The hotly anticipated derby in Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the opening round of the 2021 Co Championship was a nerve-wracking affair as Spa and Legion went toe to toe for over 90 minutes. A cruel way for it to end, but with the sides level a total of nine times during the game, they couldn’t be separated in normal time or in extra time, so the game went to penalties, and from there to sudden death, Conor Keane kicking the winner for Legion.

Within seconds of the throw in Legion were bolting towards goal and although their first effort went out to the left, Jamie Sullivan quickly landed a free to open the scoring. He added another shortly after before Evan Cronin got Spa on the board in the fifth minute. Eoghan O’Sullivan kicked the third point for Legion but Spa soon levelled the play, Mike Foley and Evan Cronin with two frees to make it 0-3 apiece after just ten minutes. Legion edged in front again as William Shine called a mark and converted and James O’Donoghue added a free to make it 0-3 to 0-5 at the first half water break.

As play resumed, well taken points from Niall McCarthy and Dara Moynihan soon levelled the game again at 0-5 each. Mike Foley put over the sixth Spa point and some good opportunities for Spa followed before half time, two efforts just wide of the post and a great goal chance worked between David Spillane and Dara Moynihan came back off the upright. At the half time whistle Spa had the narrowest of leads at 0-6 to 0-5 but both teams would rue several missed chances during the first half.

When the second half began, Mike Foley had a great run forward and played to Cian Tobin who split the posts. However, it was quickly cancelled out as Jamie O’Sullivan kicked over another free for Legion at the other end. Evan Cronin scored a beautiful point for Spa but the Legion midfielder quickly responded again, his shot bouncing off the crossbar on its way over. An Evan Cronin point at the end of the third quarter made it 0-9 to 0-7 at the second half water break.

Legion got that crucial goal in the 48th minute, a high ball dropped into the goalmouth with Padraig Lucey waiting inside to knock it into the Spa goal. Spa replied immediately with another Evan Cronin point to level the game at 0-10 to 1-7 with just ten minutes remaining. It was back and forth for the final few minutes, both sides wide of the target on a number of occasions, before Legion who took the lead in the 59th minute from a Conor Keane point. Spa kept battling and Cian Tobin levelled the game in the 65th minute to bring it to extra time, the game finishing Spa 0-11 Legion 1-8.

The first half of extra time was again nip and tuck, James O’Donoghue edging Legion in front but Evan Cronin equalizing. Then a lovely Dan O’Donoghue point edged Spa in front, but Conor Keane brought the game back level yet again, still nothing between the teams at half time in extra time, Spa 0-13 Legion 1-10.

Rob Leen pointed the next one for Legion but yet again Evan Cronin, with a brilliant point, brought it back level. Jonathan Lyne, with a lovely long range effort, had his point quickly cancelled out by Spa’s Niall McCarthy. And finally, Billy Maguire’s late point was followed with an Evan Cronin score deep in injury time, Evan’s eighth point of the day.

And so, it would be penalties that would decide a winner. Five players from each side lined up - Spa’s Shane Lynch, Evan Cronin, Dara Moynihan, Mike Foley and Cian Tobin and at the other side Legion had Conor Keane, William Shine, Chris Davies, Brian Kelly and Darragh Lyne. After the first five penalties, it was still level as they both scored 4 out of 5. In sudden death, Conor Keane scored the winner for Legion.

Well done to our senior panel and to our management team of Ivor, Brian, Kieran, Neily and Arthur who have, over the past few weeks, completed the 2020 Intermediate Championship and made the immediate step up to 2021 Senior Club Championship and then on to 2021 County Championship. Our results from the recent club championship secures our senior status and in 2022 we will return to the Co Championship as a club team again.

Wishing all our injured players a speedy recovery.

Next competition (although still to be confirmed) is the deferred 2020 O’Donoghue Cup East Kerry Championship, with Spa due to meet Fossa in our opening game.

Spa: James Devane, Brian Lynch, Eoin Fitzgerald, Shane Lynch, Shane Cronin, Dan O’Donoghue (0-1), Ryan O’Carroll, Ciaran Spillane, Mike McCarthy, Niall O’Mahony, Michael Foley (0-2f), Dara Moynihan (0-1), Niall McCarthy (0-2), Evan Cronin (0-8(5f)), David Spillane, Subs: Cian Tobin (0-2), Conor Stack

Legion: Brian Kelly, Chris Davies, Damien O’Sullivan, Cian Gammell, Peter O’Sullivan, Jonathan Lyne (0-1), Kieran Slattery, Jack O’Neill, Jamie O’Sullivan (0-4(2f)), Eoghan O’Sullivan (0-1), Conor Keane (0-2(1f)), William Shine (0-1), Ryan O’Grady, Shaun Keane, James O’Donoghue (0-2f). Subs: Darragh O’Doherty, Rob Leen (0-1), Darragh Lyne, Padraig Lucey (1-0), Billy Maguire (0-1), Finbarr Murphy

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (St Senans)

Photos: Anne Holland