Cormac Leonard Armagh SFC quarter-final: Athletic Grounds (8.30): Ballymacnab v Killeavy
The first of the quarter finals takes places tonight at the Athletic Grounds (8.30) with Division 1A league champions Ballymacnab up against Killeavy who topped the Division 1B table.
This has the potential to be a food encounter yet 'The Nab' are the clear favourites having gone directly through to the last eight, unbeaten in their three Group Round Robin games.
Not so Killeavy who lost two of their fixtures but a 0-9 to 0-6 home victory over Annaghmore was sufficient to make the play-offs and a meeting with Pearse Og.
A 3-12 to 1-7 triumph over the city side was unquestionably their most impressive showing in the competition, Conor O’ Neill grabbing two of their goals.
Killeavy’s sole title came back in 1954, a long time ago and whilst they have produced good teams over the years that have appeared promising they ultimately disappoint.
The Round Towers have never won the prize but in the newly crowned league champions (their first ever) the south Armagh men face the stiffest of challenges.
County man Rory Grugan is Ballymacnab’s architect-in-chief, their creative playmaker operating from deep and spraying passes right and left with stunning precision.
Killeavy will pack their defence with anything up to 13 players behind the ball but their ability to break at speed, as was evident in their encounter with Pearse Og, can reap handsome dividends.
Justin McNulty’s side will tackle hard, get men around the player in possession so the Round Towers ’attack viewed the best in the county needn’t expect anything handy.
Having said that Jack Grugan who has scored a goal in every round will be hard to keep on a tight leash.
Following their comprehensive 2-14 to 0-6 defeat by last year’s beaten finalists Maghery, the St Monnina’s outfit will take heart from their last three outings.
They came from nine points down against Harps,losing 1-14 to 3-10, beat Annaghmore who had drawn with Maghery and impressively scaled the Pearse Og hurdle. They shouldn’t lack confidence and belief.
They have a number of key players - Donal and Conor O’Neill - and James Donnelly, Caolan McConville, Daniel Darragh, Ronan McGuinness, Kyle Mallon and Jamie Cosgrove, all of whom will need to step up to plate if their championship run is to continue.
As for the opposition its not all about the Grugan’s and Gavin McParland, quality exists elsewhere in the likes of Ryan Kennedy, Ruairi Gribben, Michael Beagan, Paul Meegan, Cormac McKee, Oisin McGivern and Brendan Toner.
Monaghan’s Bernie Murray has certainly been getting the best out of his charges and whilst they weren’t overly impressive in their 2-14 to 2-9 group win against Dromintee, a side since ousted by Madden, an historic double is still on the cards .
Killeavy will be very capable of matching the opposition’s outfield endeavours but it’s scores that win games and Round Towers have a clear advantage.
Killeavy depend a lot on their classy centre-half Conor O’Neill but with the Nab’s confidence sky-high at the moment, they should have the attacking power to book a semi-final spot.
