Spa had a slow start to the game and, playing with the wind in the opening half, they kicked several wides, but a stronger second half performance and some great individual displays earned Spa two more Co League points.
The game began with a point each for Ciaran Spillane and Jamie Lowham before Cormac Cronin rattled the net in the 17th minute for the first Spa goal. A point from Dan O'Donoghue followed to put Spa in front 1-2 to 0-1 before Ryan O'Carroll was sent to the line on a black card. Na Gaeil quickly levelled the game with a point from Kieran O'Donovan before Dan Goggin dropped the ball in front of the Spa goalmouth where it was fumbled and crossed the white line.
A free from Mike O'Donoghue put Spa ahead temporarily, but Na Gaeil scored a second goal just three minutes after their first one, Ian McCarthy the goal scorer in the 27th minute. With a point from Jamie Lowham, and another free from Mike O'Donoghue, the home side led at the break, Spa 1-4 Na Gaeil 2-3.
Spa opened the second half well and worked the ball in to the small square where the brilliant Ciaran Spillane set up Mike O'Donoghue for another Spa point. Dara Devine quickly responded for Na Gaeil before Niall McCarthy finished Spa's second goal. Another point from Dara Devine and the sides were level at 2-5 apiece going in to the final quarter.
Shane Cronin kicked the next one for Spa to briefly take the lead, but after a great save by David Carroll at the other end, Na Gaeil went in front again after points from Jamie Lowham and Darragh Reen. Shane Cronin buried the ball in the back of the net in the 50th minute, and Niall McCarthy followed with a point, but Dara Devine scored the third goal for Na Gaeil to make it level pegging once more at 3-7 to 3-7 with less than five minutes remaining.
A minute later and Mike Foley rattled the net for a fourth goal for Spa, and shortly after Shane Cronin kicked the ball straight between the posts, but Na Gaeil continued to chase, and two late points from Dara Devine did reduce the gap before the final whistle blew, the game finishing Spa 4-8 Na Gaeil 3-9.
Another two points on the board, and next up we are home to Dr Crokes on the weekend of June 29/30.
Spa: David Carroll, Eoghan Cronin, Eoin Fitzgerald, Brian Devane, Niall O'Mahony, Dan O'Donoghue (0-1), Ciaran Spillane (0-1), Shane Cronin (1-2), Michael McCarthy, Ryan O'Carroll, Michael O'Donoghue (0-3), Niall McCarthy (1-1), Cormac Cronin (1-0), Michael Foley (1-0), David Spillane. Subs: Conor Stack, Liam Spillane, Shane Lynch
Na Gaeil: Timmy Culloty, Ryan O'Neill, Kieran Dineen, Shane Fitzgerald, Kieran O'Donovan, Eoin Doody, James O'Connor, Mike Griffin, Shamie O'Neill, Ian McCarthy (1-0), Dan Goggin (1-0), Darragh Reen (0-1), Paul Daly, Jamie Lowhan (0-2), Dara Devine (1-6).
Referee: Seamus Mulvihill Snr (St Senans)
