Templenoe stage raging fightback to send Spa down in Kerry relegation decider
BLUE BLOODS: Killian Spillane helped to turn things around for Templenoe. Pic: Tatyana McGough.
In the proverbial game of two halves, Templenoe produced a stunning fightback to stun Spa in this swash-buckling Kerry county senior club football championship relegation play-off final in drizzly conditions at Dr Crokes Park.
When William Harmon’s Bishop Moynihan Cup semi-finalists produced an excellent first-half display, in which they had nine different scorers, kicked no wides, and led by seven points (1-11 to 1-4) at the break, there appeared to be only one winner.
However, on the resumption, Templenoe were simply a team transformed. Thundering into the fray all over the pitch, they completely changed the contest’s momentum. By the final whistle, they had sensationally managed to get their noses in front after an epic encounter.
The match got off to a flying start with Joey McCarthy firing over a sweet two-pointer for Spa, before Templenoe struck for a goal in just the second minute. Killian Spillane’s shot for a point fell short, and Brian Crowley was on hand to bundle the ball home.
Such a potential body-blow didn’t rattle Spa. With Liam Kearney dominant in the middle of the field, and also raising an orange flag with a fantastic long-range strike, the Killarney club got a fortuitous goal of their own in the 17th minute when Oran O’Neill tapped in from close range (1-6 to 1-2).
With Dara Moynihan launching over his own two-point special, and the likes of Cian Murphy and half-backs Shane Cronin and Eoin Fitzgerald getting in on the act, Spa looked to be in a great position at the interval with the seven-point cushion.
However, with Pat Spillane introduced off the bench, and quickly getting his name on the scoresheet, Templenoe upped the intensity levels everywhere. Driven on by Tadhg Morley, Mark Casey, Gavin Crowley, Sean Sheehan, Adrian Spillane and Aidan Crowley, they were ravenous for work.
Aidan Crowley’s outstanding 45-metre two-point missile really inspired Paddy Curran’s charges, and their comeback built to a crescendo in the 48th minute when they drew level – a Stephen O’Sullivan delivery was flicked on by brother Adrian for Killian Spillane to rifle home (2-9 to 1-12).
When Adrian Spillane, O’Sullivan and Sheehan quickly tagged on points, Templenoe were riding the crest of a wave, three points to the good, with Spa only registering an Evan Cronin pointed free, after a breach, in the second half to that juncture.
Substitute Liam Spillane gave Spa hope with a superb orange flag score, but Templenoe just would not be denied, despite losing Kieran O’Neill to a black card. Brian Crowley and Aidan Crowley put the icing on the winners’ cake with late points as they saved their senior status for 2027.
K Spillane 1-3 (0-2fs), B Crowley 1-1, A Spillane 0-3, A Crowley 0-3 (1tp), S O’Sullivan 0-2, P Spillane, S Sheehan 0-1 each.
O O’Neill 1-0, J McCarthy(tp), L Kearney (tp), D Moynihan (tp), C Murphy (0-1f), L Spillane (tp) 0-2 each, N McCarthy, D Spillane (f), S Cronin, E Fitzgerald, E Cronin (f) 0-1 each.
M Looney; K O’Neill, T Morley, Ciarán Crowley; M Casey, G Crowley, M O’Reilly; S Sheehan, Colin Crowley; J Crowley Holland, B Crowley, A Spillane; S O’Sullivan, K Spillane, A Crowley.
P Spillane for O’Reilly (ht), J Spillane for Colin Crowley (43), K McCarthy for O’Sullivan (60).
S O’Meara; E O’Donoghue, D O’Donoghue, D Brosnan; E Fitzgerald, S Cronin, M Foley; O O’Neill, L Kearney; N McCarthy, C Murphy, E Cronin; D Moynihan, D Spillane, J McCarthy.
C Spillane for O’Neill (42), L Spillane for S Cronin (47), M Horgan for McCarthy (53).
P Hayes (Kerins O’Rahillys).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
