Spartak Dynamo FC

Leicester Celtic 0, Spartak 0 (Leicester win 5-4 on pens)

Penalty shoot outs have been described as a lottery, however there is a proven formula to winning them – keep scoring all your penalties and wait for the opposotion to mess up or your keeper to be inspired. In this case the unlucky Peter O’Toole got fingers to four of the penalties but not enough to keep them out, while Glen Burke fell below his own standards of penalty execution with a weak effort too close to the keeper who was able to save with his feet.
Niall Hanratty, Paul Kinsella , Seamus McCahill and Steve Grier all scored with their efforts.
In the game itself, Spartak’s best chance came from a Grier – McCahill
quick throw move very early on which ended with a tantalising ball across the six yard box with no Spartak forward in sight.
Dave O’Kelly’s header was saved and Tom O’Driscoll shot over when Glen Burke’s long range free was parried out to him. The Leicester keeper also saved well from McCahill, while Burke’s effort was blocked close to the line.
Leicester had their own chances when careless play by Grier let them in and on another occasion when Spartak’s back four were caught out by a long ball.
Overall defences dominated , as would be expected in a cup semi, but Leicester held their nerve to go through to meet VEC, victors over Knocklyon, in the final.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Glen Burke 6 Martin Costello 6 Steve Grier 6 Paul Kinsela 7 Keith Kelly 6 Seamus McCahill 7 Stuart Love 6 Dave O’Kelly 6 Ger Byrne 7 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Niall Tilly 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Dave Browne 6 Dan O’Connell Niall Lennon.

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