Spa 2-8 Templenoe/Sneem/Derrynane 1-16
Supporters in Rathmore on Friday night were treated to a thrilling game of football as Spa and Templenoe/Sneem/Derrynane battled it out for the Minor Co. League Division 6 title.
Ryan Kelliher opened the scoring with a pointed free but Templenoe/Sneem/Derrynane, with the wind advantage in the first half, started well and two points from Daniel Crowley and 1-1 from Ruairi Burns had them ahead 1-3 to 0-1 after just six minutes. Michael Horgan kicked a second point for Spa before Ollie Cremin pulled off his first super save of the day. A Daniel Crowley point and three from Jack Riney left Spa trailing 1-7 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter.
A brilliant Cian Murphy shot in the 17th minute rattled the net for the first Spa goal, and two Ryan Kelliher points were quickly cancelled out by two from Daniel Crowley at the other end. Templenoe/Sneem/Derrynane did have a few shots wide of the post in the first half, and with a final score by Mark Looney in injury time, at the break it was Spa 1-4 Templenoe/Sneem/Derrynane 1-10.
Ruairi Burns almost added a second goal for Templenoe/Sneem/Derrynane right from the throw-in but his shot came back off the crossbar and Spa responded immediately, working the ball back up the field for Cian Murphy to hit the back of the net for a second Spa goal. A third goal almost followed but an excellent block by goalkeeper Aidan Crowley denied Alan O'Sullivan. Cian Murphy and Ryan Kelliher points quickly followed to leave just one point between the teams at 2-6 to 1-10.
Ollie Cremin had another brilliant save at the start of the final quarter, but scores from Daniel Crowley and Ciaran O'Sullivan extended the Templenoe/Sneem/Derrynane lead back to three points. Ryan Kelliher pointed again to reduce the gap, before Spa keeper Ollie Cremin pulled off yet another brilliant block at the other end.
Colin Crowley and Ryan Kelliher swapped points before man-of-the-match Ruairi Burns again put three between the sides. As injury time approached, a brilliant run by Cian Murphy almost levelled the game with a last gasp effort but his bullet of a shot ricocheted off the crossbar, and Templenoe/Sneem/Derrynane quickly got the ball back down the pitch for two late Daniel Crowley points to put five between the teams at the end, Spa 2-8 Templenoe/Sneem/Derrynane 1-16.
Congratulations to Templenoe/Sneem/Derrynane and well done to both teams on a highly entertaining game that was in the melting pot right to the very end!
Spa Team: Ollie Cremin, Matt McAuliffe, Connie Cremin, Thomas Cronin, Diarmuid Cahill, Michael Kearney, Keith Myers, Liam Spillane, Calum Neher, Oisín Walsh, Ryan Kelliher, Róirí O’Connor, Michael Horgan, Alan O’Sullivan, Cian Murphy. Subs: Sean O’Sullivan, Eoghan Mulvaney, Sean Hickey, Josh Moore, Hugh Murhill, Ian O’Connell (C)
Management: Conor Gleeson, Pa Murphy, Alfie Giles, Alan Cronin, Jim Gleeson
Templenoe/Sneem/Derrynane Team: Aidan Crowley, Mark Casey, Michael O'Sullivan, Michael O'Sullivan, Adam Gul, Ciaran O'Sullivan, Jack Riney, Conor O'Brien (C), Mark Looney, Tim Murphy, Daniel Crowley, Hugh Granville, Ruairi Burns, Colin Crowley, Colm van Assen. Subs: Dylan Sugrue, Simon O'Connor, Damien Fitzgerald, Eoin O'Dwyer, Michael O'Connor
Referee: John Courtney (Listry)
