st Round Leinster Junior Shield
12 October 2013
– Riverside 5 – 4 Spartak (aet)
Spartak made an early morning trip to Brickfields to play Riverside in the 1st round of the Leinster Junior Shield. This competition has been generous to Spartak in the past and last years finalists were out in the first round but not without a real battle.
With the scores 0-0 at half time Spartak made a disastrous start to the second half and found themselves 2-0 down on 47 minutes.
Michael Leslie pulled one back with a sweet left foot finish across the keeper. Substitute Stephen Barr made it 2-2 from a free kick on the edge of the box. Moments later he was sent off following a “discussion” with the referee over a mishit clearance which landed in Marlow’s hands. The referee gave the free kick from where the “back pass” was hit at the edge of the box.
Spartak got caught out when a break down the right was not cut out and found themselves 3-2 down but to their credit battled back with 10 men and ball broke to Shane McInerney to poke home from close range on 86 minutes.
Into extra time and Jeff Gamble made it 4-3 in the 1st minute with a powerful close range header from Niall Lennons corner. Spartak looked more likely to get a 5th but again got hit on the break and allowed Riverside to equalize and make it 4-4.
Neil Bolger forced a great fingertip save from the home keeper before a long range Derek Gibney free kick beat the keeper before bouncing off the crossbar. With the game looking set for penalties Riverside added a 5th two minutes into added time in the second half of extra time. It was a sickening blow for the visitors who battled so hard with 10 men for 55 minutes
Team – David Marlow, David O Kelly, Chris Hogan, Fintan Grace, Derek Gibney, Shane McInerney, Jeff Gamble, Barry Maguire, Jervis Mulhall, Niall Lennon, Michael Leslie
Subs – Stephen Barr (for Barry Maguire) Neil Bolger (for Jervis Mulhall), Jason Doyle, Mick Greene
Man of the match – Jeff Gamble with a notable mention for Niall Lennon
