25.1.15
Spartak 2, Beech Hill 0.
A tough cup tie against opponents who had won on their recent league visit to Marlay saw the Sky Blues maintain a clean sheet in a battling performance on a sticky surface with a tricky wind blowing across the pitch.
Some fine early work by Stuart Love set the tone and Spartak were up for the contest; a series of corners produce nothing as Martin Costello and Steve Walsh failed to deliver from the flag kicks.
On the half hour a forward burst by Steve Walsh was halted, but Dave Kernan retrieved the ball, raced forward before passing to Martin Costello, whose neat lay off was fired in by Walsh.
Steve Grier’s free was tipped over before Steve Walsh’s neat finish from Martin Costello’s pass gave Spartak the cushion of a two goal advantage.
The introduction of the substitutes gave Spartak an out ball as they sat deep and Keith Kelly’s cross almost provided fellow sub Thom O’Driscoll with a third goal.
Not the best performance but a safe passage through to the next round.
Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Dave Kernan 7 Aodhan McCahill 7 Paul Kinsella 6 Karl McCullough 6 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 6 Ken Buckley 6 Steve Grier 7 Martin Costello 7 Steve Walsh 7
Subs: Keith Kelly 6 Thom O’Driscoll 6
