17.2.13
Spartak 2, Knockmitten 0
The fact that the match was played at all was a surprise, given the battering the pitch took in the titanic cup battle with Blessington the week before; the short dry spell ensured the pitch was playable, but bumpy.
Neil McGowan missed the game as daughter Juliana arrived at kick off time, and with Niall Hanratty otherwise engaged, Paul Kinsella took the captain’s armband while Seamus McCahill and Thom O’Driscoll returned to the line up. In Thom’s case it was a first start in almost a year due to a frustrating and persistent injury.
Jason Northey was called into action in the first minute almost before the Spartak defence noticed the game had started.
Steve Walsh was finding space on the right, and got the ball past the keeper but the defender cleared; Steve then fluffed his lines after being set up by Dave Thomson and Alan Farrington. A nice move between Walsh and Conor Maguire saw Thom O’Driscoll lose out to a defender in contesting the cross, but on 14 minutes the Sky Blues took a deserved lead when Alan Farrington neatly cushioned a flick on into Steve Walsh’s path and he drilled in from 18 yards.
Some sloppy work at the back saw Steve Grier dispossessed but luckily Seamus McCahill was on hand to dig him out of trouble.
Dave Thomson had a couple of good headed efforts, one just wide, and the other off the crossbar, from set pieces before Thom O’Driscoll celebrated his return by forcing home from close range on 26 minutes after a Seamus McCahill flick on.
Knockmitten then tried an audacious long range effort which Jason Northey pushed over the bar.
The second half was scoreless, with Paul Kinsella’s neat header from Steve Walsh’s pass chalked off for offside. Generally there were few chances, with the conditions mitigating against both sides. Despite some sloppy defending on both sides, the score remained at 2-0.
A welcome three points with 11 matches played, which brings the Sky Blues up to fifth place, having been bottom of the table after losing the first three games.
Form Report (Barry’s this time)
Jason Northey 7 Paul Kinsella 5 Aodhan McCahill 7 Steve Grier 6 Dave Browne 6 Alan Farrington 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Thom O’Driscoll 6 Dave Thomson 7 Conor Maguire 6 Steve Walsh 7
Subs : Ken Buckley 6
