Spa and Templenoe must share the spoils after the first round of the Senior Club Championship on Saturday evening. It was an entertaining battle throughout with an intense final few minutes that could have swung the result for either side and, despite dominating the play in the first half, we managed to get a last gasp equalizer deep in injury time to secure a draw.

Spa had the advantage of the breeze in the first half, and within the opening minute David Spillane had kicked over the first point of the day, Aidan Crowley responding with a point for Templenoe. Michael Kearney added another for Spa and Evan Cronin soon extended that lead with a free. We also had a goal chance in the 9th minute, a long ball dropping short in front of the Templenoe goalmouth and keeper Mark Looney jumped high to knock it away, where it was collected by Dara Moynihan who shot towards goal but his effort landed just inches wide of the post. Evan Cronin added another point for Spa to make it 0-4 to 0-1 but Templenoe were soon on the attack at the other end. Aidan Crowley had a ‘45 but the ball dropped short and Josh Crowley-Holland ran in towards goal and knocked the ball to the back of the net to level the game at 0-4 to 1-1. A Killian Spillane point edged Templenoe in front, and at the end of first quarter Spa were trailing 0-4 to 1-2.

Michael Foley converted a free to level the game, and just a minute later Spa had turned over the Templenoe kick out and were quickly pressing on goal yet again. A long ball was crossed in by Dara Moynihan and collected by David Spillane, who passed out to Evan Cronin, and Evan’s shot, despite the awkward angle, flew past the keeper and hit the top corner, Spa now ahead 1-5 to 1-2. Killian Spillane fought well to win the ball and score the next Templenoe point, but two points from David Spillane, and another one from Evan Cronin, made it 1-8 to 1-3 to Spa at the break.

Within seconds of the restart Killian Spillane had reduced the gap with a lovely point and a few minutes later he added another from a 14-yard free. Dara Moynihan at the other end called a mark and pointed for Spa but the momentum had swung and the second Templenoe goal soon followed. In the 38th minute, Adrian Spillane was running forward and as he collected a pass from Gavin Crowley, he quickly turned and kicked, his shot flying past the keeper and rattling the net to narrow the margin to just a point at 1-9 to 2-5. Following that, a Michael Foley free was quickly cancelled out by Tadhg Morley, and it was Sean Sheehan’s point, just skimming the crossbar in the 44th minute, that levelled the game at 1-10 to 2-7. Evan Cronin kicked a lovely point at the end of the third quarter to momentarily give Spa the lead once more in this fast-paced second half.

Killian Spillane converted a free to level the game once more, and he kicked another soon after to put Templenoe in front, John Rice soon extending that lead to two. Templenoe did have opportunity to rack up more scores and will certainly rue some missed scoring chances in the final quarter, before Brian Crowley’s point in the 58th minute put three between the sides at 1-11 to 2-11. Spa upped the pressure and Evan Cronin pointed yet again to settle his side as full time approached. He kicked another point in injury time to make for a nerve-wracking finish with both sides under massive pressure to win and retain possession. Templenoe had a shot go wide and this gave Spa one more chance to get that equalizer. They worked hard to break through the Templenoe defence and set up a final scoring opportunity, and deep into injury time Dan O’Donoghue was closing in on goal and punched the ball over the crossbar. The full time whistle followed, the game finishing level at Spa 1-14 Templenoe 2-11.

Well done to our team and management.

Spa will have home advantage for the round 2 fixture against Kenmare next weekend and will then travel to Rathmore for the third and final round the following week.

Spa: Shay O'Meara, Eric O'Donoghue, Brian Lynch, Eoin Fitzgerald, Conor Stack, Dan O'Donoghue, Michael Foley, Ciarán Spillane, Shane Cronin, Rian O'Neill, Evan Cronin, Michael Kearney, David Spillane, Michael Horgan, Dara Moynihan. Subs: Mikey Moynihan, Luke O'Neill, Oran O'Neill

Templenoe: Mark Looney, Ciarán Crowley, Kieran O'Neill, John Rice, Mark Casey, Tadhg Morley, Kieran McCarthy, Seán Sheehan, Gavin Crowley, Martin Reilly, Josh Crowley Holland, Adrian Spillane, Killian Spillane, Brian Crowley, Aidan Crowley. Subs: Patrick Clifford

Referee: Brendan Griffin

Photos: Anne Holland