3.3.13
Virginia Celtic 0, Spartak 3
Spartak advanced to the 6th round of the Leinster Junior Shield with a clear win over a sporting Virginia side in Carlanstown.
The trip outside the capital proved a testing one for the Sky Blues, some of whom are geographically challenged, with many of the players wandering the back roads of Meath for some time before eventually stumbling on the venue. One piece of good luck from the sojourn is that Cathal Clancy has now been engaged by Bord Failte to write a tourist guide to Carlanstown!
The key to the win was a well marshalled Sky Blue back four, which restricted the locals to few chances, despite Virginia enjoying most of the possession.
Spartak got a tonic start when the home team made an awful hames of dealing with a long ball from Sean Doyle after just two minutes, and Stephen Barr was able to poke the ball in after hesitancy from the centre back and keeper.
The home side had a chance when a Cathal Clancy miskick conceded a corner, but Chris “Tubes” Hogan headed the ensuing header off the line with David Marlow beaten. Cathal Clancy was having a torrid time when an error allowed a chance for the locals but they denied by a very tight offside call. Cathal then vented his frustration in a tackle which brought a yellow card.
Stephen Barr drove a free into the wall after Dermot Dooley was fouled. at the other end Chris Hogan made a good block before almost undoing the good work with a poor pass which gave Shane McInerney no chance; the ball was switched to the local number 8 who might have done better than firing wide from a good position.
The Sky Blues were tussling well for possession but found it difficult to get passing moves together, with hard won possession too readily frittered away thoughout the first half.
Having started the first half on the best possible note, the feat was repeated on 48 minutes when Spartak delivered another sucker punch to the locals after Dermot Dooley was again fouled. This time Sean Doyle picked out Stephen Barr, running free from his marker, and who headed powerfully to the net.
Virginia almost found a way back into the game after David Marlow took umbrage to a challenge by retaliating; it might have been a dismissal and a penalty, but the ref satisfied himself with a lecture and a yellow card.
The home side then had an indirect free ten yards out courtesy of the Spartak keeper, but failed to capitalise.
The home side had no option but to chase the game but were caught on the break when a Glen Burke cross was finished by Martin Costello on 71 minutes. There was still time for Stephen Barr to miss two good chances to add to the total, but he was leg weary and lobbed one over and chipped the second effort wide.
A clean sheet and a three goal margin represented a satisfactory day’s work, especially as the overall performance was not the most fluent.
Form Report
David Marlow 6 Chris Hogan 7 Fintan Grace 7 Sean Doyle 8 Cathal Clancy 6 Shane McInerney 6 Anto Doyle 5 Steve O’Hara 6 Dermot Dooley 6 Stephen Barr 7 Martin Costello 6 Glen Burke 6 Niall Lennon 5 Mick Costello 5 Lee Malone Jeff Gamble
