Division 1, County Senior Football League, Round 6.
Spa 2-10, Templenoe 0-17.
Templenoe gained another two valuable points in the County league after they saw off Spa, to end the Killarney’s side’s impressive 100% record in the competition. This was a very entertaining game played in glorious weather at Spa last Saturday evening.
Templenoe had a bright opening to the contest with Brian Crowley and Killian Spillane (free) both hitting the target to open the scoring. However, Spa soon settled and replied in splendid fashion to score 1-4 on the trot. Michael O’Donoghue got their purple patch underway with a pointed free and Spa followed this up with two points from Evan Cronin either side of a David Spillane effort. Then came their first goal after good play from Evan Cronin to combine with Ryan O’Carroll who made no mistake to put the home side ahead by 1-4 to 0-2 after 10 minutes. To their credit Templenoe regrouped quickly and responded admirably to strike five unanswered points. The first of these scores came from Stephen O’Sullivan, before two from Brian Crowley and one each from Killian Spillane and Cian Hallissey (free) brought the visitors back to level terms. The remaining minutes of the half were ebb and flow. Spa restored a two point’s advantage courtesy of Evan Cronin and Michael O’Donoghue, but Templenoe pegged them back through Killian Spillane and Teddy Doyle with the first of his three 45s, after a shot at goal by Stephen O’Sullivan was well saved by Spa Keeper James Devane. This left matters all square at the interval.
Half Time Score: Spa 1-6, Templenoe 0-9.
With the game all to play in the second half, Spa and Templenoe remained even after 38 minutes with Pat Spillane and Michael O’Donoghue trading scores. Then Templenoe opened up a three point’s gap thanks to Pat Spillane with another one of his trade mark long range points, before Teddy Doyle converted his second 45 and then captain Brian Crowley despite been closely watched by the Spa defence added to his tally. Spa hit back with a free from Evan Cronin, but Templenoe went on to consolidate their position with a placed ball effort from Cian Hallissey, before Killian Spillane who was vigilant to a short kick out from Spa duly won possession before popping over another point. This made the score 1-8 to 0-15 after 51 minutes of play. A minute later the match was put on a knife edge once again, after a break away Spa attack saw Ryan O’Carroll get in behind the Templenoe defence to clinically despatch the ball to the net. With just the minimum between the sides coming into the closing stages, Templenoe found another gear to earn two more points from Killian Spillane (free) and Teddy Doyle to complete his exhibition from 45’s. This put Templenoe in a strong position, but Spa kept fighting and two pointed frees from Michael O’Donoghue in injury time brought them back to within one point of Templenoe again. However, Templenoe had enough in the tank to hold on for a deserved win.
Final Score: Spa 2-10, Templenoe 0-17
Scorers:
Spa: Ryan O’Carroll 2-0, Michael O’Donoghue 0-5 (0-4f), Evan Cronin 0-4 (0-1f), David Spillane 0-1.
Templenoe: Killian Spillane 0-5 (0-3f), Brian Crowley 0-4, Teddy Doyle 0-3 (0-3 45), Cian Hallissey 0-2 (0-2f), Pat Spillane 0-2, Stephen O’Sullivan 0-1.
Teams:
Spa: James Devane, Eric O’Donoghue, Eoin Fitzgerald, Eoin Cronin, Paudie O’Donoghue, Shane Lynch, David Spillane, Michael O’Donoghue, Hugh O’Donoghue, Dan O’Donoghue, Niall McCarthy, Mike McCarthy, Shane Fenton, Evan Cronin, Ryan O’Carroll.
Subs: Cormac Cronin, Andy Fitzgerald, Brian Devane
Templenoe: Anthony Sheehan, Mike Hallissey, Kieran O’Neill, Joseph Sheehan, Patrick Clifford, Danny Cahalane, Kieran McCarthy, Teddy Doyle, Sean Sheehan, Cian Hallissey, Killian Spillane, Martin Reilly, Stephen O’Sullivan, Brian Crowley, Pat Spillane.
Subs: Tom Spillane, Denis O’Neill.
