Current holders Killeavy made it two B League titles in a row when they defeated Mullaghbawn by the slender margin of
a single point at Silverbridge on Thursday evening.
Killeavy were first out of the blocks when a fine piece of fielding and shot from full-forward Kevin McArdle gave them an early lead.
Mullaghbawn took the lead with two fine points before a 20 yard free from Raymond Teggart levelled affairs. The lack of recent
match practice was obvious in the Killeavy play at this stage of the game with numerous unforced errors, poor handling and passing
allowed Mullaghbawn to get a grip on the game scoring 1-03 without reply giving them a six point lead.
In fairness to the Killeavy management team of Stephen McDonnell and Eddie Hill, they reacted quickly to the crisis
sending on Adrian Doran at full-forward and moving Kevin McArdle to steady up a creaking defence.
The move paid dividends immediately with Raymond Teggart scoring from a free before Doran sent over from fully fifty yards.
Mullaghbawn regained the initiative however with a well worked goal sending them seven clear.
Approaching half-time, Patrick Hannaway scored a fine point and then Adrian Doran finished the best Killeavy move of the half
by firing low to the corner.
Kevin Martin and Kevin McArdle receive the All County B trophy from Seamus McDonagh.
Half Time: Killeavy 1-05 Mullaghbawn 2-05
Killeavy began the second half with more urgency and when Teggart cut through the Mullaghbawn defence, he saw his powerful
shot well saved by the keeper but he was on hand to follow-up tapping the ball into the net to bring the sides level.
Mullaghbawn regained the lead through a free but then Teggart added three points (two from frees) to give his side a two point
cushion going into the last quarter. Killeavy were in complete control at this stage but missed at least four good chances of points,
any of which would probably have left the game safe. A pointed free came from a rare Mullaghbawn break out from defence but
Killeavy always looked the more likely to win but failed on a number of occasions to land the killer blow.
In the end, time ran out for Mullaghbawn to leave Killeavy celebrating a slender but well deserved victory.
Best on the night for Killeavy were Paddy Donnelly, Kevin McArdle, James Duffy and Raymond Teggart who contributed 1-05 of
his side's total while Adrian Doran made a vital contribution from the substitute's bench.
Following on from annexing the minor title the previous weekend, victory in the B League sets up the possibility of a Killeavy clean sweep
of the All-County Leagues. The final piece in the jigsaw will be this week's u16 League final where the St. Moninna's men take on Keady.
