1.4.12
Spartak 3 Meath 1
Meath, at the bottom of the table and desperately fighting relegation, played the better football for the greater part of the game, went a goal up, and were somewhat unlucky not to be further ahead before a late revival saw the Sky Blues come out on top.
Spartak, placing some distance recently between themselves and the spectre of relegation, came into the game in good form, but did not reproduce that form on the day.
The visitors had two penalty claims for handballs against Alex Kenny and Paul Kinsella, and the second shout looked a fair one, with Paul’s hands raised in John Terry fashion to block the shot. Graham Breen will feel hard done by when he turned in the rebound from a Neil McGowan corner; the ball looked to be well over the line to everyone but the ref.
Steve Grier was caught in possesion but, luckily, the forward’s shot was off target.
The Sky Blues saved the best move of the match for the 88th minute when Steve Grier, under pressure, found Ger Byrne with a clearance. Neat combination play between the three substitutes saw Glen Burke lay the ball back for Neil McGowan, who evaded a challenge before slotting home.
The wait for some good football from the Sky Blues proved an arduous one, as Spartak were lack lustre in the first half, with a lack of quality passing from the back. When the full backs overlapped, the final ball was not good enough and the midfield only operated in fits and starts. The best chance fell to Dave Thomson, through on goal but the keeper blocked.
The introduction of Glen Burke and Neil McGowan on 65 minutes, along with a changed formation, quickly paid dividends as the Meath defence caved under pressure. An o.g. gave Spartak an equaliser and when the keeper fumbled a cross to drop the ball a yard out, Glen Burke almost apologetically poked the ball over the line.
A considerable improvement in performance will be necessary to match RSFC in the next match
Form Report:
Peter O’Toole 5 Paul Kinsella 5 Dave Browne 5 Steve Grier 6 Alex Kenny 7 Ken Buckley 5 Dave Thomson 5 Keith Kelly 5 Seamus McCahill 7 Graham Breen 6 Conor Maguire 5.
Subs: Glen Burke 7 Neil McGowan 7 Ger Byrne 7 Ciaran Keogh Conor Canavan
