Colmcilles 3, Spartak 2
A tepid first half display deeply damaged Spartak’ league chances in what was essentially a title decider. Spartak’s 14 game unbeaten run was ended by a sore defeat. The Sky Blues were handicapped when Neil McGowan had to go off after a reckless tackle in the 3rd minute, and Graham Breen came in for some rough house treatment. Nonetheless Spartak did not settle and were outplayed for the first half.
Colmcilles took the lead when Stuart Love was all too easily beaten in the penalty area and the shot beat Peter O’Toole.
Spartak had a couple of efforts, a long range effort from Breen just over and Steve Grier had a fine volley from Dave Browne’s free just wide.
Colmcilles second goal on 30 minutes was highly controversial. A ball reached a clearly offside player via a defelection from Fintan Grace. Most refs would have blown, but not this time, and it was 2-0.
Keith Kelly moved to midfield at the break and with an all action display almost single handedly dragged the Sky Blues back into the game; unfortunately a miscontrolled ball by Fintan Grace gave Colmcilles no.3
Ger Byrne had a chance from Tom Flanagan’s pass, and Glen Burke’s surging run almost yielded results.
When Grier was fouled in the box, Kelly stepped up to score and he repeated the trick when Burke was fouled as Spartak mounted pressure after a dismissal left Colmciles down to ten men. Kelly also had an effort tipped over by the keeper. Unfortunately the numerical advantage did not last long as Dave Browne followed for a second yellow.
Time ran out for the Sky Blues as they finally began to perform.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Keith Kelly 8 Fintan Grace 4 Steve Grier 7 Dave Browne 5 Tom Flanagan 4 Neil McGowan 4 Stuart Love 4 Will O Connell 5 Graham Breen 5 Ger Byrne 5
Subs: Anto Doyle 4 Glen Burke 7 Seamus McCahill 6 Paul Kinsella Kevin O’Toole Thom O’Driscoll Graham McEnroe
