Spa travelled to Milltown/Castlemaine on Sunday afternoon for Rd8 of the Credit Union County League and, despite trailing for much of the game, Spa came out on top with a one point victory. Four goals in the second half at crucial moments, two for Milltown/Castlemaine at the start of the half and two for Spa at the end of the half, were major turning points in the game with both sides having opportunities to take the win. This result gives us two more much-needed points as just three rounds remain in the county league.

David Roche, Dara Hogan and Sean Hogan had three points on the board for the home side in a slow-paced opening quarter before Dan O’Donoghue won a free which was converted by Cian Tobin to open the Spa account. Shane Cronin added another and Aidan Cronin scored the next from a free to level the play at 0-3 apiece. Dara Horgan and Mikey Moynihan exchanged scores before a Dara Hogan free was quickly cancelled out by David Spillane at the other end to leave it level pegging at half time at Spa 0-5 Milltown/Castlemaine 0-05.

Milltown/Castlemaine hit a purple patch early in the second half and in the 4th minute Cathal Moriarty found the net for the first goal of the day. Cian Tobin replied with a Spa free before Dara Hogan slotted past the keeper for a second Milltown/Castlemaine goal. With just 6 minutes gone in the second half, the home team had quickly opened up a 2-5 to 0-6 lead. Dara Hogan added another point, but Spa responded well and kicked three in a row from Cian Tobin (2) and David Spillane, and with ten minutes left on the clock, just a goal separated the sides at 0-9 to 2-6.

In the 57th minute David Spillane was threatening the Milltown/Castlemaine goal but was brought to the ground and Cian Tobin stepped up to slot home a penalty and draw the sides level as full time was approaching. Dara Hogan pointed quickly to put Milltown/Castlemaine ahead once more, but Spa had found their momentum and in the 60th minute substitute Eoin O Riordan rattled the Milltown/Castlemaine net to put Spa in front for the first time in the game at 2-9 to 2-7. Dara Hogan added one more to the Milltown/Castlemaine tally in injury time as Spa ran out eventual winners on a score-line of Spa 2-9 to Milltown/Castlemaine 2-8.

Congrats to our team and management. The next round games are scheduled for the June Bank Holiday weekend and Spa will be playing against Rathmore next (fixture details TBC).

Photos: Anne Holland