his replacement had an immediate impact, winning the throw-in, leading to Killeavy point from Stanfield. Indeed a minute later, Duffy soared above his own crossbar to catch a point bound effort from a Maghery free. Anthony O'Hare followed up with a nice point for Killeavy, and then came the score of the game, a magic run from half back from Collie Byrne saw him drive in on goal, and rather surprisingly slam a great shot to the roof of the net with his left foot. Killeavy led by seven points at this stage, and were well in command. The withdrawl of a Darren O'Hanlon, who had run tirelessly at the Maghery backline, gave Maghery impetus, and they immediately cam back strongly into the game. Killeavy didn't help their own cause, giving away some terribly slack frees to two freetakers, who never looked like missing. A quick break up the field saw Maghery tear through the Killeavy defence, and despite a shot for goal being blocked, the rebound ended up in the Killeavy net. Substitute Stephen Malone kicked a crucial point for Killeavy who were very much on the backfoot at the end, but just hung on for the victory. The win lifts Killeavy out of the bottom two, with eight points from the last ten. The pressure is still very much on, however, with some very tough fixtures remaining in the run in. But at least the team is heading in the right direction after an abysmal start to the league.Full-Time: Killeavy 1-12 Maghery 1-11
Killeavy Team: B. Cromie, S. Stokes, P. Watters, G. Magennis, G. Reel(0-1), L. O'Hare, C. Byrne(1-0), P. Rocks, S. Toner, D. O'Hanlon, M. Stanfield(0-2, 1 50), R. Teggart(0-2, 2F), A. Doran, A. O'Hare(0-3), J. McKevitt(0-2).Subs:J Duffy for S Toner (30mins), S Malone(0-1) for R Teggart (40mins) G. Byrne for D. O'Hanlon(45 mins)