Spa 2-12 Legion 0-13
Some superb defending earned Spa their first two points of the Co League in a local derby at home to Legion on Saturday afternoon.
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David Spillane goals for Spa -
Ryan O'Carroll -
Mike Stam O'Donoghue -
Liam Kearney
Legion’s Conor Keane opened the scoring but Mike McCarthy replied immediately for Spa. Finbarr Murphy and another Conor Keane point edged Legion in front before Evan Cronin responded for the home side. Billy McGuire and Finbarr Murphy exchanged points with Niall McCarthy and Mike Stam O'Donoghue and at the end of the first quarter Legion were ahead 0-5 to 0-4.
The visitors then hit a purple patch in the second quarter, kicking an unanswered six points from Conor Keane (4), Rob Leen and Peter McCarthy to lead by 0-11 to 0-4 with five minutes left in the opening half. Spa, however, kept battling and a great point by Niall McCarthy was quickly followed by scores from Liam Kearney and Mike O’Donoghue. Legion midfielder Padraig Lucey was shown black before David Spillane buried the ball in the back of the Legion net just on half time. Just a point separated the sides at the break, Spa 1-7 Legion 0-11.
In the second half, Conor Keane pointed early for Legion but they were reduced to 14 men after just ten minutes. The second goal for Spa came in the 12th minute when Ryan O’Carroll set up Niall McCarthy and he rattled the net to give Spa a 2-7 to 0-12 lead. Mike O’Donoghue added to the Spa advantage with two pointed frees before a brilliant score from Niall O’Mahony. Evan Cronin and Mike O’Donoghue points late the game increased that lead as Legion were then reduced to 13 men going into injury time.
The Spa defence were outstanding in the final few minutes, with David Carroll pulling off a couple of great saves and some brilliant defending from Spa denied Legion a number of times. A final Legion point by Conor Keane reduced the deficit and they had a penalty shot kicked wide deep in injury time. Spa take the win and the two important county league points.
Final score Spa 2-12 Legion 0-13.
*This game was also doubled up as the East Kerry Senior League Rd 4 tie.
Spa: David Carroll, Byran Russell, Eoin Fitzgerald, Brian Devane, Ciaran Spillane, Niall O’Mahony, Shane Cronin, Liam Kearney, Michael McCarthy, David Spillane, Niall McCarthy, Ryan O’Carroll. Cormac Cronin, Mike O’Donoghue, Evan Cronin. Subs: Eoghan Cronin, Conor Stack, Dan O’Donoghue, Gary Vaughan, Shane Fenton
Legion: Colm O’Cuiv, Cian Gammell, Danny Sheahan, Darragh O’Doherty, Podge O’Connor, Damien O’Sullivan, Rob Leen, Padraig Lucey, Billy McGuire, Jack O’Neill, Cathal Sheahan, Kevin Breen, Peter McCarthy, Finbarr Murphy, Conor Keane. Subs: Aidan Slattery, Donal Lyne
Referee: Billy O'Shea (Keel)
