CO. LEAGUE DIVISION 2 – ROUND 1 – 19 MARCH 2017

Killarney Legion 3-14 Spa 3-12

A first round win for the seniors in a high scoring game against Spa in Derreen.  The Legion lined out with one of its youngest sides in recent years and all of them acquitted themselves well, in what was always going to be a good test.  The management will doubtless take a lot of positives from the win and will also be happy with the fitness of the side, which was well tested in a close, often times physical, contest.  Both sides had their moments in a see saw game and the play swung from one end to the other, which was to be expected from neighbouring clubs.  Spa got good return when they took the direct route to goal and the Legion rear-guard were working overtime to stay in the game.  On the other hand, the concession of three goals at critical times will be examined and made the job a bit harder than what it should have been.  The forwards were led by the rejuvenated Tom Moriarty and Jamie O Sullivan and  were composed and hard working.  They lost very little ball and their tally of 3-14 shows just how effective they were.  The defence, on the face of it, did play well but did see Spa break through for their goals at times, when the home side looked to have opened up a winning lead.  In the end, it took two fine saves from Brian Kelly to stay ahead, but he saved the best for last when, with just two points in it and Spa through on goal, he stretched full length to finger tip a goal bound shot onto the butt of the post, to effectively secure the two welcome opening county league points.  Half time: Legion 2-8 Spa 2-6.
Legion scorers Jamie O Sullivan 0-10,Tom Moriarty 2-2,Conor Keane 1-1,Shaun Keane 0-1.
Spa:James Devane, Eric O’Donoghue, Dan O’Donoghue, Eoin Fitzgerald, Mike Murphy, Matt Moynihan, Eoin Cronin, Andrew Garnett, Liam Kearney (1-1), Michael Foley (0-2), Mike O’Donoghue (0-6), Michael McCarthy, Dara Moynihan (1-1), Craig Hickey (0-1), Evan Cronin (1-1). Subs: Shane Cronin, Aydan Mulvaney, Shane Fenton.