U21 Championship: Keady 2-05 Killeavy 3-15
On Saturday the under 21 went to keady for their first outing in the championship. Killeavy had the benefit of the breeze in the first half and used it well when Darren O’Hanlon slipped the ball over the bar after just 14 sec. Barry Magee hit the net with just 3 mins on the clock when a Steve Malone free came back off the crossbar. Killeavy were on fire at this stage and 3 long range points kept keady on the back foot. A super move in 8th minute saw O'Hanlon rattle the net after great work between Watters and Hannaway further out the pitch. The killeavy scores were coming think and fast with Malone giving an exhibition on long range shooting while hannaway, Watters and Byrne each slotted over from closer efforts. It took all of sixteen minutes before keady registered their first shot and that was pushed away well by the keeper O'Hanlon. With Killeavy on constant attack another goal was always expected and that fell to this years minor keeper Sean OG Duffy who lined out at full forward. After a great pass Duffy dropped the ball on to the outside of his right boot and stroked it beautifully into the top corner, a goal reminiscent of his brother Barry's strike against Tyrone in 2002. Keady attacked towards the end of the half but O'Hanlon was equal to their a blistering shot from their corner forward to leave the score at half time Killeavy 3-10 keady 0-00.Half-Time:Keady 0-00 Killeavy 3-10
It has to be said that the first half was as good a performance from any team in Armagh this year. Killeavy were expecting a keady fight back in the second half and it was not long starting as keady slipped over a point in the first few seconds of the half. Chick hanaway responded almost immediately with a well taken score. Another of this years minors James McGuiness slipped one over when a strong run and super pass by Barry McKevitt set him up. With Barry Magee and Seamus toner coming off injured before the second half it was always going to have an impact on the team as men were forced out of their normal positions. The injuries and the fact Killeavy sat back a little lead to keady getting 2 goals in the second half. But Byrne and McGuiness points made any hope of a Lazarus like comeback short lived. The ref M. Leonard who it must be said had a great game himself blew the final whistle to leave Killeavy victorious by 3-16 to 2-05. Killeavy had 12 of the staring 15 with senior experience and with 7 of them regularly starting it looks like a bright future ahead.
Full-Time: Keady 3-05 Killeavy 3-16
Killeavy Team: S O'Hanlon ,R Mcconville , R Sherdain,S Stokes,P Donnelly,B Mckevitt , M Mckeown, D O'Hanlon(1-3), S Toner,B Magee(1-0), S Malone(0-3), P Hanaway(0-2), G Byrne(0-7), S Duffy(1-0), J Watters(0-1).Subs J Mcguinness(0-2) for B Magee, C Mcnulty for S Toner.