Spa progress to the Intermediate semi-finals after a two-point win over Laune Rangers on Saturday night, the highlight of which was a heart-stopping final few moments when Spa keeper James Devane pulled off not one - but TWO - magnificent injury time saves.

John Tyther opened the scoring for Laune Rangers in the first minute with a second effort just wide of the post. As the fourth minute approached, Dara Moynihan overturned the ball on the Rangers ‘45 and made a great run forward, slotting past the Rangers keeper to give Spa an ideal start. John Tyther added another point for Rangers, but Spa swiftly replied at the other end, Shane Cronin making a long run forward and breaking through the Killorglin defence and punched over the bar. Niall O’Mahony added two more to the Spa tally, before Dara Moynihan ran up the right wing and played to Mike Foley who split the posts. By the first half water break, Spa were leading 1-4 to 0-2.

On the restart, Mike Foley tapped over a fine free to extend the Spa advantage. Fiachra Clifford and David Spillane exchanged points before James Devane pulled off his first super save of the day, making a point blank save on Gearoid Hassett’s goal shot, with the resulting ‘45 edging just wide of the post. Fiachra Clifford pointed for Rangers right on half time and at the break, Laune Rangers would rue a number of missed opportunities as Spa had the advantage at 1-6 to 0-4.

At the start of the second half, John Tyther kicked over his third of the day, but Dara Moynihan, who covered every inch of Austin Stack Park on Saturday night, replied at the other end after another brilliant run along the wing. Tyther again split the posts for Rangers, but Spa responded yet again at the other end, this time through Niall McCarthy. Shortly before the second water break, Evan Cronin landed a brilliant high ball right between the posts, and when the stoppage was called, Spa were still keeping Laune Rangers at bay with a somewhat comfortable 1-9 to 0-6 lead.

John Tyther reduced that gap, and with possession exchanging hands on a number of occasions over the next few minutes, Laune Rangers worked a dangerous ball close in to the Spa goalmouth, which Gearoid Hassett landed right between the posts. Spa’s final point of the day came from Mike Stam O’Donoghue and, as injury time began, Spa were ahead 1-10 to 0-8 and it looked like the game was all but over.

Laune Rangers, however, were far from defeated, and James Devane gave another outstanding save on a point blank shot from Peter Crowley. Rangers quickly collected the rebounded shot and worked it into the goalmouth again, and after the ball broke loose in front of goal, Daire Cleary finished it to the back of the Spa net make it 1-10 to 1-8. The most dangerous lead with time up!

Laune Rangers did have another run at the Spa defence, this time it was Roan Moriarty with the attack on the Spa goal, but another outstanding block from James Devane, his third one-one-one save of the day, denied the Killorglin side. The final whistle blew as Spa emerged from defence in possession. A nerve-wracking final few minutes of injury time, but it is Spa who advance to the next stages.

Spa join Castleisland Desmonds and Na Gaeil in the semi-finals, with the final spot to be filled on Sunday afternoon from the winner of the Beaufort v Glenbeigh/Glencar game. Details on fixtures for the next stages to be confirmed in due course.

Spa: James Devane, Eric O’Donoghue, Eoin Fitzgerald, Shane Lynch, Shane Cronin (0-1), Dan O’Donoghue, Gary Vaughan, Ciaran Spillane, Mike O’Donoghue (0-1), Niall O’Mahony (0-2), Dara Moynihan (1-1), Niall McCarthy (0-1), Michael Foley (0-2), Evan Cronin (0-1), David Spillane (0-1). Subs: Eoin Cronin, Michael McCarthy, Cormac Cronin

Laune Rangers: Jason Browne, Sean Arthurs, Conor Murphy, Kieran Crowley, Eoin Clifford, David Mangan, Stephen Sealy, Peter Crowley, Jack O’Connor, Mark O’Connor, Fiachra Clifford (0-2), Shane McSweeney, Daire Cleary (1-0), John Tyther (0-5), Gearoid Hassett (0-1). Subs: David Costelloe, Patrick Carey, Roan Moriarty, Sean Cleary, Shane Daly

Referee: Donal Casey (Scartaglen)

Photos: Anne Holland