Spa and Rathmore met in a sunny Fitzgerald Stadium on Friday evening for Round 9 of the Credit Union Co League, with Rathmore edging out a two-point victory on the night. It was a game with plenty of goal chances for both sides and, for most of the last quarter, it looked like the teams might share the spoils, but Rathmore finished well to take the win.

Ciaran Spillane opened the scoring and Fionn Murphy replied immediately for Rathmore. In the 4th minute, we had the first goal chance of the day as Anthony Darmody’s goal shot was superbly blocked by Spa keeper Shay O Meara. Spa added points from Aidan Cronin, Cian Tobin and a lovely Dan O’Donoghue point landing right on the net to go 0-4 to 0-1 in front, and although Spa had the majority of the possession, the Rathmore defence were working well to reduce any scoring opportunities.

John Moynihan was next to threaten the Spa goal, he broke through the Spa defence but Shay O Meara dived to his left and tipped it out for a ‘45 which was duly converted by Fionn Murphy. Murphy added another from a free and Rathmore were getting closer and closer on goal, the green flag eventually being raised after John Moynihan rattled the net from the penalty spot in the 21st minute. Spa had a couple of chances wide of the post before Cian Tobin pointed with a 14-yard free to make it Spa 0-5 to Rathmore 1-3. In the 30th minute Cian Tobin was brought down as he was racing in towards the Rathmore goal line and a penalty awarded, but Rathmore keeper William Casey did well to get a touch and knock it out for a ‘45. At half time, Spa were trailing by one at 0-5 to 1-3.

It was a hectic opening few minutes in the second half as David Spillane quickly levelled the game on the restart, his effort bouncing off the crossbar and over. He was quickly descending on the Rathmore line again moments later, but his shot was saved by the keeper. Aidan Cronin with a free edged Spa in front but Fionn Murphy quickly equalized again to make it 0-7 to 1-4. The second Rathmore goal came in the 35th minute, James Darmody getting the last touch on a loose rolling ball that was collected and finished in the net to make it 0-7 to 2-4. Darragh Nagle added a point for Rathmore and they almost got in for a third goal but Padraig Moynihan’s effort in the 38th minute came back off the post. Cian Tobin added a Spa point before Shay O’Meara was tested once again in the Spa goal, but he pulled off a great save to deny John Moynihan.

Evan Cronin was introduced after 40 minutes and quickly had two points on the board for Spa, the score now 0-10 to 2-5 as the final quarter began. Fionn Murphy and Aidan Cronin exchanged points to keep a minimal margin between the team, but two Fionn Murphy points extended the Rathmore lead once more. Aidan Cronin added another point but injury saw him replaced and Dan O’Donoghue once again pointed to reduce the gap in the 56th minute to make it 0-13 to 2-8. Both sides won and lost possession, and Spa did threaten the Rathmore goal but the ball was turned over and Rathmore went back up the field and James Darmody kicked the final score of the day.

Despite some chances, Spa were unable to get that elusive goal in the final moments and the game ended Spa 0-13 Rathmore 2-9.

Well done to our team and management and wishing all our injured players a speedy recovery.

Spa play Kilcummin next weekend in the penultimate round (fixture details TBC)

Spa: Shay O Meara, Eric O Donoghue, Brian Lynch, Eoin Fitzgerald, Conor Stack, Dan O Donoghue, Michael Foley, Ciaran Spillane, Shane Cronin, Michel Kearney, Aidan Cronin, Mikey Moynihan, David Spillane, Michael Horgan, Cian Tobin. Subs: Luke O Neill, Evan Cronin, Oran O Neill, Thomas Cronin

Rathmore: William Casey, Timmy O Doherty, Jack Buckley, Michael Dennehy, Andrew Moynihan, Padraig Moynihan, Daniel Moynihan, Brendan O Keeffe, Darragh Rahilly, Anthony Darmody, Fionn Murphy, Brian Moynihan, James Darmody, John Moynihan, Darragh Nagle. Subs: Sean Clifford, Trevor Cremin, Cian Dineen, Sean O Riordan

Referee: Brian Fleming

Photos: Anne Holland