Hillcrest 1 Spartak 2
A late goal conceded by Spartak made for a nervous ending in a scrappy match on a bobbly pitch in Lucan.
A well flighted Neil McGowan free was firmly headed home by Seamus McCahill after just 3 minutes to give the Sky Blues a tonic start.
Spartak showed some sloppiness in defence and when Dave Browne gave away possession, Hillcrest drilled a cross along the six yard box which required only a touch.
A Hillcrest slip up gave Ger Byrne a clear opportunity but he shot weakly and the keeper gathered. The Spartak full backs, Glen and Fintan, were both staying at home and neither was using the ball well. On the single occasion that Glen made a burst, with plenty of support, he fired wastefully over and behind.
An error by the home centre half let Ger Byrne in on 50 minutes, and this time he made no mistake, beating the keeper neatly.
Seams McCahill had a shot tipped over following a Keith Kelly free, and then a great move by Kevin O’Toole and Tom O’Driscoll saw Neil’s volley blocked; the loose ball fell to Ger who could not adjust his body to force it home from close range.
As Hillcrest sought to get back in the game Glen cleared off the line and then when Dave Browne was beaten in the area, getting a bloody nose for his trouble, the home side fired a good chance wide.
Hillcrest finally scored when Spartak failed to clear and Paul Kinsella allowed the winger to cross to the back post for a bundled finish, with Glen and Seamus noticeably absent.
Spartak’s work rate throughout was decent, but the passing was off and the distribution from the back poor. Keith Kelly at centre half was a solid presence and covered well.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Glen Burke 5 Fintan Grace 6 Keith Kelly 8 Dave Browne 5 Kevin O Toole 5 Neil McGowan 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Stuart Love 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Ger Byrne 6
Subs: Steve Browne 5 Paul Kinsella 5 Anto Doyle Ken Buckley Tom Flanagan
