Pearse Og 3-12 Killeavy 0-13

Searing heat was the order of the day when Killeavy took the field at a sun-drenched Pearse Og park on Sunday. Perfect conditions, but far from the perfect start, when Pearse Og won the throw-in, and sent a long ball in that bounced over the Killeavy defence and let the home side in for the slackest of goals after ten seconds. Worse follwed a few momemts later, when another long ball should have been cleared, but hesitation in the back line led to another slack Pearse Og goal. It was a truly catastrophic start, but from that point onwards, Killeavy utterly dominated the first half. A monopoly of break ball possession saw them really trouble a defence for the first time this season. Two Raymie Teggart frees got them back into their stride, and then some superb scores followed from Johnny McKevitt, Adrian Doran (2) and Patrick Hannaway. Ogs were living off scraps and got a couple of frees, but further great scores from Darren O'Hanlon and Liam O'Hare meant Killeavy had kicked eight points in twenty minutes, with no wides, and six in a row from play. Adrian Doran kicked his third point of the half to leave Killeavy two behind at the break. Indeed, had Chris Hickey elected to punch, rather than catch a cross from Anthony O'Hare, then he may well have had his side ahead at the break, with a goal seemingly gaping.

Half-Time: Pearse Og 2-05 Killeavy 0-09

If Killeavy were looking to keep the pressure on after half time, then they will have been sorely disappointed. Gone was the midfield dominance of Rocks and Hickey, as Pearse Og started to pick up the breaks. Three early points for the Ogs gave them a comfortable five point lead. However Killeavy plugged away, and three Raymond Teggart frees had them within touching distance again. The fluent football of the first half had dried up, though and Ogs hit a killer goal with ten minutes to play. A late Teggart free was more than matched by three further points by the Ogs, whose eight point winning margin was hugely flattering on the day. Killeavy will take encouragement from a super attacking show in the first half, the best we've seen from them this season by a long way. However, slack goals are punished in this league, and a double sucker punch at the start was an insurmountable hurdle to overcome. Killeavy were also short on attacking options on the bench, when they needed something extra in the second half. Lets hope for for improvement at home to the Clans next Sunday.

Full-Time: Pearse Og 3-12 Killeavy 0-13

Killeavy Team: B. Cromie, R. Sheridan, B. McKevitt, S. Stokes, G. Reel, L. O'Hare(0-1), P. Donnelly, P. Rocks, C Hickey, P. Hannaway(0-1), D. O'Hanlon(0-1), R. Teggart(0-6, 6f), A. Doran(0-3), J. McKevitt(0-1), A. O'Hare.
Subs:F. Mallon for R Sheridan (45 mins), K. McArdle for D. O'Hanlon (50 mins).

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