After defeating Laune Rangers in the Quarter Finals of the Intermediate Club Championship last October, the covid pandemic delayed this competition for almost a year. Spa and Castleisland Desmonds finally got to play their semi-final on Sunday afternoon in Kilcummin, with Spa winning by a 5-point margin to progress to the 2020 Intermediate Club Championship Final against Beaufort next Sunday. Although it was the second quarter before Spa really settled into the game, by the 58th minute they had worked up a 12-point advantage that was enough to withstand a late comeback from Desmonds.

It was an ideal start as Niall McCarthy opened the scoring with a goal in the 5th minute, collecting the pass from Mike Foley and finishing it to the net. After that, the Castleisland defence kept Spa very much at bay for the rest of the first quarter, while their own forwards were able to notch up four unanswered points in reply to the Spa goal - Michael Walsh (2), Adam O’Donoghue and a high curling shot from Luka Brosnan. At the first half water break, Spa were trailing by a point at 1-0 to 0-4.

On the restart, Evan Cronin split the posts with a well taken free to level the game, and that was quickly followed with Dara Moynihan making a run along the wing and punching over the bar. Castleisland’s Tomas Lynch got very close to the Spa goal, but his shot tipped the outside of the post. And Spa soon replied with their own attack on goal at the other end, the Desmonds keeper Steve Bartlett doing well to get a block on Mike Foley’s goal shot and Niall O’Mahony collecting the rebound and landing it between the posts. Then a burst forward from Shane Cronin was passed off to Niall McCarthy who added another point for Spa just before the half time whistle. At the break, Spa had moved in front at 1-4 to 0-4.

As the second half began, Shane Cronin made another run forward, his first effort hitting the post, and he caught the rebound and blasted towards goal again but the ball was deflected and out, with Gary Vaughan converting the ‘45. Evan Cronin (2), Michael Foley (2) and Niall O’Mahony all got their name on the scoresheet before Maurice Hickey kicked Desmond’s fifth point at the end of the third quarter. Another blistering sprint from Shane Cronin, and this time it was Evan Cronin that collected the pass and split the posts. By the second half water break, Spa were playing better football and were leading by 1-11 to 0-5.

There was some great teamwork among the players in setting up each of the Spa scores, and points from Evan Cronin and David Spillane soon followed. Spa almost had a second goal when the ball broke loose in the Desmonds defence, Mike McCarthy getting a touch but it came off the goal post. In response, Desmonds were straight on the attack, but same as Spa, the goal posts were again denying them their score. David Spillane kicked the final point for Spa but as the game was drawing to a close, Desmonds were grappling for each ball and clearly had only one target in mind. James Devane pulled off a great save on Tomas Lynch’s shot before the ball flew across the goalmouth and Adam O’Donoghue was there to tap it to the back of the Spa net in the 59th minute. O’Donoghue added a second Desmonds goal a minute later with Luke Lyons following up with a late point. There was one more attack on the Spa goal, but the ball was turned over in a scramble in the goalmouth and the final whistle blew as Spa emerged with the ball.

Final score Spa 1-14 Castleisland Desmonds 2-6.

Spa will play Beaufort next Sunday September 12th at 2.30pm in Fitzgerald Stadium in the 2020 Co Intermediate Final.

Spa: James Devane, Brian Lynch, Eoin Fitzgerald, Shane Lynch, Shane Cronin, Dan O’Donoghue, Gary Vaughan, Liam Kearney, Ciaran Spillane, Niall O’Mahony, Michael Foley, Dara Moynihan, Niall McCarthy, Evan Cronin, Cian Tobin. Subs: Mike McCarthy, Eoghan Cronin, David Spillane, Cian Murphy, Mikey Moynihan

Castleisland Desmonds: Steve Bartlett, Conor O’Shea, Tadhg O’Connell, Luka Brosnan, Brian Leonard, Tadhg O’Shea, Maurice Hickey, Adam Donoghue, Adam O’Donoghue, Tomas Lynch, Luke Lyons, PJ Curtin, Gearoid Leonard, Sean Lynch, Fintan O’Sullivan. Subs: Thomas Hickey, Graham O’Connor, Patrick Hickey, Kieran Brennan

Referee: Eddie Walsh (Rathmore)

Photos: Anne Holland