Spa recorded a win at home to Kenmare Shamrocks on Saturday evening in Rd5 of the Co League to secure another valuable two county league points.
Tom Murnane was first on the scoreboard from a mark before Mike Stam O’Donoghue replied for Spa. Evan Cronin pointed a free and Kenmare hit two more from long range, both from Kevin O’Sullivan, to make it 0-2 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter.
In the 18th minute Mike O’Donoghue was shown a black card and although reduced to 14 men temporarily, Spa reacted well. Cian Murphy added two points, his first from a mark and his second from a great team move between himself, David Spillane and Mike Foley. Evan Cronin added another late in the half before Pearse O’Brien added one for the visitors. It was a low scoring half as both teams hit a number of wides, and at the break Spa were in front at just 0-5 to 0-4.
Spa started the second half well and soon had three more points on the board, Ciaran Spillane, Evan Cronin and Cian Murphy all on target. Kevin O’Sullivan kicked over a free for Kenmare before the introduction of Paul O’Connor. The visitors were soon descending on the Spa goal but a powerful shot came back off the crossbar and Spa worked it back up the field with Evan Cronin adding another point. At the end of the third quarter Spa were ahead at 0-9 to 0-5.
Moments later Spa were again on the attack, Cian Tobin breaking through the Kenmare defence for the first Spa goal in the 48th minute. Kenmare responded immediately and Cian O’Sullivan made a sprint towards the Spa goal but Shane Cronin made a brilliant block right in front of the Spa goal line.
Paul O’Connor and Evan Cronin swapped scores before Dan McCarthy added another for Kenmare to make it 1-10 to 0-7 with five minutes left on the clock. Spa came close on goal a second time, Cian Murphy instead opting to punch over the bar for his fourth point of the day. Evan Cronin landed another before a Kenmare penalty in the 63rd minute, Paul O’Connor slotting past the keeper. From the kickout, Liam Kearney and Shane Cronin linked up for a run and worked it in to David Spillane who netted the second Spa goal. The final whistle was blown and the game ended Spa 2-12 Kenmare Shamrocks 1-7.
Spa are away to An Ghaeltacht in the next round on the weekend of May 14th/15th with our Senior B team home to Ballymacelligott B next Sunday (May 8th at 2pm).
Spa: James Devane, Brian Lynch, Eoin Fitzgerald, Eoin Cronin, Ryan O'Carroll, Shane Cronin, Gary Vaughan, Ciaran Spillane (0-1), Liam Kearney, Michael O'Donoghue (0-1), Evan Cronin (0-6), Niall McCarthy, David Spillane (1-0), Cian Murphy (0-4), Michael Foley. Subs: Cian Tobin (1-0), Shane Lynch
Kenmare: Kieran Fitzgibbon, Dara Crowley, James McCarthy, Tommy O’Sullivan, Jamie Regan, Dara O’Shea, Cian O’Sullivan, Tommy O’Sullivan, Griffin Wharton, Domhnall Conroy, Kevin O’Sullivan (0-3), Tom Murnane (0-1), Pearse O’Brien (0-1), David Hallissey, Dan McCarthy (0-1). Subs: Paul O’Connor (1-1)
Referee: Peter Curtin (Brosna)
Photos: Anne Holland
