Griffith Rovers 3 , Spartak 2
Despite taking an early lead, Spartak fell to a pre season defeat against a tough and fast Griffith side, who scored three times just before and after the interval, and generally showed a greater goal threat.
On 9 minutes a Stuart Love pass fed Graham Breen who first timed it home following confusion in the home defence.
Rovers then missed a pont blank header from a corner before Martin Costello, lacking confidence in his left foot, spurned an open goal when the ball came to him 25 yards out. Both Dan O’Connell and Fintan Grace set the hard running Ger Byrne away but the chances were not availed of.
Spartak were confused at the back with Dave Browne and Dave O’Kelly venturing out of position and Martin Costello having a torrid time with the winger before retiring with a recurring knock. Reliant on Peter O’Toole who made a couple of good stops, the defence continued to cede chances to Griffith. Following Dave Browne’s long throw possession was lost and Spartak were short of cover, and the home side took full adantage. 1-1. Paul Kinsella’s mis header forced O’Toole to remain alert.
Spartak made wholesale changes at half time and the substitutes in central midfield, Shane McInerney and Tom Flanagan, struggled to get into the game and allowed their opponents free rein to dominate the central area where Seamus McCahill and Fintan Grace had done the battling in the first half. Consequently Griffith scored twice in as many minutes as the Spartak boat rocked, just after O’Toole again made a sharp reflex save.
Central defence was found wanting when a long cross from the Spartak left was powered home unchallenged. From a corner then the ball was laid off to a Griffith midfielder, given time and space to have a ping. O’Toole was unfortunate in tipping the shot on to the woodwork only for the ball to go in off his body.
Paul Kinsella showed his leadership qualities as Spartak’s defence steadied somewhat. Shane Corrigan, carrying a knock, missed a chance to reduce arrears from Niall Tilly’s cross.
In general Spartak were shot shy but managed to reduce arrears when Paul Kinsella bundled in Tom Flanagan’s corner on 73 minutes.
Niall Hanratty’s promptings were producing some benefits but the final touches around the box were missing and Stuart Love’s timid shot from the edge of the box was the last chance.
This was clearly a case of a friendly game where the six substitutes, in general, did not make an impact. While it was good that everyone got a run, the team suffered from the lack of continuity.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 8 Dave O’Kelly 5 Martin Costello 5 Dave Browne 5 Paul Kinsella 7 Fintan Grace 6 Stuart Love 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Niall Lennon 5 Graham Breen 6 Ger Byrne 6 Dan O’Connell 6 Niall Tilly 5 Niall Hanratty 6 Tom Flanagan 4 Shane McInerney 4 Shane Corrigan 5.
