Four-goal Spa end Na Gaeil's championship hopes

Once Spa got going they quickly built a commanding lead

 

Kerry SFC: Spa Killarney 4-8 Na Gaeil 2-10 

Spa move forward to Round 3 of the County SFC after the Killarney side ended Na Gaeil’s campaign in Milltown on Saturday afternoon.

Early goal chances were missed by both teams before there was a score registered – goalkeeping heroics by Jack O’Sullivan (intercepting a cross-square pass) and Jack Rodgers (saving a David Spillane penalty) maintained the stalemate. 

But once Spa got going they built a commanding lead. A 15th-minute goal for David Spillane with the help of an unfortunate deflection off defender Ryan O’Neill put his side six points ahead – Cian Tobin, Mike Foley and David Spillane all pointing previously. 

Na Gaeil played better in the second quarter with points from Dan Goggin (2) & Tomás O’hAiniféin, but it was undone by Spa’s second goal as Mike Foley finished excellently from a tight angle to give his side a seven-point lead at the break.

Spa’s third goal from Cian Tobin wiped out great work done in the third quarter by Na Gaeil to get back into the game. Dan O’Donoghue received a black card and Stefan Okunbor struck for goal to give Na Gaeil some hope. As points continued to be traded at either end, it was Spa that scored the crucial next goal through Cian Tobin. A late Dan Goggin goal brought his tally to 1-4 but it was not enough to save his side.

Scorers for Spa: Cian Tobin 2-2, David Spillane 1-1, Michael Foley 1-2 (2f), Evan Cronin 0-3 (1f).

Scorers for Na Gaeil: Dan Goggin 1-4, Stefan Okunbor 1-0, Diarmuid O’Connor 0-2, Tomás O’hAiniféin 0-1, Dara Reen 0-1f, James O’Connor 0-1, Dara Devine 0-1f.

SPA KILLARNEY: J O’Sullivan, E O’Donoghue, M Kearney, E Fitzgerald (jt capt), Conor Stack, D O’Donoghue, C Spillane, Eoghan Cronin, M Foley, M Moynihan, Evan Cronin, R O’Neill, D Spillane, M Horgan, C Tobin (jt capt).

Subs: L O’Neill for R O’Neill (ht), L Spillane for Horgan (42), O O’Neill for Eoghan Cronin (47), T Cronin for Moynihan (51), Diarmuid Cahill for D Spillane (60+4).

NA GAEIL: J Rodgers, J Doyle, E O’Connor, S Barrett, R O’Neill, S Okunbor, F Barry, D Bourke (capt), T O’hAiniféin, J O’Connor, M Madden, P Doyle, D Reen, D Goggin, K O’Connor.

Subs: D O’Connor for P Doyle (35), N O’Mahony for Barrett (38), Jack Bourke for Reen (47), D Devine for K O’Connor (55), R O’Sullivan for R O’Neill (60).

Referee: S Mulvihill (St Senans).