Templenoe 5-14, Spa 4-04
Goals were the order of the day, and on a pleasant Saturday evening, we were treated to nine of them as Templenoe played host to Spa in round 5 of the Senior County Football League.
Both teams struggled in front of the posts in the opening tem minutes, kicking numerous wides. Danny Cahalane opened Templenoe’s scoring with a point, but Spa quickly responded with their first goal of the match from wing back Shane Cronin. Soon after a long ball was well caught by Adrian Spillane who was subsequently hauled down in the square. Brian Crowley dispatched the resulting penalty to put Templenoe ahead.
On the fifteenth minute, the visitors wing back, Shane Lynch received a black card, and the next attack yielded a point for Templenoe through Patrick Clifford who was operating out of the centre back position. Aidan Fleming who was the black card replacement kicked a good point on the run to leave the score Templenoe 1-02, Spa 1-01.
Spa were getting the better of the exchanges around midfield, and were unlucky not to score a goal when they rattled the crossbar from an opportunity straight in front of the posts. Soon after Spa did get their second goal when Cormac Cronin sped in from the left hand side and finished to the net. Spa quickly followed this up with a point from midfielder Andrew Garnett.
Templenoe fought back well for the last ten minutes of the half, and scored their second goal through Josh Holland. After a few missed opportunities, Templenoe pointed three more times from Josh Holland, Sean Sheehan and Patrick Clifford to leave the half time score, Templenoe 2-06, Spa 2-03.
Spa’s first attack of the second half nearly ended in a goal only for a great diving block from Gavin Crowley. They continued to press for the first few minutes, but did not produce a score. Shane Cremin scored a lovely point from the right hand side with Templenoe’s first attack of the half. Templenoe kicked a few poor wides, but stretched their lead when Cian Hallissey caught the ball in midfield, played a one-two and finished the ball to the net. Very quickly afterwards, a poorly placed pass in the Spa defence ended with Brian Crowley scoring Templenoe’s fourth goal.
Templenoe were now leading on a score of 4-07 to 2-03 and Cian Hallissey continued his good form with a point from play that tipped the crossbar on the way over. With plenty of time left, Spa scored their third goal when Liam Kearney punched a dropping free to the net. The visitors continued to push for goals and passed up on some good point taking opportunities. Templenoe were far more economical with their chances, and scored points from John Rice, Cian Hallissey and Danny Cahalane.
With ten minutes to go, another high ball caused Templenoe problems, and Cormac Cronin punched to the net for his second goal of the match. This proved to be Spa’s last score of the match. Teddy Doyle took the ball on from the 45 meter line, brushed past two defenders to score a great individual goal. Templenoe closed out the match with points from Josh Holland, Martin Reilly, John Rice and Danny Cahalane to emerge comfortable winners on a score of Templenoe 5-14, Spa 4-04
Templenoe Scorers: Brian Crowley 2-00, Cian Hallissey 1-02, Josh Holland 1-02, Danny Cahalane 0-03, Teddy Doyle 1-00, Patrick Clifford 0-02, John Rice 0-02, Shane Cremin 0-01, Sean Sheehan 0-01, Martin Reilly 0-01
Templenoe Team: Anthony Sheehan, Mike Hallissey, John Spillane, Kieran O’Neill, John Rice, Patrick Clifford, Gavin Crowley, Sean Sheehan, Cian Hallissey, Josh Holland, Brian Crowley, Shane Cremin, Adrian Spillane, Teddy Doyle, Danny Cahalane.
Subs: Joey Sheehan, Martin Reilly, Kieran McCarthy
Spa Scorers: Cormac Cronin 2-00, Liam Kearney 1-00, Shane Cronin 1-00, Aidan Fleming 0-01, Dan O’Donoghue 0-01, Andrew Garnett 0-01
Spa Team: James Devane, Michael Finnegan, Aidan Cahill, Hugh O’Donoghue Shane Lynch, Dan O’Donoghue, Shane Cronin, Andrew Garnett, Liam Kearney, Mike McCarthy, Michael O’Donoghue, Ciaran Spillane, Michael Foley, Craig Hickey, Cormac Cronin
