Killeavy welcomed Clans to the memorial park for a crucial league encounter on Friday night. Killeavy's recent poor run has seen the lower end of the table come into view, so a win here would have eased relegation worries. Killeavy welcomed back Stevie McDonnell, and another plus was the return of Gary Reel, even though his fitness did still look a little debatable. However, several other important players were on holiday or injured. Conditions were absolutely perfect for the game, and things went to script early on. Killeavy were well on top and points from Anthony and Liam O'Hare, Chris Hickey and Stevie had Killeavy 4-1 up. Better news followed when a long early ball in from Barry McKevitt was won by Shane Boylan, who played in Anthony for an easy goal. Killeavy were effective playing quick, long ball in, but very often the midfield and half back line were slow to adopt this approach, but with a six point lead, no-one was overly worried. Clans showed notice of what was to follow, blasting home a goal from a narrow angle under little or no pressure. Such was the nature of this game, that goal followed goal, and Killeavy marched straight back up the field, and a super support run from Barry Magee saw him split the defence open, and he finished in great style to the net. The next five minutes of the game were to prove crucial. Killeavy led by 7, and had the chance to kill the match, but they then missed four or five easy scoring chances, dropping the ball short into the keepers hands. After this Clans began to get a foothold, and four consecutive points showed they were intent on making a contest of the game. Killeavy led by a goal at the break.
Half-Time: Killeavy 2-6 Clan na nGael 1-6
If the first half had been open and enjoyable, the second half was absolutely amazing. Seven goals were scored, and at times it was extremely difficult to keep up with the scoring rate. The sides exchanged frees before Paul Lavery, who had been kept fairly quiet in the first half, waltzed around a defender, strolled towards goal and rolled a shot in past Sean Og Duffy to tie the scores. The Killeavy fullback line has looked solid enough this season but for this thirty minutes, they were ripped apart. The next score was the best of the game, a goal bound shot by Chris Hickey was intercepted by a diving fist of Barry Magee to deflect the ball to the net. A great goal line save then denied Liam O'Hare a certain goal. An abysmally slack goal from an innocuous high ball for Clans then brought them right back into the game again, and unfortunately several more followed as every attack appeared to end up in the net. Two further goals for Clans were followed by a great ground shot to the top corner by Barry Magee for his hat-trick, but typically Clans went straight up the field from the kickout to net another. This result leaves Killeavy in real relegation danger, and with the return game with Clans still to be played, it could prove crucial. This match was surreal in many ways, but it can't disguise the fact that this was a match Killeavy needed to win, but couldnt do it, despite holding a commanding lead.Killeavy 4-11 Clan na nGael 6-11
Killeavy Team: S. Duffy, P. Donnelly, P. Watters,G. Magennis, C. Quinn, B. McKevitt, C. Byrne, J. Reel, C Hickey(0-1), G. Reel, S. McDonnell(0-5, 3F), L. O'Hare(0-2), S. Boylan, A. O'Hare(1-2), B. Magee(3-1).Subs: S. Malone for S. Boylan (45), R. Teggart for C. Hickey (55), J. Duffy for C. Byrne(55).