Spa hosted Austin Stacks on Saturday evening in Rd 2 of the Co League and this is certainly one that can be described as a game of two halves. Although Stacks had worked up a comfortable 12-point lead during the first half, a spirited second half comeback from Spa made for a frantic final few minutes.

Stacks were quick off the mark, Ferdia O’Brien with the opening point before Michael O’Gara found the net in the third minute. Evan Cronin converted a free to put Spa on the scoreboard but it was all Stacks for the rest of the first half, the Tralee side kicking nine points without reply from Fiachna Mangan, Greg Horan (2), Shane O’Callaghan, Dylan Casey, Darragh O’Brien (3) and Jack O’Shea.

As the first half was coming to a close, Stacks were cruising at 1-10 to 0-1, and two Spa points late in the half from Ciaran Spillane and Evan Cronin left a ten-point gap at the break. Half time score Spa 0-3 Austin Stacks 1-10, with two important substitutions in the opening half definitely having a significant impact on the rest of the game, Shane Lynch coming in for Spa and Darragh O’Brien introduced for Austin Stacks.

The second half was played at a much higher intensity as David Spillane goaled for Spa right from the throw-in and Michael Foley quickly added a point. Minutes later, Spillane buried the ball in the net for a second time after a brilliant run from Shane Cronin moving the ball the whole way up the field, and suddenly it was game on, with just three points now separating the teams.

Darragh O’Brien converted a free to extend the Stacks advantage, but Spa had the momentum and a fine point from David Spillane was quickly followed by another from Evan Cronin. Stacks came incredibly close to a second goal as Darragh O’Brien’s shot floated in towards the goalmouth, but the ball was brilliantly cleared off the line by Niall O’Mahony. As the final quarter began, Stacks were reduced to 14 men.

An outstanding high long range point from Dan O’Donoghue reduced the gap before Michael Foley levelled the game for the first time in the 57th minute. And it was Foley again moments later with another to put Spa in front for the first time that day. A black card had Spa also reduced to 14 men for the final few minutes, and Darragh O’Brien quickly levelled the game once again. Between the water break and several stoppages, there was plenty of extra time to be played, and in the 66th minute Cian Murphy punched the ball over the crossbar to edge Spa ahead yet again. Both sides had their opportunities, but a late Stacks free, Darragh O’Brien splitting the posts on 70 minutes, finished the game level at Spa 2-10 Austin Stacks 1-13.

Spa will be away to John Mitchels on July 3rd/4th in the the next round.

Spa: James Devane, Eric O Donoghue, Eoin Fitzgerald, Eoin Cronin, Niall O’Mahony, Ciaran Spillane, Shane Cronin, Dan O’Donoghue, Eoghan Cronin, David Spillane, Michael Foley, Niall McCarthy, Cian Murphy, Evan Cronin, Paul Cahill. Subs: Shane Lynch, Michael Kearney

Stacks: Wayne Guthrie, Colin Griffin, Barry Shanahan, Paul O’Sullivan, Jack O Shea, Dylan Casey, Adam Curran, Brendan O’Sullivan, Greg Horan, Michael O Gara, Fiachna Mangan, Shane Walsh, Ferdia O’Brien, Michael O’Donnell, Shane O’Callaghan. Subs: Darragh O’Brien, David Fitzmaurice, Shane Carroll

Referee: Daniel Clifford (Laune Rangers)

Photos: Anne Holland