Report:
Inspired by yet another vintage performance by Michael o Donoghue who finished with a personal tally of 2-5, Spa senior footballers edged out a formidable Desmonds side by a single point in an enthralling encounter at Spa on Saturday evening, While there was little between the sides all through and with the result in the balance right to the final whistle it was the tactic by Spa of delivering a fast open supply to the inside forward sector that proved vital for them in carving out this victory.
The game was barely in motion when Michael O Donoghue fastened on a Pa Murphy centre to crack home an opening goal and this was followed by points by O Donoghue Niall O Mahoney and Paul Kelliher. Desmonds came more in to the game as this half progressed and were ahead on the score 0-9 to 1-5 at the interval.
On the resumption the visitors increased their lead and in the 10th minute of this period Paul Russell floated a centre goalwards where Michael O’Donoghue was well positioned to crack home his second goal and the cheering had barely subsided when Eoin Cronin soloed up field and sent a perfect centre in the path of his brother Cormac who made no mistake from the 13 metre mark. This was followed by a magnificent point from Paul Russell from all of 5O metres to leave four points between the sides. With less than five minutes to play Desmonds launched a final attack which yielded a goal by Tommy Hickey to tie the scoring and a minute later they edged into a single point lead. In those hectic final minutes Michael O’Donoghue proved to be his side’s saviour when he floated over the equaliser and the winner almost on the stroke of full time. This victory now places Spa in joint place on top of their division.
Team-- James Devane, Alfie Giles, Aidan Cahill, Colm Tobin, Paul Russell, Damian O Sullivan, Eoin Cronin, Kevin Healy, Hugh O’Donoghue, Paul Kelliher 0-1, Niall O’Mahoney 0-1, Pa Murphy 0-1, Cormac Cronin 1-2, Michael O’Donoghue 2-5, Conor Gleeson, Sub Donal Murphy for Damien O'Sullivan.
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