Congratulations to our Senior team & management on their victory over Beaufort to claim the long-awaited 2020 Intermediate Club Championship title. There was huge support for Spa in the Stadium on Sunday afternoon and thank you to all the supporters who got behind the team on the day and who sent in messages of support and tuned in online and on Radio Kerry.

Played in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the difference at the end of the day was a hatrick from man-of-the-match Cian Tobin that gave the Spa side a comfortable cushion as the game progressed. Spa had no less than twelve different scorers on the day, and great teamwork across all sectors earned them a first Intermediate title since 2009. It’s the third time in the club’s history that they have won the Intermediate Co. Championship title after suffering defeat in their last three final appearances (2012, 2014 and 2015).

Fergal Hallissey got Beaufort on the scoreboard within the first minute but Spa quickly replied at the other end, Mike Foley opening the Spa account with a well won free from a difficult angle, and Niall O’Mahony soon followed with a point from the same side. Dara Moynihan, who put in a superb performance on Sunday, made it 3 after slipping right through the Beaufort defence and splitting the posts. Beaufort were soon attacking however, with Sean O Brien landing a long ball in towards the goalmouth and both Dan O’Donoghue and James Devane getting right in front of the ball to block Padraig Doona’s shot, Fergal Hallissey on target with the ‘45 that followed. Mike Foley did well to set up the next attack, playing in to Evan Cronin who landed it straight between the posts. At the other end, a brilliant Liam Carey point was quickly followed by another from Mike Breen to level the game at 0-4 apiece just ten minutes in.

Corner forward Fergal Hallissey edged Beaufort in front again with a well-taken free from 35 yards out, but Shane Cronin responded, bursting through their defence and in the end fisting over the bar. Gary Vaughan was unlucky not to add a score as he kicked a high dropping ball that was cleared by Beaufort keeper Sean Coffey, but Niall McCarthy and Dara Moynihan added two for Spa before the first half water break to hold Spa at a narrow lead of 0-7 to 0-5.

Mike Foley did get a shot in to threaten the Beaufort goal but keeper Sean Coffey did well to knock the ball away from the danger zone. Liam Carey and Spa captain Evan Cronin swapped scores before a brilliant point from Beaufort corner forward Padraig Doona was followed by another from Liam Carey to level the game at 0-8 apiece. The first goal came in the 26th minute, Evan Cronin with a great run but his effort came back off the upright into the waiting hands of Cian Tobin, who duly finished it to the back of the net. Ronan Murphy kicked the ninth score for Beaufort, before Ciaran Spillane collected a pass from Dara Moynihan and bore down on goal but in the finish opted to punch over the bar. Evan Cronin had another attack on the Beaufort goal but Sean Coffey did well to stop the shot with the Beaufort defence clearing the ball. At half time it was the goal that separated the sides, with Spa leading at 1-9 to 0-9.

Within a minute of the restart Padraig Doona added a point for Beaufort, before Dara Moynihan immediately replied in kind at the scoreboard end. Beaufort did well to deny a promising goal opportunity, Sean Coffey getting a touch as Niall McCarthy caught the end of a move between Dara Moynihan and Evan Cronin, and Gary Vaughan kicked over the resulting ‘45. Fergal Hallissey added another point for Beaufort before a massive sprint from Shane Cronin was laid off to the waiting Cian Tobin who netted his second goal of the day in the 36th minute to make it 2-11 to 0-11. Padraig Doona and Tobin both added points to the scoresheet before Liam Carey dropped a dangerous shot near the Spa goalmouth, James Devane and Shane Cronin clearing the threat. Following on, a lovely Mike Foley free from 40 yards out increased the Spa advantage and then Ciaran Spillane did well to intercept the next kick out and he passed it through to Cian Tobin whose shot ricocheted off the inside of the post and rattled the net once more, his hatrick complete on 43 minutes.

Nathan Breen threatened the Spa goal with a long high ball dropped into the square and he jumped high alongside Spa keeper James Devane, but his touch just sending it an inch or two too high and it skimmed the top of the crossbar. They were threatening goal again soon after, with Sean O’Brien working the ball dangerously close but this time it was well blocked and cleared by full-back Eoin Fitzgerald. By the second half water break, Spa had gone eight points clear at 3-13 to Beaufort 0-14.

Mike Breen kicked his second of the day, another Beaufort point that just scraped the top of the crossbar before a brilliant point at the other end, Shane Cronin’s effort kicked up to the clouds, flying high and over the bar. Ciarán Kennedy and Dan O’Donoghue exchanged points before a great team play from the outstanding Liam Kearney, Evan Cronin and Mike McCarthy set David Spillane up for Spa’s fourth and final goal in the 54th minute. Ciarán Kennedy, Jack O’Connor and Padraig Doona exchanged scores with Mike McCarthy and Dara Moynihan before Padraig Doona slotted past keeper James Devane in the 59th minute. As injury time began Beaufort were reduced to 14 men and shortly after, Evan Cronin kicked the final Spa score, a fine point near the sideline. A late point from Liam Carey at the Lewis Rd end finished the game at Spa 4-18 Beaufort 1-19.

Spa captain Evan Cronin climbed the steps of the Fitzgerald Stadium to collect the Cup from Co Board Chairman Tim Murphy, with Cian Tobin announced as their man-of-the-match after scoring a highly impressive 3-1.

After claiming the 2020 Intermediate title, Spa now step up to compete in the 2021 Senior Club Championship and our first game out will be against neighbours Dr Crokes next Sunday September 19th at 2.30pm in Fitzgerald Stadium. It also means that Spa will compete on their own in the 2021 Co. Championship and will not be part of the East Kerry divisional side this year.

Massive congratulations to the team, extended panel and management side of Ivor Flynn, Neily Kerins, Kieran Herlihy, Brian Gleeson and Arthur Fitzgerald.

Spa: James Devane, Brian Lynch, Eoin Fitzgerald, Shane Lynch, Shane Cronin (0-2), Dan O’Donoghue (0-1), Gary Vaughan (0-1(‘45)), Liam Kearney, Ciaran Spillane (0-1), Niall O’Mahony (0-1), Michael Foley (0-2f), Dara Moynihan (0-4), Niall McCarthy (0-1), Evan Cronin (0-3 (2f)), Cian Tobin (3-1). Subs: David Spillane (1-0), Mike McCarthy (0-1), Eoghan Cronin, Cian Murphy

Beaufort: Sean Coffey, Ger Hartnett, Sean Kelliher, Kieran O’Sullivan, Ethan Coffey, Mike Breen (0-2), Jonathan Kissane, Nathan Breen (0-1), Ronan Murphy (0-1), Sean O’Brien, Liam Carey (0-3), Ian McGillycuddy, Padraig Doona (1-3), Ciarán Kennedy (0-3), Fergal Hallissey (0-4 (2f, 1’45)). Subs: Jack O’Connor (0-1), Liam Curran, Danny Healy, Mary Neary, Padraig O’Sullivan

Referee: Jonathan Griffin (Glenbeigh/Glencar)

Photos: Anne Holland