Spa bowed out of this year's O'Donoghue Cup East Kerry Championship after a 3-point defeat to neighbours Dr Crokes in Fitzgerald Stadium this afternoon.
Spa started well and, with points from Mike O'Donoghue, Mike Foley and Ryan O'Carroll, they took an early 0-3 to 0-0 lead. Mark O'Shea, Micheal Burns and Daithi Casey quickly levelled the game however, and Evan Cronin and Daithi Casey swapped additional scores to make it 0-4 to 0-4 at the end of the first quarter.
Mike O'Donoghue, Evan Cronin and Mike Foley all scored to edge Spa in front again. Michael Burns replied with a point for Crokes before he made a run in towards goal and after a scramble in the goalmouth, the green flag was waved. Mike O'Donoghue levelled the game once again at 0-8 to 1-5 but points from Daithi Casey, Tony Brosnan and Michael Potts, followed by points from Mike McCarthy and Mike O'Donoghue, made it Spa 0-10 to Crokes 1-8 at half time.
Crokes had the better third quarter and quickly increased their advantage, Michael Potts, Tony Brosnan, Johnny Buckley and Michael Burns (2) all on target, with Spa just finding one reply from Mike McCarthy. Evan Cronin and David Spillane kicked over two Spa points to put just a goal between the sides at 0-13 to 1-13 but, as the final quarter began, Mark O'Shea got a touch to a high ball kicked into the small square and Crokes had their second goal on the board.
Spa were chasing the game from here on, Evan Cronin (2) swapping scores with Tony Brosnan (2) and Michael Burns before Mike Foley eventually landed that elusive Spa goal in the 57th minute to make it 1-15 to 2-16. Johnny Buckley pointed, and with replies from Mike Foley and Mike O'Donoghue, again it was just a goal between the sides for most of the added injury time. Final scores from Niall McCarthy and Tony Brosnan kept that gap as the final whistle blew, Spa 1-18 Dr Crokes 2-18.
Spa Team: James Devane, David Spillane, Eoin Fitzgerald, Brian Lynch, Shane Lynch, Dan O'Donoghue, Ciaran Spillane, Liam Kearney, Shane Cronin, Gary Vaughan, Ryan O'Carroll. Michael McCarthy, Michael Foley, Michael O'Donoghue, Evan Cronin. Subs: Niall O'Mahony, Niall McCarthy, Eoghan Cronin
Dr Crokes Team: Shane Murphy, John Payne, Michael Moloney, David Naughton, Cillian O'Regan, Gavin White, Brian Looney, Johnny Buckley, Mark O'Shea, Micheál Burns, Michael Potts, Gavin O'Shea, Tony Brosnan, Daithí Casey, Kieran O'Leary. Subs: Alan O'Sullivan, Michael Casey, Jack Griffin
Referee: Tom Moriarty (Legion)
