Lads,
The Spartak lotto resumes with effect from the draw on Wed 15th Feb.
Contact Shane with your selected number and subscription.
Prize is €110 per week, cost €5 per week. Shane will be operating for a four week block from 15th Feb.
22.1.12
Knockmitten 0, Spartak 3.
A good performance and a recovery from the previous week’s debacle. This victory was founded on a strong defensive performance capped by a rare clean sheet. All of the back four were assured throughout.
Knockmitten were well up for the contest and started in a determined manner. However Spartak moved the ball sharply and won a corner, from which Steve Grier had a header blocked. Dave Thomson was also clear a couple of times but his crosses were off target.
Spartak had a scare when Peter O’Toole scrambled to push a shot against the post but responded when Dave Browne’s cross to Graham Breen resulted in a corner. From the corner, the ball came back to Dave Thomson, and when he tried to get past the full back he was fouled – penalty! Glen Burke stepped up to put the Sky Blues ahead on 19 minutes.
The goal presaged a fine passage of play from Spartak. Seamus McCahill and Neil McGowan combined to give Breen a chance which he dragged just wide; Breen, Thomson and McCahill all had chances during his period.
The homesters missed a good chance just before the interval .
Peter O’Toole had an unnerving start to the second period when he miskicked but was able to recover and
clear. McCahill and McGowan again combined to put Breen through; perhaps distracted by Burke racing outside and screaming for the ball, his first effort was saved and then when the ball came back to him he fired against the inside of the post before it was cleared from the line.
A misplaced pass by Browne allowed the home side a chance, but they failed to capitalise.
On 73 minutes Dave Thomson raced clear only to be fouled 20 yards out; the offender received his second yellow card and the sin was fully punished when Steve Grier fired the free into the top corner. Glen Burke picked up a needless yellow card chasing back before adding the coup de grace in injuring time, lobbing the keeper after running clear form Dave Browne’s pass. Alex Kenny made a terrific block just before the end to deny the homesters a consolation.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Anto Doyle 8 Dave Browne 8 Steve Grier 8 Alex Kenny 8 Ken Buckley 7 Neil McGowan 7 Glen Burke 7 Dave Thomson 6 Graham Breen 7 Seamus McCahill 6
Subs: Paul Kinsella 6 Derek McGoldrick 6 Conor Canavan 6
21.1.12
Swords Celtic 3, Spartak 1
Spartak came to rue missed first half chances in a game ruined by the wind and a whistle happy ref, who was never in control of the match. Apart from his infuriating habit of evening things up with provocative decisions, he failed to punish a horror challenge on Mick Costello. Mick has ankle damage and was lucky not to sustain a broken leg. To add insult to injury, the ref was only a few yards away from the incident.
Back to that first half, in which Spartak had the edge but somehow ended up a goal behind.
After just 5 minutes Conor Maguire won a free which Mick Greene crossed; the ball fell to Neill Bolger, close in, but he could not make the contact in the swirling wind. A fine reverse pass by Neill then put Derek Ruxton away on the right, and his shot was deflected for a corner.
Against the run of play Swords went ahead. A corner was cleared back to the taker, and his cross was headed down and finished. The Sky Blues claimed offside; but simple defending could have prevented the goal.
Spartak responded well with three attempts to equalise. Steve Walsh had a shot saved; Steve then put Conor Maguire through, who slotted past the keeper but wide of target; as the ball was running wide Neill Bolger raced to try to turn it in but hit the side net. Derek Ruxton’s run and cross left Conor Maguire with a close in header, but he could not get sufficient purchase and the ball drifted wide.
In fact Spartak had the home side on the run for a while, but sometimes chose to turn back to retain possession when a drive forward was more in keeping with the trend of the play.
The second period began poorly for Spartak; Neill Bolger picked up a yellow card, and on 50 minutes disaster struck when Martin Costello was dispossessed twice in the same move. On the first occasion his fellow defenders came to the rescue and returned the ball to him but the second was punished by a fine rasping shot past Bobby Hayes. 0-2.
Nonetheless Spartak fought back and reduced arrears on 56 minutes after good work by Steve Walsh when Conor Maguire turned the ball in. An equaliser looked on the cards when Fintan Grace and Martin Costello combined to cross for Neill Bolger, who powered a great header off the top of the bar. On a luckier day, he might have been completing his hattrick.
