Spa 6-14 Skellig/Valentia 3-9
Spa travelled to Valentia on Saturday afternoon and despite the heavy rain and the gale force winds, this became a very high-scoring game.
Skellig/Valentia were playing with the wind in the opening half and were first on the score sheet with four points from Sonny Curran (2), Stephen Keating and Tadhg Lyne. Spa replied with points from Ryan Kelliher and Cian Murphy, but the home team were quickly on the attack again, with Joe Lynch netting the first goal of the day. Spa responded with a Cian Murphy goal and at the end of the first quarter we were trailing 1-2 to 1-5.
Sonny Curran extended the Skellig/Valentia lead with a long high ball between the posts and Alan O'Sullivan replied at the other end for Spa. A goal from Ryan Kelliher followed, and Conor Brosnan's shot went straight between the posts to put just a point between the sides. However, the home team immediately came back down the field and Stephen Keating's goal was quickly followed by a second from Joe Lynch and the score was now 2-4 to 3-5. Two Spa goals from Ryan Kelliher and Michael Horgan, and two more points from Skellig/Valentia's Sonny Curran had the scores level by half time, Spa 4-4 Skellig/Valentia 3-7.
In the second half, Spa were playing with the high winds, and while Ryan Kelliher and Sonny Curran exchanged points at the start, Spa were soon leading with more scores from Ryan Kelliher (4) and Cian Murphy (2). Cian Dowd added a point for Skellig /Valentia but Spa finished the game well and kicked 2-3 in the final minutes, the scores from Ryan Kelliher (1-1), Cian Murphy (0-2) and Oisin Walsh (1-0).
Final score Spa 6-14 Skellig / Valentia 3-9.
Spa are due to play St Michael's Foilmore (in Spa) on Saturday March 2nd at 4pm in Round 2.
Spa Team:
Ollie Cremin, Conor Brosnan (0-1), Michael Kearney, Diarmuid Cahill, Liam Spillane, Thomas Cronin, Alan O'Sullivan (0-1), Calum Neher, Oisín Walsh (1-0), Ryan Kelliher (3-7), Keith Myers, Michael Horgan (1-0), Cian Murphy (1-5).
Subs: Sean Hickey, Róirí O'Connor
Skellig / Valentia Team:
Cian O'Sullivan, Fionán Hussey, Finn Corcoran, Jack Whelan, Fionán O'Sullivan, Stephen Riordan, Sonny Curran (0-6), Joe Lynch (2-0), Donnacadh Lyne, Stephen Keating (1-1), Tadhg Lynch (0-1), Cian Dowd (0-1), Ben Egan