Spa welcomed Kerins O’Rahillys on Saturday night in our first ever Kerry Senior Club Championship County semi-final in front of a bumper crowd and in ideal conditions. This was a nail-biting high-intensity game that went right down to the wire, and it was a game that wasn't without a few controversial talking points afterwards. Yellow, black and red cards galore - both on the field and on the sidelines - from start to finish as both sides gave full value for the entry fee. The sides couldn’t be separated in normal time and it was the Tralee side that made the most of their chances in extra time to eventually win out by 3 points.

It was full action right from the start as Gavin O’Brien received a black card after just 3 minutes. With the advantage of the extra man, Spa put three points on the board from Evan Cronin (2) and Mike Foley while the visitors replied with a Jack Savage free. As O’Brien was preparing to return to play, Jack Savage was next to be sent to the sin bin in the 13th minute. Eoin Fitzgerald kicked a lovely point for Spa but Rahillys were quickly descending on the Spa goal at the other end, James Devane with a great point-blank save. Evan Cronin added another point from a mark and at the end of an action-packed opening quarter Spa had opened up a 0-5 to 0-1 lead.

David Moran hit a huge score for Rahillys but Spa replied with points from Ryan O’Carroll and Evan Cronin (f). Tom Hoare kept Rahillys within range however, adding three from frees before Jack Savage added another - it looked like a goal might be on but his effort landed just inches over the bar. Mike Foley finished out the first half scores with an outstanding free from a difficult angle, and at half time Spa were just two points ahead at 0-8 to 0-6.

On the resumption, Gavin O’Brien pointed to close the gap but Spa quickly had two more points on the board from David Spillane and Evan Cronin to make it 0-10 to 0-7. Rahillys were quick to respond, and Jack Savage and David Moran soon had that gap back to one point. Spa did get a goal shot in, Dan O’Donoghue on the end of a great move but the Tralee keeper knocked it out for a ‘45. In the 41st minute came the penalty - a long ball driven in to Diarmuid O’Sullivan but he was fouled as the ball was dropping in and Jack Savage made no mistake with the penalty kick to make it Spa 0-10 to Kerins O Rahillys 1-9. Gearoid Savage and Sean Walsh added two scores while Shane Cronin responded at the other end for Spa. As the final quarter began, there just a goal between the sides at 0-11 to 1-11.

Mike Foley and Jack Savage exchanged frees and Evan Cronin added another for Spa before both sides were reduced to 14 men in the 55th minute - Dan O’Donoghue and Jack Savage involved in a tussle off the ball and both receiving yellow cards - Dan sent to the sidelines on two yellows and Jack sent off on a black and a yellow.

Mike Foley added a free to bring it back to a one point game and as injury time began there was a long delay for injury, a controversial clash as Spa were on the attack. Ross O’Callaghan was shown black and Eoin Fitzgerald was assisted from the field with a head injury, but…. no free awarded. Shane Cronin kicked the equaliser shortly after play resumed and Spa almost had the winner, Cian Tobin’s effort off the post and he collected the rebound and crossed to Ciaran Spillane at the other side of the square but as Ciaran was brought to the ground, the final whistle blew and the game ended Spa 0-15 to Kerins O’Rahillys 1-12.

Spa will rue a number of missed chances in extra time, adding no score in the first half as Rahillys jumped ahead with three points from Barry John Keane, Conor Hayes and TJ Heaphy to go 0-15 to 1-15 ahead at half time in extra time.

Spa’s only score in extra time came in the last minute of normal time off the boot of Conor Stack. We did have two great goal saves to deny Rahillys before Conor Hayes was next to get his marching orders on a black card. Late into injury time, Barry John Keane was charging towards goal, one on one with the keeper, but he was brought to the ground before he got a shot in, James Devane sent off with a black card and Barry John kicking a final point from the penalty spot.

Final score after extra time: Spa 0-16 Kerins O’Rahillys 1-16.

Wishing the best of luck to Kerins O’Rahillys in the final.

Congratulations to our senior team and management for showing they are certainly worthy of their place in senior club championship grade. Wishing all our injured players a speedy recovery.

Next up is Co. Championship Rd1 against Dingle (neutral venue) on September 10th/11th followed by Rd2 and Rd3 games with Kerins O’Rahillys and East Kerry (home / away fixtures and venues TBC).

Spa: James Devane, Eric O'Donoghue, Dan O'Donoghue, Eoin Fitzgerald (0-1), Shane Lynch, Shane Cronin (0-2), Gary Vaughan, Liam Kearney, Ciaran Spillane, Ryan O'Carroll (0-1), Evan Cronin (0-6 (1f)), Mike O’Donoghue, Brian Lynch, Mike Foley (0-4 (3f)), David Spillane (0-1). Subs: Eoin Cronin, Cian Tobin, Liam Spillane, Mikey Moynihan, Conor Stack (0-1)

Kerins O'Rahillys: Shane Foley, Ross O’Callaghan, Shane Brosnan, Darragh McElligott, Padraig Neenan, Ryan Carroll, Ben Hanafin, Darragh O’Connor, David Moran (0-2), Tom Hoare (0-3f), Jack Savage (1-5 (2f 1-1P)), Gavin O’Brien (0-1), Gearoid Savage (0-1), Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Barry John Keane (0-1). Subs: Sean Walsh (0-1), Conor Hayes (0-1), Padraig Griffin, TJ Heaphy (0-1)

Referee: Sean Joy (Laune Rangers)

Photos: Anne Holland