Spartak 1 Knocklyon 2
In a tight contest at Marley, ten man Knocklyon overcame a somewhat disjointed home eleven. Spartak were hampered by injuries to a number of midfielders, and not helped in the preparation by the late arrival of Messrs Kenny and Grier (duly fined) . The midfield problem was not fully solved despite the energetic efforts of Martin Costello, pressed into service in an unfamiliar role. The return to fitness of Graham McEnroe, Tom Flanagan, Neil McGowan and Will O Connell is required.
Alex Kenny, after a recent tonsilitis op, did not last and was replaced on 20 minutes by Kevin O Toole.
There was little in the game until the 35th minute when the ball broke to Knocklyon after an aerial clash and, athough Spartak had cover in numbers, the quality of cover was poor as the cross pulled back to the near post was drilled home for the opening goal.
A fussy referee booked Tom Kowal for a tackle and sent off his opposite number for dissent before half time.
Spartak started the second half more positively and a clearance off the line from Breen’s header was the best effort, and maybe Spartak’s best opportunity to turn the game in their favour. Burke hit the post from a driven free after Kowal was upended right at the edge of the box.
Spartak’s attacking play fizzled out as over reliance was placed on the long ball to the ever willing Breen. The quality of passing required to enforce the benefit of the extra man was simply not there. Increasingly Knocklyon came back strongly to hit the bar with great shot and also convert a somewhat fortuitous penalty after a clash between a forward and Peter O Toole.
As the game moved towards injury time Spartak finally got a really good move together with Martin Costello;s pass starting a move which involved Dan O Connell and Glen Burke, whose cross was converted by Cibirka.
Unfortunately it was too little too late. Spartak are fortunate that a series of results elsewhere keeps them in the chasing pack, but there are seven teams in that pack. All have lost at least once in a very even and competitive division.
Form report
Peter O Toole 6 Anto Doyle 5 Rob Mahon 5 Steve Grier 7 Fintan Grace 5 Alex Kenny 4 Martin Costello 6 Gintaras Cibirka 6 Glen Burke 6 Graham Breen 6 tom Kowal 5
Subs Kevin O Toole 5 Dan O Connell 5 Adam Doran 5.
