24.8.14
Spartak 1, Palmerstown 1
A late goal denied Spartak all three points, as the Sky Blues began their season on a grassy pitch in Marlay park.
The start of the season seems to have come too early for some players, and Spartak were also missing Graham Breen and Karl McCullough through injury.
A pedestrian first half was brightened only by some excursions down the right wing by David Kernan , but his crosses could not find a Spartak attacker. Steve Walsh featured briefly to fire past a post, while Stuart Love, the most industrious player on view, headed narrowly wide. At the other end a lapse of concentration by Lee Malone saw Paul Kinsella cover at the expense of a yellow card. Indeed in a separate incident Paul was fortunate not to concede a penalty with a clumsy barge which the ref adjudged to be just outside. Spartak also had a penalty shout when Steve Walsh was barged but claims were waved away.
Indecisive defending saw a Palmerstown forward have a clean run on goal, but Jason Northey pawed his effort away.
Spartak remained sluggish at the start of the second period with Lee Malone recklessly firing across his own penalty area to an opponent, who luckily fired wide.
Better passing by Spartak paved the way for the lead goal on the hour when Seamus McCahill coolly finished after a good passing move following Neil McGowan recovering a ball he had just lost to start the sequence.
Spartak were unlucky to have a “goal” chalked out for offside when a long cross by Paul Kinsella from deep eluded both David Kernan and the keeper for Neil McGowan to race in and stretch to net. A cross by Seamus McCahill then eluded Jeff Gamble just yards out.
Palmerstown had a nice move and the striker struck the post when an equaliser seemed inevitable.
Spartak were now playing on the break and Seamus McCahill played in Ciaran Keane who had a clear run on goal but the keeper blocked. On a couple of other occasions good passes released Steve Walsh but he was unluckily deemed offside.
With just 90 seconds to go a long ball by Palmerstown saw indecision by Jason Northey allow a simple looping header to equalise.
Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Lee Malone 5 Aodhan McCahill 7 Steve Grier 7 Paul Kinsella 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 6 David Kernan 6 Seamus McCahill 7 Jeff Gamble 5 Steve Walsh 5
Subs: Ciaran Keane 5 Ken Buckley 5