A fine run and cross by Fintan Grace saw no takers in the box and Maguire and Ruxton had shots saved. But the Sky Blues were undone as the defence pushed on and were caught out of position on the break and Swords added number 3 on 78 minutes.
Ross Kelly’s good work gave Mick Costello a good headed chance and then later when Mick’s shot was spilled by the keeper he challenged for the ball; he was butted and punched but Mick received a red card for retaliation – with no punishment for the home lads.
Not a match to be fondly remembered. A quick recovery is required for the Vere Deane cup (which Spartak has won previously) against high flying Hyde Park on Saturday in Balbriggan. The unfortunate Mick Costello will be both injured and suspended for that one.
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 6 Mick Greene 5 Fintan Grace 6 Martin Costello 5 Dave O’Kelly 6 Mick Costello 6 Neill Bolger 6 Derek Ruxton 6 Steve Walsh 6 Conor Maguire 6 Shane McInerney 6
Subs : Niall Lennon 5 Cathal Clancy 5 Ross Kelly 5 Colum O’Sullivan Niall Hanratty
21/01/2012
Squad: Jimmy Brown (6), Tony Kavanagh (6), Greg Callan (6), Paul McGrath (6), Robbie Downer (7), David Kavanagh (6), Graham Johnston (6) Brian Stafford (6), Ken Byrne (6), Paddy Hughes (6), Brendan Mooney (7), Matt Grimes (6), Paul Burke (6), Steven Mongy (6), Rory Campbell (9).
Scorer: Brendan Mooney 1
14/01/2012
Squad: Jimmy Browne (6), Ken Byrne (6), Greg Callan (6), Paul McGrath (6), Robbie Downer (6), Shea McCafferty (6), Frank McNamee (7), Graham Johnston (7), Brian Stafford (6), Paddy Hughes (7), Brendan Mooney (7), Collie Reid (6), David Kavanagh (6), Matt Grimes (6), Rory Campbell (9).
Scorers: Brendan Mooney (2), Paddy Hughes (2), Frank McNamee (1).
15.1.12
Rathfarnham Punters 6, Spartak 2
An inept performance, particularly in defence, made things easy for the homesters.
Having scrapped and battled before the Christmas break to get away from the bottom rung of the league ladder, it was clear that many of the Sky Blues had taken too long a sabbatical and were not at the races on the day, resulting in a wretched performance overall.
With the game fairly even for the opening 35 minutes, Spartak went 3-0 down in a 10 minute spell just before half time. The first goal was a simple ball though the middle , which found the back 4 badly caught out. The second was something of a disaster minutes later, with Peter O’Toole attempting a first time clearance on a Ciaran Keogh back pass, missing it completely as it bobbled, and it was 2-0. A miskick by Dave Browne and a botched attempt to tidy up by Steve Grier saw the home side go 3 up.
Warning had been given earlier when a simple though ball gave a one on one chance which Peter saved.
The Sky Blues had a great chance early on to take a lead when Ger Byrne played in Dave Thomson, but he fluffed his effort with the keeper out of position. Dave also had a couple of second half chances, but none as clear as the first half opportunity.
Spartak attempted a second half revival, and were rewarded when Keith Kelly scored from the spot. Graham Breen had been unceremoniously fouled by the keeper, who was lucky to escape with only a yellow card. For a short while Spartak had the better of exchanges, but the rally was brief.
However the home side continued to be dangerous on the break and added to their total pretty much as they pleased against a ragged Spartak defence. Steve Grier plaintively (and possibly justifiably) appealed for a foul as the home side rattled in number four. Anto Doyle conceded a free which was converted; and Seamus McCahill and Anto Doyle were left trailing for number 6. Ger Byrne’s last minute score was merely a consolation.
A chastening result which reflected a really poor performance.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 5 Keith Kelly 4 Ciaran Keogh 4 Steve Grier 4 Dave Browne 4 Seamus McCahill 4 Neil McGowan 5 Glen Burke 4 Dave Thomson 5 Graham Breen 5 Ger Byrne 5
Subs: Anto Doyle 4 Tom O’Driscoll 4 Ken Buckley 4 Paul Kinsella
14.1.12
Leinster Junior Shield Round 5
Carrick Rovers 0, Spartak 2
An excellent opportunist strike by Derek Ruxton on 75 minutes effectively decided this tie in the Sky Blues favour. On as sub, Derek broke the deadlock of a match that seemed destined for stalemate. Conor Maguire’s 94th minute goal gave the scoreline a more flattering look in a dour encounter in Carrickmacross.
