​Killeavy U21s claim first Senior Championship crown since 1997 with victory over Clann Éireann

Killeavy claimed their first U21 Senior Football Championship title in 26 years on Sunday evening, as they defeated Clann Éireann by five points after extra-time.

The first half was a cagey affair with the two sides deservedly going in level at the break at 0-4 apiece, with Oisin King carrying the offensive threat for Killeavy, whilst Gareth Murphy showed his prowess in midfield.

In the second period Killeavy ramped up their performance levels, and their Lurgan opposition looked stifled as to how to break down their regimented defence.

However, missed chances at the other end meant that they allowed Clann Éireann to stay in the game, trailing just 0-7 to 0-5 with five minutes to go.

Clann Éireann then found their shooting boots and after three points in a row they looked like they were going to snatch victory. But with five minutes played in stoppage time, Fergal Boylan stepped up and scored a crucial point for Killeavy to take the game into extra-time.

In the additional 20 minutes, Killeavy dominated and once again proved tough to break down, limiting Clann Éireann to just one point, and with two minutes to go, substitutes Tiarnan Brown and Boylan combined, with Brown palming the ball into the net to seal an unforgettable and fully deserved win.

‘We dug deep and kept our composure’

Following the win, Killeavy captain Lee Rice spoke to the media, and he agreed that it was a great way to end the season for the club.

“Yeah, it's the perfect way to end the season,” he said.“Look, I know with the Seniors we didn't get as far as we would have liked to. But the U21 team, throughout the year this has been the team to win it all. This was the team that could drive Killeavy on - now we have proved that.

“We got unlucky with the U19s, we got unlucky with the minors, we got unlucky with the U16s; this U21 team deserved to win tonight. We put the hard work in over the last 10 weeks. Clann Éireann gave us a good game, but we dug deep, we kept our composure, and we definitely deserved to win that.”

At Senior level, Killeavy have been knocking on the door for the last few years without yet breaking through, but Rice believes that the Senior team can take inspiration from this win, and be excited about what’s coming through over the next few years.

“It will definitely drive us on in the Senior team,” said Rice.

“Most of them boys are still Minor, so they're the future of Killeavy. We're going to go on and represent the Senior team, and hopefully this drives us on to go on and win our first Senior Championship in I don't know how long.

“That U21 Championship is our first one in 26 years. We're up there now with the likes of Stevie McDonnell as players who have won an U21 Championship and it's definitely going to benefit the Senior team.

“It's a good morale boost going into pre season.”

Super subs

Killeavy’s substitutes combined for 1-3, and Rice explained how having their energy and quality coming off the bench benefitted the team.

“The bench was definitely a massive help,” he said.

“They have been massive for us in every single game. It's one of our tactics not to start all of our forwards, because they're the perfect super subs, and they help us keep our composure and our discipline within the forward line.

“They're not afraid; some of those lads who came on are only 16 or 17 – the likes of Fergal Boylan and Aron Magennis, those lads are the future of Killeavy.”

The foundations for the win were laid by Killeavy’s defensive display, and Rice praised the effort of the team as a unit.

“Our defence is our first point of attack,” he said.

“We stayed disciplined, and that is the key word, because we communicate well, we structure our defence, we shift, we talk, we're tenacious in the tackle.

“Our defence is definitely what drives us forward – you saw it towards the end there, when we got back, got the turnover, broke out of the defence, and got two scores off it.

“Our defence is what won us the game there tonight.”

​MATCH STATS

Killeavy: Cathal Doherty; James Boylan, Jamie Gaskin, Callum Small; Finn Nolan, Rory Kearney, Lee Rice; Myles Boyd, Gareth Murphy; Kealan McDonnell (0-1, ‘45), Adam Garvey (0-1), Jack Collins (0-2, 2f); Oisin King (0-4, 1m, 1f), Andrew Cunningham, David Mallie.

Subs used: Fergal Boylan (0-2, 1m), Aron Magennis (0-1), Tiarnan Brown (1-0), Finlay Brady, Shane Kavanagh.

Clann Éireann: Shea Loughran; Dáire Whitmarsh, Tom Turbitt, Aidan Cassidy; Redmond French, Dan McCarthy (0-1), Emmett Magee (0-1); Declan Mallon, Andrew Moriarty (0-2); Rogan McVeigh, Ethan McKenna (0-2, 2f), Andrew Cooper; Cohen Henderson, Michael McCaughley, Tiernan McDonald (0-3, 2m).

Subs used: Finn Creery, Maitiú McGibbon, Matthew McCaughley.

Referee: Philip Conway.