Spa News
Compiled by Anne Holland
WELL done to Spa’s Under 13 girls who had an impressive 3-6 to 0-4 victory over Dr Crokes in the championship. This was a great performance from our young team – it was the first time for many of them to play on a full pitch and all adapted wonderfully.
Spa can reflect on some great performances from Eimear Cronin, Sarah Fleming and Erin Holland. The player of the game accolade went to Clodagh O’Connor between the posts who pulled off magnificent saves to secure our win against an equally impressive Dr Crokes.
Spa’s senior ladies, meanwhile, lost out to Millstown/Listry on a 2-4 to 5-10 scoreline. Spa simply lost to a stronger team on the day and, hopefully, our injured players will be back shortly and improvements will result.
Under 14: With Beaufort leading by four points at half time, a much improved second half performance helped Spa to victory. Two early points from Beaufort were cancelled out by a delightfully worked goal from Spa with Cian Murphy finishing to the net with aplomb.
Another Cian Murphy goal and one from Paul O’Sullivan gave Spa a big lead but this was reduced with four unanswered goals from Beaufort who deserved their lead at the short whistle. In the second half Spa lifted their game and raced into an impressive 10-point lead with a hat-trick of goals from the outstanding Paul O’Sullivan and a brace from Cian Murphy.
The highlight of the game came towards the end of the second half when netminder Cian O’Sullivan pulled off a wonderful save from a penalty kick in a period when Beaufort where making a major challenge to win this game.
Spa held out to record their third win of the campaign. There were some outstanding performances in this game came from corner backs Sean Hickey and Timothy Moynihan and, of course, the Spa goalkeeper Cian O’Sullivan with that wonderful penalty save. The final score was Beaufort 9-9 Spa 11-9.
Under 11: Spa’s under 11 boys lost their opening East Kerry League game at home to Legion on Sunday in a 10goal thrilled which finished 5-11 to 5-13. The Spa boys played against a very stiff breeze in the first half and showed well despite that obstacle.
Cathal Kelly, David O’Sullivan, Timmy Moynihan, Oran Daly, Cormac Walsh, Oran O’Neill and Fionn Daly linked well with each other. Donal Hickey, Christopher Healy, Evan O’Neill and Eric Moriarty played well after been out for most of the season in the second half.
Jonathan O’Donoghue, Daniel Daly, Con Stack, Oisin McCarthy and Ian Coffey. who was playing his first competitive game at this level, also played well when called on. Missing for this game were Luke O’Neill, Aaron O’Connor and Aidan Cronin and, hopefully, these guys will be back for our next game.
Under 16: Spa travelled to the seaside town of Ballybunion missing a few players and the long journey didn’t help. Spa battled hard in the first half. going in at short whistle 1-7 to 1-3 down having missed a penalty.
The concession of sloppy goals early in the second half gave Beale the advantage but Spa fought bravely to close the gap, scoring 1-7 without reply. But a goal in the last few minutes for Beale gave them the points on this occasion.
Minor: In the East Kerry Minor League it finished Spa 1-15 Scartaglin/Cordal 0-7. This was another excellent outing for our minors who had home advantage for this engaging encounter.
Eoin Carroll scored the first point for Spa, followed shortly by the impressive Dion Marcos who rattled the net.
Cordal/Scartaglin followed that with two points before David Spillane and Niall McCarthy rifled through their defence scoring three more with Dion Marcos ended the first half with another point to leave it Spa 1-6 Scart/Cordal 0-2 at the break.
Second half super sub, Conor Stack, was excellent when introduced, setting up key scores and scoring himself. The visitors took control of the first quarter of the second half and our lads had to dig deep. Goalkeeper Colm Hickey pulled off great saves, Cian Fahy playing a blinder with two points and David Spillane and Oran Claffey lorded midfield.
Niall Moynihan was majestic in full forward, the full back line Ciaran Sheehan, Joey McAuliffe and Stephen McKenna worked tirelessly throughout what really was a brilliant game of football. We wish a speedy recovery to Micheal Kearney and Michael Aherne.
Reunion: The Spa 1996 O’Donoghue reunion will be celebrated on Thursday, August 11 at 7.00pm in Spa.
Friday, August 28 1996 proved to be a historic occasion for the footballers of Spa who brought the cup to the club for the first occasion. After the formation of the club in 1948 it annexed both the junior and senior East Kerry titles in successive years but as the O’Donoghue cup was not presented to the East Kerry Board until 1954, the players of the 948-49 had to be content with a medal presentation for those victories.
While 50 long years may have elapsed since that O’Donoghue Cup victory, it has still retained a special in the lore of Spa GAA history as it gave the players of that era a sense of self-belief which sustained them in the years ahead and also paved the way for a further nine O’Donoghue Cup victories,
On August 11 the surviving members of that panel, as well as representatives of those who have sadly passed away in the interim, will assemble in the Spa Clubhouse for a special Mass at 7.00pm for those deceased members which will be celebrated by Fr Michael O’Donoghue who was a member of that winning side. This will be followed by a social evening when memories and anecdotes will be shared. A full list of the panel of players and management will be published in next week’s notes.
Lotto: In the Spa lotto draw the Spa the numbers were 4, 18, 24 and 25 with no jackpot winner. €50 lucky dip winners were Maura Gammell, Ballaugh; Jim O’Donnell, Lissivigeen; Grainne O’Sullivan, Crosstown and Paul Herlihy, Lissivigeen. The next draw is on Monday in the Killarney Oaks Hotel for a jackpot of €7,400.
Wedding: Cogratulations to senior player Michael O’Donoghue on his recent marriage to Muireann Quane, Ballybunion,
Trials: Spa GAA Club would like to wish Ryan Kelliher the very best after he recently attended Republic of Ireland Under 16 soccer trials.
Thoughts: Everybody in Spa GAA Club wishes Amy O’Connor of Dr Crokes the very best in her battle with illness and our thoughts and prayers are with her.
