Both teams went in to this derby knowing that a win would put them in top spot of Division 1A and qualify for the league final. It was an exciting contest from start to finish, and with Spa hampered with a number of injuries later in the game, Dr Crokes dominated the final few minutes to pull off a draw.

Spa had an ideal start as David Spillane kicked the opening point, before Liam Kearney made a great run in and blasted past the Crokes keeper. Within a minute, however, Brian Looney had rattled the net for Crokes at the other end. Cian Tobin and Jordan Kiely exchanged points before Dan O’Donoghue and Gary Vaughan linked up on the attack, with Cian Tobin knocking the ball into the back of the Crokes goal in the 10th minute to put Spa ahead 2-2 to 1-1.

Kieran O’Leary and Tom Doyle reduced the gap before Gary Vaughan made a blistering run forward and tapped it over the bar. Cian Tobin added another point for Spa, before Shane Cronin and Niall McCarthy combined to set David Spillane up for Spa’s third goal. And, they almost had another moments later, but the ball hit the bottom of the crossbar, bounced out and was cleared.

A high-scoring opening quarter, and at the first half water break, Spa were leading by 3-4 to 1-3. Jordan Kiely added two Crokes points before half time, and at the end of the first half it was Spa 3-4 to Dr Crokes 1-5.

Kieran O’Leary and David Spillane swapped points before Brian Looney broke through on goal, with James Devane blocking the initial goal shot but the rebound finishing in the net to make it 3-5 to 2-6. Cian Tobin split the posts to increase the Spa advantage, but Crokes were very much on the attack, and two points from Kieran O’Leary and Jordan Kiely put the narrowest of leads between the sides at 3-6 to 2-8 just ten minutes into the second half. Gary Vaughan and Niall McCarthy added two points to the Spa tally, and by the second water break just a goal separated the sides at 3-8 to 2-8.

Gary Vaughan and Cian Tobin exchanged scores with Tom Doyle and Kieran O’Leary, but a number of injuries on the Spa team made for a difficult final few minutes. Dr Crokes dominated the play at the end and kept full pressure on the Spa defence, with three late points from Brian Looney finishing the game level at Spa 3-10 Dr Crokes 2-13.

Wishing a speedy recovery to all our injured players.

Spa finish the Co League on 6 points, with all eyes on Dingle and John Mitchels today to see who will top the group to qualify for the Division 1 Final (Dingle or Dr Crokes).

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

Dr Crokes: Shane Murphy, David Naughton, Mike Moloney, Cillian Fitzgerald, Mark Cooper, Fionn Fitzgerald, Michael Potts, Mark O’Shea, Daithi Casey, Brendan Falvey, Brian Looney, Evan Looney, Jordan Kiely, Tom Doyle, Kieran O’Leary. Subs: Johnny Buckley, Mikey Casey, Cillan O’Regan, Harry Potts

Referee: Jonathan Griffin (Glenbeigh/Glencar)