CO CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
The 2021 Senior Football County Championship Draw will take place live on The Waterbreak show on Kerry GAA social media pages this Monday September 27th from 7pm in Austin Stack Park. It will also be live on Radio Kerry’s Terrace Talk show.

CO MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Congratulations to the East Kerry minor team and management on their win over Glenflesk in Rd2 of the 2021 Minor Co Championship. They play St Brendan’s Board in the third and final group stage next Saturday October 2nd at 3pm. Good luck to all, especially our Spa players Rian O’Neill, Jack O’Sullivan, Luke O’Neill and Timmy Moynihan and selector John O’Neill.

UPCOMING FIXTURES

• Saturday October 2nd Co Minor Championship East Kerry v St Brendan’s Board (TBC, 3pm)

• Sunday October 3rd Senior Club Championship Rd3 Spa v Templenoe (home, 2.30pm)

Best of luck to all teams and managements and in the event of any changes to fixtures, the most up to date list will be on the spagaa.com website calendar.  

SPA LOTTO RESULTS 20/09/21
Numbers drawn: 6, 13, 17, 22. No winner and €50 Lucky Dips to Sam McGillicuddy, Niall O’Connell, Adam Herlihy and Karen McAuliffe.

Next week’s JACKPOT is €5,200 and tickets are on sale online here on spagaa.com or from Dalys Supervalu, Killarney Hardware, Centra Muckross Rd, Spa clubhouse or from usual sellers.  

Thank you to everyone for your continued support for our club lotto.    

 

CONDOLENCES
Our sympathies to the family and friends and to all at Dr. Crokes GAA on the passing of GAA stalwart Donie Sheahan RIP. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a Anam

SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RD2 SPA 0-14 KENMARE SHAMROCKS 0-13
Spa had to work very hard to secure victory in Kenmare on Sunday afternoon in Rd2 of the Senior Club Championship. We were trailing by 5 points late in the first half and were still 5 points behind as the game moved into the final quarter. Some fine battling in the final minutes of the game, even though Spa were reduced to 14 men in the 56th minute, gave us a valuable two points ahead of the third and final round next weekend.

Within the first minute Kevin O’Sullivan called a mark to put Kenmare on the board. Evan Cronin responded with a free shortly after when Liam Kearney was fouled and followed again with the same two minutes later. Kenmare soon replied however, their own sharpshooter Sean O’Shea with a free from 45 yards out to make it 0-2 apiece after just six minutes. Gary Vaughan and Sean O’Shea swapped scores before Spa’s only real goal chance of the day - the ball worked between Dara Moynihan, Evan Cronin and Liam Kearney with Liam racing towards goal just inside the end line, his effort knocked out for a ‘45. Sean O’Shea added two pointed frees for the home side before the first water break, Kenmare now leading by 0-5 to 0-3.

Spa were quickly on the attack but Dara Moynihan, who put in a great performance on Sunday, had his attempt well blocked. It was full advantage to Kenmare as Sean O’Shea, Shane O’Sullivan and Dara Crowley extended that lead to move ahead 0-8 to 0-3. Niall McCarthy got the final touch on a lovely team play but it was quickly cancelled out with a Sean O’Shea ’45. Two points late in the half, Shane Cronin on a burst forward punching over the bar and Dara Moynihan with a lovely score after winning the kick out made it Kenmare 0-9 to Spa 0-6 at the half time whistle.

Evan Cronin reduced the gap with a Spa free but at the other end Paul O’Connor was bearing down on goal, James Devane with a brilliant one-on-one save. Another free from Sean O’Shea quickly followed, before Paul O’Connor once again charged at the Spa goal, his shot bouncing off the top of the crossbar and raising the white flag. Another Sean O’Shea free, his 8th score of the day, extended the Kenmare advantage to 0-12 to 0-7 with less than twenty minutes left to play. Spa however were starting to take some control and some excellent defending soon reduced the Kenmare threat. Corner-back Shane Lynch added one for Spa before an Evan Cronin free left just the three points between the sides at the second half water break, Kenmare still ahead at 0-12 to 0-9, but the momentum had swung in Spa’s favour.

Evan Cronin chipped away at that lead with another free before Ciaran Spillane added another Spa score a minute later. With five minutes left Spa were reduced to 14 men as Mike McCarthy was shown black. Shane Cronin levelled the game at 0-12 apiece in the 59th minute, but with two injury delays in the second half, one for each team, there was always going to be plenty of time added at the very end. The Spa defence were letting nothing pass them, while our forward line were relentless in attack. A great long range free from Evan Cronin edged Spa ahead in the 64th minute, before a second long range free in the 67th minute, our seventh score without reply, gave Spa a two-point advantage. There was time for one final attack from Kenmare, Mark Crowley’s shot looking to drop in towards the goalmouth but dropping between the posts instead, with full time called from the kick out and Spa with the win by 0-14 to 0-13.

Well done to our team & management, and wishing a speedy recovery to our injured players.

