The East Region Division 3 Minor League final took place on Friday night under lights in Spa in cold, rainy, wintry conditions.

We had a good start to the game with Aidan Cronin (2) and Luke O'Neill (3) on target in the opening quarter to give us a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the first half water break, Dara Fitzgerald with the point for Gneeevguilla. Aidan and Luke added another point each as play continued, with Fitzgerald adding another one for Gneeveguilla, and at half time Spa were ahead by 0-7 to 0-2.

Spa started the second half well and were quickly targeting the goal, two good chances well blocked by the Gneeveguilla keeper. A black card infraction meant we were reduced to 14 men for a spell of the third quarter but the defense did brilliant work to keep Gneeveguilla at bay. Spa notched up three more points before the next water break, Oran O'Neill, Ryan McCarthy and Donagh Fahy adding their names to the score sheet. At the second half water stoppage Spa were now in a commanding lead at 0-10 to 0-2.

Gneeveguilla fought on however with Ross O'Leary rattling the Spa net as soon as the play had resumed. Cian Russell landed a great score but Ross O'Leary was quickly heading for the Spa goal again and slotted last the keeper to make it Spa 0-11 Gneeveguilla 2-2. It made for a nervous finish but Spa won out by the three points in the end to claim the East Region Minor League Division 3 title. East Kerry Board vice-chairman John Dineen was on hand to present the cup to the Spa team and team captain Rian O'Neill.

Well done to our minor team and management of Patrick Cronin, Paul Casey & Des Spillane, a nice way to finish out the year.

Wishing all our injured players a speedy recovery.

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

Referee: Tom Moriarty (Legion)

Photos: Anne Holland