Spa produced a sparkling performance against a badly depleted home side to take two precious county league points away from a sun-drenched Con Keating Park.
Evan Cronin and Niall O'Mahony had Spa quickly on the scoreboard before Daniel Daly (f) opened the home sides' account. Evan Cronin and David Spillane (f) stretched Spa's lead before Mike O'Donoghue deftly finished a great move to the net. David Spillane made it 1-5 to 0-1 after the first quarter and a completely dominant Spa reeled off scores from Evan Cronin (2), Mike O'Donoghue (3, 2f) and Ryan O'Carroll.
Mike O'Donoghue and Ryan O'Carroll also came very close to scoring goals, O'Donoghue just inches wide and Ocarroll forcing a great save out of Michael Daly. Jack Daly, St. Mary's best player, did burst through for a great goal, and Daniel Daly (f) and Conor O'Shea added points. They were battling against the tide, though, with Spa closing out the half strongly through Ciaran Spillane ('45), Mike McCarthy, and a goal from David Spillane. Half-time Spa 2-12 St. Marys 1-3
Spa completely controlled the third quarter, with Shane Cronin and Mike O'Donoghue pointing before Evan Cronin gathered from David Spillane and slipped it under the keeper. The same player added two more points to put the game well beyond St. Marys' reach.
They never stopped trying, Daniel Daly (3, 2f) and Brian Curran battling all the way to a finish. Cormac Cronin closed our Spa's scoring before Cian Esmonde finished St. Marys' tally.
Spa: James Devane, Eoghan Cronin, Brian Lynch, Eoghan Fitzgerald, Bryan Russell, Dan O'Donoghue, Ciaran Spillane (0-1, 1'45), Shane Cronin (0-1), Mike McCarthy (0-1), Ryan O'Carroll (0-1), Mike O'Donoghue (1-4, 2f), Niall O'Mahony (0-1), David Spillane (1-2, 1f), Evan Cronin, (1-6), Cormac Cronin (0-1). Subs Gary Vaughan (for Shane Cronin, 43 mins), Andrew Garnett (for Niall O'Mahony, 43 mins), Niall McCarthy (for Evan Cronin, 43 mins), Shane Fenton (for David Spillane, 48 mins), Evan Cronin (for Mike O'Donoghue, 55 mins)
St. Marys: Michael Daly, Ian Casey, Brian Curran, Patrick Cournane, Conor O'Shea (0-1), Oisin Moran, Niall Brennan, Jack Daly (1-0), Mark Quigley, Darren Casey, Adam Quirke, Kevin Moriarty, Muiris Fitzgerald, Daniel Daly (0-5, 4f), Mark O'Shea. Subs Cian Esmonde 0-1 (for Mark O'Shea, 23 mins), Gearoid O'Driscoll (for Niall Brennan, 49 mins), Noel Cournane (for Mark Quigley, 57 mins)
Referee: Billy Lacey