O'Donoghue Cup Championship Rd 1
Spa 0-16 Glenflesk 1-12
Spa only just about edged past Glenflesk on Saturday afternoon in the first round of this year's O'Donoghue Cup Championship.
Glenflesk were first off the mark with two quick points from wing forward Patrick D'Arcy. Evan Cronin and David Spillane levelled the game before Darragh Roche broke free of his marker and was closing in on goal, but keeper James Devane got his foot to it to pull off a super save. Spa were soon on the attack again at the other end and Michael O'Donoghue tapped over two close range frees before a Darragh Roche point made it 0-4 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Spa increased their advantage with more points from Evan Cronin and Michael O'Donoghue (2) before Darragh Roche replied for Glenflesk to make it 0-7 to 0-4. Scores from David Spillane and Michael O'Donoghue soon made it 0-9 to 0-4 before Darragh Roche was on target again for the home side. The Spa keeper was put under pressure again when Kieran A O'Donoghue dropped a high ball in front of goal but it was tipped over the crossbar. A Liam Kearney point for Spa made it 0-10 to 0-6 at the half time break.
Right from the throw in Glenflesk were attacking again and within seconds Darragh Roche rattled the net. Dara Fleming followed up with a point for Glenflesk and just four minutes into the second half and the sides were level at 0-10 to 1-7. Evan Cronin edged Spa in front but Jeff O'Donoghue levelled before another point from Patrick D'Arcy put the home side ahead. Niall McCarthy and D'Arcy exchanged points before substitute Ryan O'Carroll's effort was on target for Spa, and the game was level yet again at 0-13 to 1-10.
At this stage the game looked like it could go either way but Darragh Roche, with two, gave Glenflesk the advantage at 1-12 to 0-13 with less than ten minutes on the clock. Evan Cronin clawed one back for Spa and Niall O'Mahony kicked the equalizer to put it 0-15 to 1-12 with five minutes remaining.
A great score by Evan Cronin had Spa leading by just one, and with a few minutes of injury time to be played, it looked like extra time could be on the cards. Deep in added time Glenflesk had a free to equalise, but it tipped off the outside of the post and back into play, but to Spa's relief the last kick went right and wide. Final score Spa 0-16 Glenflesk 1-12.
This game was also doubled up as the East Kerry Senior League Division 1 Final and after the game Jemma Fleming was on hand with East Kerry Chairman Johnny Brosnan and sponsor Frank Doran to present the Jimmy Fleming Cup to Spa captain Michael O'Donoghue.
Spa: James Devane, Eoghan Cronin, Brian Lynch, Shane Lynch, Ciaran Spillane, Eoin Fitzgerald, Gary Vaughan, Liam Kearney, Shane Cronin, Michael McCarthy, Michael Foley, Niall McCarthy, David Spillane, Michael O'Donoghue, Evan Cronin, Subs: Niall O'Mahony, Dan O'Donoghue, Andrew Garnett, Ryan O'Carroll
Glenflesk: Marc Kelliher, Shane Courtney, James McCarrick, Oran Donoghue, Kieran A O'Donoghue, Chris O'Donoghue, Denis O'Connor, Jeff O'Donoghue, Alan Murphy, Michael O'Shea, Brian O'Donoghue, Patrick D'Arcy, Ian Roche, Darragh Roche, Stephen O'Donoghue. Subs: Dara Fleming, Sean Doherty
Referee: Tom Moriarty
Photos: Anne Holland
