Templenoe seal semi-final spot with ‘winner takes all’ victory over Spa
COUNTY IFC GROUP 4 ROUND 3
Templenoe 2-13 Spa 0-12
COMING into this game there were a few scenarios and permutations that meant any one of three teams could have topped the group, but in simple terms Templenoe knew that if they beat Spa by three points or more they were almost guaranteed to reach the semi-final, and they duly did top the group with a seven-point victory on home turf.
The Kenmare District club were good value for their winning margin, although it did take a Brian Crowley ( pictured) goal in added on time (of which there were about eight minutes) to make absolutely sure of the necessary margin of victory needed to advance to the last four of the Championship. Crowley ended the game with a goal and four points from play, and it was he and his comrades in the full forward line that did the damage for Templenoe. In the other corner Stephen O’Sullivan chipped in with 1-2 while Cian Hallissey was measured on free taking duty and converted four frees over the course of what was a decent and engaging contest without ever hitting any great heights expected with championship football.
An injury to Spa forward David Spillane - arising from an accidental collision - that required medical assistance and the player being stretchered off was the only unedifying element of an otherwise uncompromising but sporting contest, in which Templenoe displayed just a little more craft and ruthlessness compared to Spa who never really tested Anthony Sheehan in the Templenoe goal.
Indeed, apart from the two goals they did score, the home side might on another day have doubled that tally, and the only surprise was that it took until deep into that added time for Crowley to raise that second green flag. The first could have come as quick as the 12th second when Killian Spillane crashed a low shot back off the butt of the post as Templenoe sent out a very early signal of intent, and they built on that from the start with some purposeful play.
Spa actually held the lead twice in those early minutes through Andrew Garnett from play and then a Michael O’Donoghue free, but in the eighth minute Stephen O’Sullivan broke inside the Spa defence and drove his low shot from an acute angle past James Devane to make it 1-2 to 0-2.
Templenoe really drove on from there, with Tadhg Morley a steadying influence and pivot point in defence, and Adrian and Killian Spillane and Teddy Doyle working plenty of decent ball into the inside forwards. An O’Sullivan point and a couple of great scores from Crowley pushed the home side into a 1-6 to 0-2 lead, with Devane having to make a very smart save to deny Adrian Spillane a goal.
Dara Moynihan kicked Spa’s third point after 15 minutes but Templenoe were more assured in their work and more clinical in their finishing, and by the 23rd minute they had a comfortable 1-8 to 0-3 lead. Mike O’Donoghue converted a fee for Sap and then Michael Foley, who was one of Spa’s best forwards on show, scored the first of three fine points as Spa hung in there.
On the 30-minute mark Spa Evan Cronin drew a save from Anthony Sheehan at the expense of a ‘45’ which was played short to David Spillane who pointed to make it 1-9 to 0-6 in Templenoe’s favour at half-time.
Killian Spillane made it a seven-point game soon after the restart, but with their Championship life on the line Spa kept grafting hard in the intermittent showers, and Cronin drew another save and ‘45’ from Sheehan, which Ciaran Spillane pointed.
David Spillane’s unfortunate injury happened soon afterwards, leading to a lengthy stoppage, and when play resumed the sides traded a couple of points each to make it 1-12 to 0-10.
Spa really needed a goal - or two - to win the game by enough to give them the better scoring difference but as the game became more stretched Stephen O’Sullivan’s through ball was deftly palmed to the Spa net by Crowley to seal the win and send Templenoe to the semi-finals. TEMPLENOE: Anthony Sheehan, Kieran O’Neill, Tadhg Morley, Joseph Sheehan, Patrick Clifford, Danny Cahalane, Josh Crowley-Holland, Sean Sheehan, Adrian Spillane, Teddy Doyle (0-1f), Killian Spillane (0-2), Pat Spillane, Stephen O’Sullivan (1-2), Cian Hallissey (0-4f), Brian Crowley (1-4). Subs: Mike Hallissey for J Sheehan (ht), Joseph Sheehan for M Hallissey
(inj, 58 min).
SPA: James Devane, Eoghan Cronin, Dan O’Donoghue, Brian Lynch, Shane Lynch, Eoin Fitzgerald, Ciaran Spillane (0-1 ‘45’), Liam Kearney, Andrew Garnett (0-1), David Spillane (0-1), Dara Moynihan (0-1), Michael McCarthy, Michael Foley (0-3), Michael O’Donoghue (0-2f), Evan Cronin (0-2f). Subs: Brian Lynch
REFEREE: Seamus Mulvihill (St Senans)
THE GAME IN 60 SECONDS
MAIN MAN
Plenty of solid Templenoe performances, including Tadhg Morley, Patrick Clifford and Stephen O’Sullivan, but Brian Crowley scored some superb points and was a great outlet for his team throughout the game
KEY MOMENT
Templenoe’s early goal gave them an important buffer for much of the game, which Spa couldn’t match, but the home side’s goalkeeper Anthony Sheehan needed to make a save on Evan Cronin’s 30th minute shot when a Spa goal on the stroke of half time would have been a crucial score.
TALKING POINT
These two teams looked fairly similar in class but Templenoe’s three Kerry seniors, Tadhg Morley, and Adrian and Killian Spillane - though not hugely experienced in terms of years of service - gave the winner’s that little bit more strength and poise and drive when needed