25.2.02
Malahide 6, Spartak 1
The day began badly for Spartak and ended a great deal worse.
The home side opened the scoring in the first minute after hesitation by Fintan Grace allowed the centre forward in to round Stephen Harris and score.
Spartak rallied and Derek Ruxton had a couple of efforts, one well over and another cleared with the keeper beaten. Fintan redeemed himself somewhat with a great clearance after the home side sprung a shaky offside trap.
A shot by Shane McInerney was handled on the line but nothing given by the referee. Spartak pressed and a throw by Mick Greene was controlled by Conor Maguire who passed to Derek Ruxton. Derek’s shot was goal bound and Conor is claiming a touch.
Derek skied a half chance and Malahide showed their intent with a header just over, while Stephen Harris also made a smart save.
At half time the game seemed well within Spartak’s grasp, but that was not how it turned out.
Niall Hanratty lasted just 45 minutes and Neill Bolger substituted. On 53 minutes, a clearly offside no.7 was allowed to go on and score for Malahide. Incensed by the decision Neill incurred a yellow and then a red in foolishly attempting to get the ref to change his mind. A goal and a man down, Spartak did not respond well to the adversity. Its often said that its difficult to play against 10 men, but Malahide found it an easy task, as Spartak folded. The referee was one of the poorest we have encountered, but Spartak fell in to the trap of arguing with each other and with the ref, and both concentration and discipline were lost.
The afternoon got steadily worse for the Sky Blues after that. Malahide got the third following a corner, and the fourth from a break when Niall Lennon was dispossessed. Cathal Clancy allowed the red mist to descend and conceded a penalty and was dismissed. A harsh penalty was awarded against Shane McInerney to complete the rout. Both penalties were duly dispatched.
A humbling experience to lose and exit the cup in such a manner to a team from a lower division who were clearly beatable. By some distance the worst performance of the season.
Form Report:
Stephen Harris 6 Chris Hogan 4 Mick Greene 5 Fintan Grace 5 Cathal Clancy 4 Mick Costello 4 Niall Hanratty 4 Conor Maguire 5 Steve Walsh 4 Derek Ruxton 5 Shane McInerney 5
Subs: Neill Bolger 4 Niall Lennon 4 Martin Costello
