Spa hosted Templenoe earlier today in the third round of the 2021 Senior Club Championship in front of a bumper crowd. Even though the game was very low-scoring, it was played at what can only be described as a fiercely high intensity.

Conditions were appalling on the day with the teams battling strong winds and heavy showers, and overall it was a free-ridden game from start to finish. Spa failed to score in the first half while Templenoe, playing with 13 men from the 38th minute on, kicked their only point of the second half deep in injury time.

Killian Spillane opened the scoring with a Templenoe point in the ninth minute. Shortly after he added another, before their closest goal chance of the day - Josh Crowley Holland running through but his effort going wide. Spillane added a third point from a long range free on the quarter hour mark, and at the water break, Templenoe were 0-3 to 0-0 to the good.

Spa had only three real attacks in the first half, one shot dropping short into the keeper’s hands and one bouncing off the post. Niall McCarthy did have a good effort kicked high and it looked to be over but disappointingly the white flag stayed down.

Templenoe extended their lead before half time, Colin Crowley with a ‘45 before Brian Crowley split the posts in injury time. And at the half time whistle, Spa were trailing by 0-0 to 0-5.

Within two minutes of the restart Templenoe were reduced to 14 men, John Rice with a black card after already being booked in the first half. Spa got their chance to attack, and Evan Cronin, with a free from out near the sideline, eventually got Spa on the board in the 35th minute. Three minutes later and Templenoe were now down to 13 men, Colin Crowley with a straight red.

Unfortunately, Spa failed to capitalise on having two extra players on the field and made hard work of adding any scores. After a long build up Shane Cronin added a second point for Spa, and both sides had some chances going wide before the second half water break was called, Spa now trailing 0-2 to 0-5.

Mike Foley gave Spa their third point before Ciaran Spillane landed a brilliant shot in towards goal in the 57th minute, David Spillane ready inside to catch, turn and blasted to the back of the net. With that, Spa took the lead for the first time in the game at 1-3 to 0-5. There were several turnovers, wide shots and fouling all over the field in the final few minutes, and as injury time was just beginning, Spa were reduced to 14 men when Dara Moynihan received a second yellow.

Both teams will definitely rue missed opportunities in this game. Killian Spillane kicked over a free in the 64th minute, Templenoe’s only point of the second half, to level the game. Both sides had chances to take the win, but eventually the final whistle blew and this low-scoring affair ended level pegging at 1-3 to 0-6.

With the group so close going into this final round, Spa had a wait a few minutes before the result in Lewis Rd was confirmed. Our draw today means we finish on 3 points, level on the table with Templenoe. However, as the head-to-head between the two teams was a draw, scoring difference decides our fate. Spa finish third in the table, no semi-final and no relegation battle, but importantly we have succeeded in securing our senior status for 2022.

Well done to our team & management making the quick jump from Intermediate to Senior, and wishing all our injured players a speedy recovery.

Next up will be the Co. Championship Rd1 tie with Legion on the weekend of Oct 30th/31st (neutral venue).

Spa: James Devane, Brian Lynch, Eoin Fitzgerald, Shane Lynch, Shane Cronin (0-1), Dan O’Donoghue, Cian Murphy, Mike McCarthy, Ciaran Spillane, Niall O’Mahony, Mike Foley (0-1), Dara Moynihan, Niall McCarthy, Evan Cronin (0-1f), Cian Tobin. Subs: Ryan O’Carroll, David Spillane (1-0)

Templenoe: Mark Looney, Mark Casey, Kieran O’Neill, Tadhg Morley, Tom Spillane, Gavin Crowley, John Rice, Josh Crowley Holland, Adrian Spillane, Teddy Doyle, Brian Crowley (0-1), Colin Crowley (0-1f), Stephen O’Sullivan, Sean Sheehan, Killian Spillane (0-4(2f)).

Referee: Eamon Moran (Ballydonoghue)