Iveagh Celtic 0, Spartak 1.
A spectacular long range volley from Ger Byrne after just 14 minutes settled this match. Fintan Grace’s header found Stuart Love , whose fine through ball was hit first time, right footed (!) by Ger to the top corner from outside the box.
Spartak, in truth, were well below par, and were reliant on some last ditch defending to stay in the cup. Peter O’Toole was equal to everything thrown at him, with one really great second half save. Steve Grier headed and tackled troughout to repel attacks and the rest of the back four worked hard , after a shaky start, with Fintan Grace pulling off a great goal line clearance on the stroke of half time, after a series of blocks and just when an Iveagh goal seemed inevitable.
Iveagh announced their intentions with a terrific shot just over in the early minutes, and Spartak replied when good work by Thom O’Driscoll, Anto Doyle and Glen Burke led to Steve Grier’s shot being well parried.
After Ger’s goal, Spartak had a poor half hour spell. The front men could not hold the ball up, with Thom off the pace and Ger’s touch erratic. In fairness the front men got less support than ex President Mubarak in Cairo. At the back, errors and sloppiness led to Iveagh lobbing wide and striking the inside of the post. A couple of free kicks in dangerous areas were conceded and some desperate defending was needed.
While the Sky Blues improved slightly in the second half, it was still mostly Iveagh who owned the ball.
Neither Neil McGowan nor Keith Kelly could impose themselves in the centre, and while Stu worked really hard up and down the flank, his distribution wasn’t of the best at times. Anto Doyle struggled to get to the pace of the game, and he and Glen were a weak link down the right flank in the first half. So mostly it was a case of trying to stem the tide of opposition possession.
Two chances were created by Spartak in the second half, when Neil McGowan’s shot was saved and then the chance to clinch the game was missed on 80 minutes when from Seamus McCahill’s flick on neither Thom O’Driscoll or Stuart Love could apply the finish in a scramble close to the line.
A much relieved Spartak heard the final whistle which announced entry to the semi finals. Plenty of fitness work required.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 8 Glen Burke 5 Fintan Grace 7 Steve Grier 8 Dave Browne 7 Keith Kelly 6 Neil McGowan 6 Anto Doyle 5 Stuart Love 7 Thom O’Driscoll 5 Ger Byrne 7.
Subs Seamus McCahill 6 Niall Tilley Paul Kinsella Martin Costello Will O Connell