We go into the third and final round at home to Templenoe next Sunday at 2.30pm, Group 2 still with everything to play for. After the first two rounds, all Group 2 teams have won a game and lost a game, so next week’s results will be the decider in who progresses to the semi-finals (top 2 in the group) and who is in a relegation battle with Legion (bottom of the group). If two teams finish on level points, the result of their head-to-head will be first in deciding position on the table.

Spa: James Devane, Brian Lynch, Eoin Fitzgerald, Shane Lynch (0-1), Shane Cronin (0-2), Dan O’Donoghue, Gary Vaughan (0-1), Liam Kearney, Ciaran Spillane (0-1), Niall O’Mahony, Michael McCarthy, Dara Moynihan (0-1), Niall McCarthy (0-1), Evan Cronin (0-7f), Cian Tobin, Subs: Cian Murphy, Ryan O’Carroll, Mike Foley

Kenmare: Kieran Fitzgibbon, Dara Crowley (0-1), James McCarthy, Cian O’Sullivan, Dan McCarthy, Dara O’Shea, Shane O’Sullivan (0-1), Griffin Wharton, David Hallissey, Tom Murnane, Sean O’Shea (0-8(6f)), Kevin O’Sullivan (0-1), Micheál McCarthy, Paul O’Connor (0-1), Stephen O’Brien. Subs: Mark Crowley (0-1), Matthew Murnane, Tommy Cronin

Referee: Eddie Walsh (Rathmore)

JUVENILE TRAINING
Juvenile training continues each week, with the ABC Academy every Saturday morning from 10am – 11am. Spa GAA is open to everyone in Killarney parish and new members are always welcome. Contact the coaches or Coiste na nÓg Secretary Denise on 0871385612 or spacoistenanog@gmail.com with any queries.  

 

SET DANCING HAS RETURNED
Set Dancing Returns this week, newcomers welcome. Cosa Beaga (Trad for Tots) 1 to 3yrs olds coming soon. Contact Tríona for more info 0876808962

WIN A HOUSE WITH KERRY GAA
**Tickets for Win a House with Kerry GAA will be on sale in Spa next Sunday at the Spa v Templenoe game**  Kerry GAA are giving one lucky winner a prize of a lifetime, a brand new 3-bedroom house in Killarney. This is the top prize in the April 2022 draw, but there will be several bonus draws for ticket holders between now and then, including cash prizes and match tickets!    

Tickets for the Draw are €100 and the link to purchase is on the Kerry GAA website, they can be purchased at the Kerry GAA Store in the Outlet Centre or hard copy tickets available from our club Secretary Patrick or from John O’Leary (086 3026041). When entering your details don’t forget to mention your club SPA GAA in the ‘Additional Information’ section. NB: The sooner you purchase a ticket, the more draws you will be included in.  

NEW MANAGEMENT FOR KERRY GAA NEXT YEAR
The Management Committee of Kerry GAA will be proposing the following names for ratification at their next County Committee meeting scheduled for Monday 4th October 2021: Jack O’ Connor (Manager), Diarmuid Murphy (Selector), Micheál Quirke (Selector)

COISTE NA NÓG BAKE SALE & CLOTHES DRIVE
There was a great buzz in Spa on Saturday September 18th as the club hosted a bake sale in the main sports hall and held a Clothes Drive fundraiser earlier that morning, both events to raise vital funds for our Coiste na nÓg juvenile teams. Many thanks to all who organised, volunteered, donated and supported both events.

Bake Sale: Our hugely successful Cake Sale and Raffle fundraiser was organised and coordinated by Helena Sheahan, who got great help from her hardworking committee. Spa Coiste na nÓg were blown away by the support and generosity of the whole Spa community. A staggering €3900 was raised on the morning which will be used for resources to help our future stars.

The committee involved in organising the bake sale included Lynn Swinburne, Deirdre Hannon, Elaine Moynihan, Ciara Casey, Helena Sheahan, Katie O'Brien, Caitriona Shanahan, Denise Claffey, Karen McAuliffe Hurley, Ann Marie O'Sullivan, Orla Meenan, Liadh Tobin, Samira Hayes Ryan, Sharon O'Connor, Lisa Daly, Dani Bun Kissane, Rebecca O'Connell, Sheila Lydon, Marie O’Keeffe and Tina Griffin.

Thanks to the following for donating tea, coffee, buns and cakes on the day - Laura Bakes; Louise Hurley Bakes; Daly’s SuperValu; Supermacs; Value Centre Killarney. There was also a raffle on the day and thank you to everyone who sponsored prizes - Gleeson’s Dental, True Beauty Beauticians, Griffins Project Management, Milltown Spar, Torc Hotel, Who’s 4 Shoes, Royal Hotel, Pat O Neill, Boots Pharmacy, O Sullivan’s Pharmacy, BOD construction, Centra Muckross, Spa GAA lotto and Seodóiri Na Ríochta.

Clothes Drive: Thanks to everyone who donated clothes for our collection also held on Saturday. Especially to Anne Holland who organised this valuable drive. Special mention to Margaret Doyle, Kieran McCarthy and Paul Casey who helped in the morning of the event. We hope to hold another one in six months time.

ITEMS FOR NOTES
Any items for the club notes please contact pro.spa.kerry@gaa.ie or 0851216359 before 8pm on Sundays.