On Saturday night Spa came away from Tralee with a win after leaving it very late to come good against John Mitchels. The scoring was close throughout, the sides level a total of nine times during the game, but a late burst from Spa secured the valuable two Co League points.

Spa were first off the mark, Michael Foley on target for the opening score, but Mitchels responded with three points in quick succession from James Duggan (2) and Thomas Kearns. Niall O’Mahony and Mike Foley replied to level the game at 0-3 apiece but again Mitchels jumped ahead, this time the scores from George Bastible and Michael Wrenn. Another point from Spa’s Mike Foley made it 0-4 to 0-5 at the water break.

A great shot from Niall O’Mahony tipped off the inside of the post to level the game yet again before corner forward Cian Murphy finished a great move to the net. Our advantage was short lived however, the Tralee side bouncing back quickly and scores from Alan O’Sullivan and James Duggan (2) soon levelled the game once more. Niall McCarthy and James Duggan swapped points before the break to make it Spa 1-6 to John Mitchels 0-9 at the half time whistle.

The third quarter was again very nip and tuck, and although Spa were winning possession in the middle, they had several passes intercepted when trying to move the ball in to the forward line. George Bastible and James Duggan added two for Mitchels, Mike Foley and Evan Cronin added two for Spa, still nothing separating the sides. Mitchels did get a little breathing space before the water break when Jonathan O’Halloran and Michael Kelleher gave them a two-point advantage at 1-8 to 0-13.

When play resumed, Spa quickly levelled the game for an eighth time, points from Niall McCarthy and Liam Kearney making it 1-10 to 0-13 with about 10 minutes remaining. A superb point from Mitchel’s Michael Wrenn edged them in front momentarily, but it was quickly cancelled out at the other end by Evan Cronin.

Spa had to play very defensive to keep the Mitchels at bay, and there was a moment when Spa overturned the ball in the middle when almost all players were in the Spa half of the field. With space opened up, two Spa lads made a rapid burst forward and Eoin Fitzgerald at the last moment kicked the ball over the bar. Liam Kearney added another and Evan Cronin made it a three-point lead for Spa as injury time began.

Mitchels kept the Spa defense under constant pressure for the final minutes and at the very end they won a 14-yard free in front of the Spa goal. With three points between the teams and time up, there was only ever going to be one option, and the shot was blasted at goal. The Spa line got the slightest touch to tip it over the crossbar and it rolled down the back of the net, with full time called from the kick out.

Final score Spa 1-14 John Mitchels 0-15.

In the next round on July 17th/18th Spa will be home to Dingle.

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

John Mitchels: Conor Hurley, John Horgan, Thomas Kearns, Padraig White, Patrick Kearney, Michael Walsh, Jack Myers, Michael Wrenn, Shane O’Connor, Jonathan O’Halloran, James Duggan, George Bastible, Alan O’Donoghue, Michael Kelleher, Wayne Conway.

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Clounmacon)

Photos: Anne Holland