Randles Brothers: 5th Round: Intermediate Championship

28th August 2020 Venue: Tullig, Spa, Killarney

Spa 3-12 Austin Stacks 2-5

Spa Senior ladies clinched their second win of the championship on home soil against Austin Stacks last Friday night. Spa started well, dominating the first quarter scoring 1-7 with a single point from free for the visitors. Saoirse Kelly started quickly registering the first score of round 5 of the championship. Followed shortly with a point from centre forward Niamh Kearney. In fact it was all Spa in the first fifteen minutes with Niamh Kearney scoring the first goal passed the Stacks goalie. However, after the first water break, it was a different story as Austin Stacks pushed up on Spa and the ball found the hands of the Kerry All Star Marina Barry and she slotted passed Linda Bruggener. She added another point shortly after. Spa lost their shape and a ball landed near the goalmouth resulting in an accidental clash between Bruggener and Austin Stacks Sarah Hauve with the ball dribbling into Spa’s net. Spa remained scoreless for the second quarter of the first half. Half time Spa were leading by two. Spa 1-7 Austin Stacks 2-2.

Spa dug deep and with a few words from mentor Tom Tobin, the girls came off the blocks flying with Saoirse Kelly scoring 2 points in quick succession. Our half backs started to attack with Mairead Bennett, Katie O Brien and Gina Crowley up on the forward line and the pressure on the visitors back line resulted in Spa scoring two goals from Mairead Bennett and top scorer Niamh Kearney. Stacks added another three points but it was Spa’s night and they couldn’t close the gap. Ladies don’t have much rest as they are out again Monday night when they travel to Templenoe to play ISG in round 6.

Spa: Linda Bruggener, Elisabeth Stack, Ciara Moynihan, Aisling Mahony, Gina Crowley, Katie O Brien, Mairead Bennett (1-0), Loreta Maher, Cassandra Buckley, Mags Cronin, Niamh Kearney (2-6), Liadh Tobin, Lynn Jones (0-1), Saoirse Kelly (0-4) and Karol Fleming (0-1): Subs: Katie O Connor, Roisin Kearney and Niamh Clifford.

Austin Stacks: Chloe Fitzpatrick, Karena Slattery, Laura Flynn, Michelle Kissane, Niamh Langham, Sarah Fitzgerald, Meabh McElligott, Emma McCarthy, Maeve McKiegan (0-1), Megan O Brien, Caoimhe Barry Walsh (0-3), Sarah Hauve (1-0), Ciara Nix, Linda O Connor and Marina Barry(1-1). Subs: Kerry Oba, Emer O Sullivan, Laura Devane, Lauren Barrett and Kate Nagle

(Photos: Anne Holland)