Spa 0-14 Dr Crokes 1-10
Played in Rathmore on Tuesday night, Spa and Crokes met again as they competed for the East Kerry Junior League Division 2 title. A point, deep in injury time, from Cian Tobin proved to be the winner on the night.
Michael Casey was first on target for Crokes, and Spa had four attempts wide of the mark before Cian Tobin kicked our opening score. He followed with a second but Michael Casey quickly had another two on the board. The first shot on goal came from Cian Tobin but it rebounded off the post, and less than a minute later the same thing happened for Crokes when Sean Courtney's shot bounced back off the Spa post at the end of the first quarter.
Paul Cahill and Darren Gaffey swapped points before Michael Casey netted the Crokes goal in the 19th minute to make it 0-3 to 1-4. Cian Tobin's next point glanced the inside post, Liam Spillane followed with another and Ryan Kelliher sent a long high ball straight between the posts. A point from Mark Hartnett made it 0-6 to 1-5 at half time.
Paul Cahill, Cian Tobin (2) and Liam Spillane exchanged points with Mark Hartnett, Cian O'Neill and Jack Griffin before Crokes were reduced to 14 men going in to the final quarter. Sean Courtney kicked another for Crokes to extend their lead before Paul Cahill scored twice and levelled the game at 0-12 to 1-9 as full time approached.
As injury time began, Alan Kelly kicked a brilliant '45 to edge Crokes in front, but Conor Stack replied for Spa to level the game on 64 minutes. With a number of delays during the half, the play continued and Spa picked up a breaking ball in the middle and closed in on the Crokes goalmouth. A free was awarded and Cian Tobin kicked the winner in the 66th minute. The game finished Spa 0-14 Crokes 1-10.
Well done to the team and to the management of John O'Donoghue, Billy Morris and James Fitzgerald. East Kerry Board officer Donald O'Sullivan was on hand to present the winning trophy to Spa captain Brian Devane after the game.
Spa: David Carroll, John McKenna, Brian Devane, Paudie O'Donoghue, Shane Fenton, Hugh O'Donoghue, Connie Cremin, Andrew Fitzgerald, Conor Stack, Paul Cahill, Cian Tobin, Liam Spillane, Ryan Kelliher, Mikey Moynihan, Conor Gleeson. Subs: Conor Kerins, Alfie Giles, Thomas Fleming, Patrick Cronin
Crokes: Alan Kelly, Sean Coppinger, John Kerrisk, Creagh Courtney, Darren Doherty, Sean O'Neill, James McAuliffe, Cillian O'Regan, Jack Griffin, Roan Delaney, Michael Casey, Cian O'Neill, Mark Hartnett, Darren Gaffey, Sean Courtney. Subs: Ciaran Brosnan
Referee: James Brosnan (Currow)
Photos: Anne Holland