Derek’s decisive moment came when he challenged the keeper for a loose ball just outside the box; the ball squirted away to the left, but Derek coolly slotted in from a tight angle.
Spartak and Carrick huffed and puffed for a first half that was aimless; neither side took control of the ball and possession was squandered repeatedly. Neither midfield could get a grip on proceedings.
When Niall Hanratty and Bobby Hayes made a hash of a kick out, Carrick had their best chance of the game, but the subsequent cross was too fast for the striker to touch home.
Spartak had two “goals” disallowed; both by Conor Maguire, the second following the brightest passage of play after Niall Hanratty struck the bar from 20 yards, and Conor arched to head in.
Spartak were generally profligate from free kicks in decent positions, and did not test the local keeper, the nearest chance when Martin Costello knocked Mick Greene’s free over the bar. and, throughout the match, lacked the incisiveness needed; the final ball was not up to the mark. Martin was lucky to escape censure when he handled the ball deliberately.
Chris Hogan was again in the wars with officialdom and was in danger of dismissal until substituted.
On 65 minutes, a neat move put Shane McInerney into the box; his shot was pushed away by the keeper, but in the act of shooting a Carrick player shouted “boo” for which he received his second yellow and a harsh dismissal by the excellent, if slightly fussy, referee. Shane swears this is the only reason he did not break his scoring “duck” for the season!
Bobby Hayes handled confidently throughout, particularly early on when Conor Maguire was dispossessed, but conceded a second half free for carrying the ball out of the penalty area, and he was well protected by the central defensive bastions of Fintan Grace and Dave O’Kelly.
With the locals down to ten men, Spartak at last began to take a grip in midfield, but too often the cross or final pass halted the move. While the midfield was solid defensively, they were a little over cautious in general and few inventive passes were made, with support for the forward players usually lacking.
As Carrick pushed on in search of an equaliser, the other substitute Derek McGoldrick used his pace and had two great chances on the break; firstly he rounded the keeper but lost his footing at the vital moment; and the second effort was saved.
Carrick Rovers were sporting and gracious hosts of a match played in a good spirit and we wish them well for the rest of the season.
While the performance was solid rather than spectacular, the result away from home was satisfying, particularly for the travelling fans, Ian Leslie and Mark Bolger. It was a fairly cheerful bus ride home, with a 6th round quarter final tie awaiting.
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 7 Chris Hogan 6 Mick Greene 6 Dave O’Kelly 8 Fintan Grace 8 Mick Costello 7 Niall Lennon 7 Niall Hanratty 7 Conor Maguire 7 Martin Costello 7 Shane McInerney 7
Subs: Derek Ruxton 7 Derek McGoldrick 6 Neill Bolger
Over 35′s are home to Inter Firm at 2pm. The Sunday lads are away to Rathfarnham Punters also kicking off at 2pm.
The Saturday lads are away to Carrick Rovers from Carrickmacross in Monaghan in the 5th round of the Leinster Junior Shield. The bus is LEAVING the Eden at 10.30am and there is room on the bus for a few supporters. All support would be appreciated.
10/12/2011
Squad:
Jimmy Browne (6), Paul McGrath (6), Paul Burke (5), Tony Kavanagh (7), Ken Byrne (7), Matt Grimes (5), Frank McNamee (6), Brian Stafford (5), Paddy Hughes (5), Graham Johnston (6), Shea McCafferty (5), Leon Davids (5), Stevey Mongy (5), Collie Reid (5), Rory Campbell (9).
03/12/2011
Drumcondra 4 Spartak 1
Squad:
Jimmy Browne (7), Dave Mohan (5), Paul McGrath (6), Paul Burke (5), Tony Kavanagh (6), Frank McNamee (6), Paddy Hughes (5), Graham Johnston (6), Shea McCafferty (5), Con Mooney (5), Leon Davids (5), Stevey Mongy (6), Collie Reid (6), Rory Campbell (9).
(Scorer Rory Campbell)
