Spa have won the County Intermediate title twice in the club’s history, the first time in 1974 and the second time in 2009, as well as being runners-up in 2012 (to Finuge after a replay), 2014 (to Ardfert) and 2015 (to St Marys).
In 1974, Spa defeated a Mick O’Dwyer-inspired Waterville by 0-11 to 1-6 in the county Intermediate final. The poor underfoot conditions didn’t make for a great footballing spectacle and both sides were guilty of squandering chances.
Spa’s Donie McSweeney and Waterville’s Michael Moran exchanged opening points before Paudie O’Mahoney and John O’Mahoney put Spa two in front. Mick O’Dwyer replied for Waterville, and at half time Spa had a narrow lead of 0-3 to 0-2.
The second half was a slow starter and it wasn’t until the final quarter that Spa began to convert their possession to scores. Points from Donie O’Sullivan, Connie Doolan, Mick Greene and John O’Mahoney gave Spa a strong lead as the game was nearing the final whistle. In the final minute however, Mick O’Dwyer set off on a brilliant solo run through the Spa defence and passed to Michael Moran who finished to the net. But it was too little too late and Spa held on for their historic first victory at this level, winning out by 0-11 to 1-6.
1974 Co Intermediate Champions
Front L-R: Johnny Doolan, Donie O’Sullivan, Jim Gleeson, Pat Cronin, John Joe Foley, John O’Sullivan (captain), Seanie Kelliher, John Cahill, Donie Sweeney, Connie Doolan, Michael Myers and John F O’Connor
Back L-R: Sean Healy, Pa J O’Leary, Mick Gleeson, Tadhg O’Sullivan (Club Chairman), Johnny Batt Cronin, Donie O’Leary (Selector), John O’Mahony, Paudie O’Mahoney, Pat Casey, Tim Regan, John Kelly (Selector), Sean O’Sullivan, Paddy Dennehy (Selector), Jackie Foley, Dan Cronin, Mick Greene, Derry O’Mahoney, Pa Cronin and Maurice Casey.
The second county Intermediate title came to Spa on Sunday October 25th 2009, when Spa defeated Currow by 1-12 to 0-7 in the first final to be played in the newly re-vamped Fitzgerald Stadium. Despite playing against the breeze in the opening half, Spa led by two points at the break, and their only goal finished to the net by Tomás Lynch just moments before the full time whistle.
Team that day: James Devane, Brian Gleeson, Aidan Cahill, Fergus Clifford, Bryan Russell (0-1), Hugh O’Donoghue, Eoin Cronin, Andrew Garnett, Kevin Healy, Conor Gleeson (0-1), Pa Murphy, Niall O’Mahony (0-2), Cian Tobin (0-1), Michael Stam O’Donoghue (0-6), Tomás Lynch (1-1). Subs: Cormac Cronin, Damien O’Sullivan, Paul Russell
The team was captained by Niall O’Mahony - watch his speech after the game through this link
(Photos by Anne Holland and Paudie Healy)
2009 Co Intermediate Champions
Front L-R: Damien O’Sullivan, Paul Casey, Andrew Garnett, Conor Gleeson, Tomás Lynch, Niall O’Mahony, James Devane, Brian Gleeson, Eoin Cronin, Pat Cronin, Paul Russell. Paul Kelleher, Shane Devane, Bryan Russell
Back L-R: Shane Fenton, Anthony O’Sullivan, Adam O’Reilly, Pa Murphy, Fergus Clifford, Hugh O’Donoghue, Cian Tobin, Kevin Healy, Michael Stam O’Donoghue, Aidan Cahill, Kieran Herlihy, Andrew O’Sullivan, Cormac Cronin, Jim Morris, Michael Finnegan, Michael O’Doherty, Willie Cahill (selector), Sean Moynihan (manager), Michael McAuliffe (selector)
