Maynooth Town 4, Spartak 3.
With Marlay off, Spartak travelled west to face Major 1 side Maynooth Town on the NUI astro pitch.
Despite Maynooth’s technical superiority, the Sky Blues battled well and took full advantage of set pieces to score three times. Indeed Graham Breen popped one in with a snap left footer on 13 minutes to take the lead, before a rare error by Keith Kelly was punished for the equaliser. Maynooth broke well when a poor Spartak corner was cleared quickly to take the lead just before the break. Paul Kinsella and Keith tried to spring an offside trap, but the locals were too wily to fall for that one. 1-2.
Peter O’Toole was, of necessity, in fine form and made some really good saves to deny the home side, who moved the ball much better by accurate and swift passing. Time and again Spartak players found themselves dispossessed as the winners insinuated their bodies between opponent and ball.
Maynooth’s third and fourth goals were of the unstoppable variety, and in between Stuart Love had forced home a flick on from Breen from Browne’s long throw. Tom O’Driscoll’s late free kick, when Ger Byrne was fouled, reduced arrears and completed the scoring.
A worthwhile exercise against superior opponents.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 8 Mick Greene 5 Fintan Grace 6 Paul Kinsella 6 Keith Kelly 7 Martin Costello 5 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Stuart Love 5 Graham Breen 7 Ger Byrne 6 Neil McGowan 6 Dave Browne 6 Kevin O’Toole 5 Niall Tilley 4 Glen Burke 5 Will O Connell no show, Steve Grier no show.
