Co League Division 1: Spa 2-12 John Mitchels 2-10

Spa travelled to Tralee on Sunday afternoon for the opening round of the Co League. Despite playing against a strong breeze in the opening half, they led for most of the game and secured two important Co League points.

Mike Foley and Niall O’Mahony exchanged early points with Shane O’Connor, George Bastible and Niall Sheehy, before Mike Foley set Mike O’Donoghue up for the first Spa goal in the 18th minute. Additional points from Ciaran Spillane, Mike O’Donoghue and Eoin Cronin were swiftly cancelled out at the other end with Ciarán Deane, Padraig White and Thomas Kearns all on target for the home side. At half time, despite playing against a strong wind, Spa led 1-5 to 0-6.

On the restart, Niall Sheehy kicked three points in quick succession to put Mitchels in front, while Spa, despite several chances, kicked a number of wides at the other end. A black card infraction at the start of the final quarter saw Mitchels reduced to 14 men, and in that period Spa scored 1-5, the points from David Spillane, Cormac Cronin, Evan Cronin (1-2) and Mike Foley, the goal coming off a long ball kicked high into the goalmouth and carried over the white line. Niall Sheehy added another Mitchels point to make it 2-10 to 0-10 with just four minutes on the clock. Evan Cronin kicked two final points for Spa but two late goals for Mitchels, the first in the 63rd minute and the second in the 67th minute, reduced the gap at the very end, with Spa securing the two important league points from their first outing. Final score: Spa 2-12 John Mitchels 2-10

Spa Team: James Devane, Eric O’Donoghue, Eoin Fitzgerald, Shane Lynch, Gary Vaughan, Dan O’Donoghue, Eoin Cronin, Ciaran Spillane, Andrew Garnett, Niall McCarthy, Michael O’Donoghue, Niall O’Mahony, Mike Foley, Evan Cronin, David Spillane. Subs: Liam Kearney, Cormac Cronin, Conor Stack, Eoghan Cronin, Shane Cronin 

Co League Division 6: Spa B 0-12 Dr. Crokes C 1-13 

Spa put up a great battle in Lewis Rd in their first ever Division 6 match, but eventually succumbed to a Dr Crokes outfit inspired by sharpshooter Colm Cooper, who finished with a 0-8 tally.

Cooper opened the scoring from a free and Seán Courtney added another. An excellent Cian Murphy opened Spa's account and had a goal attempt deflected after good work by Oisin Walsh. Paul Cahill levelled matters as Spa started to take control with Cian Murphy and Paul Cahill kicking two great scores. However, Crokes soon turned the tide with Roan Delaney narrowly denied a goal, Connie Cremin making a brilliant block. Colm Cooper and Seán Courtney notched more points before Crokes finally did get a goal, an Oisin O'Connor effort taking a wicked deflection into the net. Colm Cooper added two frees before Diarmuid Cahill pulled one back with a great score just before the break. Half-time Spa B 0-6 Dr. Crokes C 1-6

Cooper and Creagh Courtney extended the lead on the resumption before Conor Brosnan fired over for Spa. Connie Cremin, now playing out the field, fisted over a long ball from Paul Cahill, only for Cooper to reply. Spa then hit a purple patch with points from Paul Cahill, Oisin Walsh, and Cian Murphy, while Ollie Cremin made a superb save to deny Sean Courtney. That cut the gap to two points, 0-11 to 1-10, but that was as close as Spa got, Colm Cooper twice splitting the posts and Seán Courtney getting the final score. While defeated, this was a very encouraging display by a young Spa side.

Spa: Ollie Cremin, Connie Cremin, Brian Devane, John McKenna, Michael Horgan, Hugh O'Donoghue, Diarmuid Cahill, Calum Neher, Paul Cahill, Thomas Cronin, Cian Murphy, Conor Brosnan, Oisin Walsh, Micheál Kearney, Conor Kerins. Subs: Conor Gleeson, Colm Hickey, Mikey Aherne