Spa hosted Kenmare Shamrocks on Saturday evening in Round 2 of the Senior Club Championship, and, after a hard-hitting 65+ minutes, the sides couldn’t be separated. With temperatures in the high 20s, water breaks were added for all this weekend’s games.
James McCarthy and Seanie O’Shea (mark) had early points on the board for the visitors before Cian Murphy opened the Spa account with a mark. Stephen O’Brien and Seanie Shea (2) increased the Kenmare lead with Evan Cronin replying with a point at the other end. A scrappy opening quarter had Spa trailing 0-2 to 0-5 at the first half water break.
Spa had a better second quarter, David Spillane with a lovely point curling just inside the post before Mike Foley and Cian Murphy levelled the game at 0-5 apiece. Shane Cronin kicked a brilliant ‘45 and Evan Cronin followed with a point before Kenmare’s Stephen O’Brien got his marching orders after a second yellow in the 28th minute. Seanie O’Shea was deadly accurate with a long range free but it was quickly cancelled out by a David Spillane point. At half time Spa had gone in front at 0-8 to 0-6.
It was a high scoring second half starting with midfielder Liam Kearney making a great run forward and fisting over the bar. David Spillane followed with another Spa point moments later. James McCarthy hit a mark for Kenmare but Spa were soon on the attack again, Evan Cronin and Ciaran Spillane making it 0-12 to 0-7. Seanie O’Shea pointed 3 frees in a row for Kenmare before a superb Evan Cronin point was quickly followed by another from David Spillane. At the second half water break, Spa, playing with the extra man, were still leading at 0-14 to 0-10.
On the restart, Paul O’Connor turned over the ball from the kick out and pointed before Liam Kearney set up Mike Foley for another Spa score at the other end. Seanie O’Shea and Shane Cronin swapped points before the Kenmare goal, Tommy O’Sullivan collecting a pass and rattling the net in the 58th minute to make it Spa 0-16 Kenmare 1-12. A couple of minutes later and Spa were also reduced to 14 men as Mike Foley was shown a second yellow.
A Seanie O’Shea free levelled the game at the end of normal time, and play continued with Evan Cronin pointing a free late into injury time. The referee allowed time for one more Kenmare attack, a long ball dropped in towards goal with Griffin Wharton and James Devane both reaching for it, but it was knocked inches above the crossbar to level the game once more before the final whistle blew. Full time Spa 0-17 Kenmare Shamrocks 1-14.
Spa play Na Gaeil (in Tralee) in the third and final round next weekend - fixture details to be confirmed - with all teams needing points in the final round to determine the Group A standings.
Spa Team: James Devane, Eric O’Donoghue, Dan O’Donoghue, Eoin Fitzgerald, Shane Lynch, Shane Cronin (0-2 (1 ‘45)), Gary Vaughan, Liam Kearney (0-1), Ciaran Spillane (0-1), Ryan O’Carroll, Evan Cronin (0-5 (1f)), Conor Stack, Cian Murphy (0-2), Michael Foley (0-2 (1f)), David Spillane (0-4). Subs: Cian Tobin, Mike O’Donoghue, Brian Lynch, Liam Spillane
Kenmare Team: Kieran Fitzgibbon, Tommy Cronin, Tommy O’Sullivan (1-0), David Cronin, Dara O’Shea, James McCarthy (0-2), Jamie O’Regan, David Hallissey, Seanie O’Shea (0-9 (5f)), Shane O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Sullivan, Stephen O’ Brien (0-1), Griffin Wharton (0-1), Tommy O’Sullivan, Paul O Connor (0-1). Subs: David Ciuciu, Ruari O’Sullivan
Referee: Tom Corbett (Firies)
Photos: Anne Holland
