Spartak 0, Pioneers 5
Five second half scores saw the visitors leave Marlay Park comfortable winners.
Despite dominating the first half completely, Pioneers had nothing to show for their first half toils, with some last ditch defending from Paul Kinsella and Kevin O’Toole keeping he attack at bay, while Greg Byrne made some notable saves. Spartak took a blow when Kinsella went down with a hamstring strain after one interception. Spartak’s only first half chance came when Steve Walsh and Neil McGowan combined to setup Alan Farrington, but his shot lacked power and accuracy and sailed harmlessly over.
Neil McGowan headed over from a Spartak corner early in teh second period, before Pioneers took the lead with a header from a flag kick. They added to the lead on 52 minutes when Ken Buckley could not cover for some absent defenders.
Then came a pivotal moment whe a long ball by Dave Browne was added to by Ken Buckley to give Ger Byrne a chance close in but he lifted the ball over the bar. Ger might have converted a Steve Walsh free, and then Neil McGowan saw his point blank effort saved.
That was the end of the short Spartak revival and Pioneers added three more in the last 15 minutes in circumstances too embarrassing to recount.
Form Report
Greg Byrne 8 Keith Kelly 4 Dave Browne 4 Paul Kinsella 7 Kevin O’Toole 6 Ken Buckley 5 Neil McGowan 6 Steve Grier 5 Alan Farrington 4 Steve Walsh 4 Ger Byrne 5
Subs: Thom O’Driscoll 4 Mick Leslie 4
