Spa welcomed Rathmore last Friday night in the opening round of the East Kerry minor (u17) championship. Aidan Cronin and Ciaran Collins swapped early points before a goal from Darragh Nagle in the 10th minute gave Rathmore the early advantage. A David McCarthy point extended that lead and by the first half water break Rathmore were 0-1 to 1-2 to the good.

Aidan Cronin (2) and Timmy Moynihan replied to reduce the gap before midfielder Fionn Murphy split the posts for Rathmore. Ciaran Collins finished their second goal in the 30th minute but Spa responded immediately as Aidan Cronin rattled the Rathmore net just one minute later, and he added another Spa point before the half time whistle. At the break there was just a point between the sides, Spa trailing 1-5 to 2-3.

In the third quarter Aidan Cronin (2), Oran Daly and Donagh Fahy all pointed with a lone reply from Rathmore’s Fionn Murphy, and at the second half water break Spa were now ahead at 1-9 to 2-4.

It was too close to call in the latter stages of the game, Fionn Murphy pointing for Rathmore before Ciaran Collins slotted home a penalty in the 50th minute, Rathmore now leading by 1-9 to 3-5. Aidan Cronin and Fionn Murphy swapped points before Donagh Fahy slotted a penalty past the Rathmore keeper in the 60th minute to give Spa the narrowest of leads yet again. Timmy Moynihan kicked the final score of the night with Spa winning in the end by 2-11 to 3-6.

Well done to our minor team and management and in the next round we are due to play Glenflesk on Sunday November 21st (12noon in Spa).

Spa: Jack O’Sullivan, Donal Hickey, Rian O’Neill, Danny Coffey, Cian Russell, Aaron O’Connor, Evan O’Neill, Donagh Fahy, Oran O’Neill, Timmy Moynihan, Oran Daly, Luke O’Neill, Aidan Cronin, Ryan McCarthy, Cormac Walsh. Subs: Chris Healy, David O’Sullivan, Joey McCarthy, Stephen Wickham

Rathmore: Brian Murphy, Jack Buckley, Michael Dennehy, Daniel Sheehan, Fahad Miah, Padraig Moynihan, Cian O’Connor, Fionn Murphy, Conor O’Donoghue, Connor Cronin, Darragh Nagle, Cian Twomey, Shane Daly, David McCarthy, Ciaran Collins. Subs: James Twomey, Patryk Sawicki, John Hughes, Cian Mangan, Conor Moynihan

Referee: John Purcell (Kilcummin)

Photos: Anne Holland