Esker 3 Spartak 4
Spartak overcame defensive wobbles to recover from 2-0 down and record a 4-3 win thanks to a coolly taken late winner by Dave “Chopper” O’Kelly.
Despite being tentative in the challenge Spartak created a few early chances, with Ger Byrne forcing the keeper into a fine save and Tom O’Driscoll just over with a lobbed effort under pressure. Gintaras Cibirka had the most straightforward chance but he hit the side netting and a good cross by Cibirka was just missed by Byrne.
Initially Tom Flanagan and Seamus McCahill passed well from central midfield, but later faded from the game and were caught up in the general malaise of sloppy passing, with both full backs, Dave O’Kelly and Fintan Grace, also guilty of wasting good possession along with the midfield.
Esker had some lively attackers and caught Spartak defenders on the hop to take the lead when uncertainty between O’Kelly Martin Costello and Keith Kelly allowed the no. 9 to score. Minutes later it was 2-0 when a shot from long range caught Peter O’Toole unawares after O’Kelly’s misplaced pass was intercepted.
Spartak’s defence was uncertain and prone to some poor decision making which gave Esker easy possession.
Cibirka, rusty and taking time to settle, nonetheless then made two vital interventions to get Spartak back into the match. First, Byrne finished well from Cibirka’s long pass on 42 minutes and then, in first half injury time, after Seamus McCahill tried to force his way through but was halted at the expense of a free at the edge of the box, Cibirka drove home for the equaliser.
Stuart Love had a few opportunities early in the second half, striking the post with a header but it took the intervention of Neil McGowan, just on as sub, to give the sky blues the lead on 65 minutes with a snap shot after Cibirka recovered possesion.
The game seemed well in Spartak’s control at that point; however a lack of energy and concentration was to cost dear as O’Kelly was overlapped and the cross, which seemed destined for the safety of O’Toole’s gloves, was headed in for a close range equaliser.
Mick Costello came on to good effect and when he was fouled on 83 minutes, McGowan’s free was deflected into O’Kelly’s path. A touch took him past the last man, and he then tucked the ball into the far corner for the winner.
A somewhat below par performance overall, but a good fighting spirit to come back from two down and also to get the winner when pegged back to 3-3.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 5 Dave O’Kelly 6 Fintan Grace 5 Martin Costello 5 Keith Kelly 6 Tom Flanagan 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Gintaras Cibirka 7 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Stuart Love 5 Ger Byrne 7
Subs Niall Tilly 6 Neil McGowan 7 Mick Costello 6 Mick Greene Shane Corrigan Shane McInerney
