Gavin Horan inspires late Milltown-Castlemaine comeback against Spa in Kerry SFC

Eoin Fitzgerald of Spa in action against Cathal Moriarty of Milltown/Castlemaine

Kerry SFC: Milltown-Castlemaine 2-11 Spa 0-16

Inspired by key performer Gavin Horan, and upping the collective tempo considerably on the resumption, Milltown-Castlemaine fought back to defeat Spa by the bare minimum in this Kerry SFC Round One opener at a sun-drenched Fitzgerald Stadium.

Spa were the more purposeful outfit in the first half, finding it easier to create, and convert, scoring opportunities. Indeed, some excellent points from Dan O’Donoghue, Evan Cronin and Ryan Carroll had the East Kerry men three to the good (0-4 to 0-1) after 15 minutes.

Milltown-Castlemaine were extremely slow to get their bearings but, after he had blazed high and wide with a goal chance earlier in the contest, the influential Horan made no mistake for last year’s intermediate champions with a drilled low finish in the 25th minute (0-6 to 1-2).

With both sides lining out without their inter-county stars – Cillian Burke for Milltown-Castlemaine and Dara Moynihan for Spa – and despite Spa losing Shane Cronin to injury, they responded strongly before the break, three points on the trot giving them the half-time advantage (0-9 to 1-2).

Michael Foley and Oran O'Neill of Spa in action against David Roche and Donal Dennehy of Milltown/Castlemaine

Milltown-Castlemaine also had their own injury troubles, Eanna O’Connor coming on as a first half replacement and having to go off early in the second half. However, Horan’s second goal, at the second attempt, in the 39th minute, re-ignited their prospects, and their self-confidence (2-3 to 0-9).

Even though Spa quickly regained the lead, with a Ciaran Spillane point, Milltown-Castlemaine could sense that the pendulum was swinging in their favour. With corner-backs Gavin McKenna and Pa Wrenn serious attacking weapons, they moved three points clear by the 50th minute (2-7 to 0-10).

An exciting closing ten minutes of normal time (plus the five added) saw both sides go hell for leather for the victory. In the end, despite great work from the likes of wing-back Carroll for Spa, it was man-of-the-match Horan who struck over what turned out to be the winning point for Milltown-Castlemaine.

Scorers for Milltown-Castlemaine: G Horan 2-2, J O’Sullivan 0-3(fs), G McKenna 0-2, C Moriarty, S Hogan, P Wrenn, B Casey 0-1 each.

Scorers for Spa: C Tobin 0-4(fs), E Cronin, R Carroll 0-3 each, D O’Donoghue 0-2, O O’Neill, D Spillane, Ciaran Spillane, M Horgan (mk) 0-1 each.

MILLTOWN-CASTLEMAINE: C Leane; G McKenna, A Kelliher, P Wrenn; K O’Carroll, D Roche, K Kerins; D Dennehy, G Horan; J O’Connor, S Roche, C Spillane; B Casey, J O’Sullivan, C Moriarty.

Subs: E O’Connor for C Spillane (21), S Hogan for Kerins (ht), J Flynn for E O’Connor, inj (37), J Dennehy for J O’Connor (60+2), O Spring for O’Sullivan (60+5).

SPA: S O’Meara; E O’Donoghue, E Cronin, E Fitzgerald; C Stack, D O’Donoghue, R Carroll; C Spillane, M Foley; O O’Neill, E Cronin, M Kearney; D Spillane, S Cronin, C Tobin.

Subs: L O’Neill for S Cronin, inj (27), M Horgan for Kearney (42), J O’Sullivan for O’Meara, inj (46), T Cronin for O O’Neill (53), REFEREE: E Moran (Ballydonoghue).