Spartak Dynamo FC

18.2.12
Spartak 2 Leicester 3

With so many of the squad out for one reason or another, Spartak had to field somewhat of a patched up side with Shane McInerney playing despite a dead leg and Mick Greene fielded in an unaccustomed midfield role.

The game featured a few goals of the freakish variety and Stephen Harris had an eventful outing which called to mind the quote re Longfellow’s little girl – When she was good she was very very good, but when she was bad she was horrid. Stephen made some really fine one on one saves, but slipped up to gift a goal to Leicester, and later was lucky to escape when losing the ball at the edge of the box.

The goals first, all of which came in the first half. Leicester took an early lead which was quickly cancelled by Steve Walsh’s free kick, after a foul on Paul Kinsella, who was a driving force in the middle. Steve Walsh’s shot was on target and visiting goalkeeper made a hash of attempting to save.

Then Leicester again took the lead when Stephen Harris tried to field a back pass and beat the first forward, he succeeded only in knocking the ball into the path of another forward who had an easy task.

The series of errors continued when the visiting number 5 played a square pass which put Conor Maguire in for a well taken equaliser.

What proved to be the winning goal came in first half injury time; with Spartak on the offensive Shane McInerney dithered in possession and his opponent ran 80 yards to score. As to how he was not intercepted by the Spartak defence – well that’s another matter.

In the second half a run by Conor Maguire was halted at the cost of a yellow card; Miick Greene’s free was perfect: but no one made a run to the back post for what would have been the simplest of scores.

Leicester fired a great chance over and were foiled on other occasions by good work from Fintan Grace , Cathal Clancy and Stephen Harris. The Sky Blues had a few chances. A Mick Greene corner was flicked goalwards by Paul Kinsella, but the full back cleared off the line. Conor Maguire and Chris Hogan combined and the latter’s nice low cross was just too far for Derek McGoldrick to reach.

The form report? No, just a list of those unable to play for one reason or another: Bobby Hayes, Dave O’Kelly, Niall Hanratty, Martin and Mick Costello, Niall Lennon, Derek Ruxton, Neill Bolger,Colum O’Sullivan.

A full squad is needed to get the league campaign back on track ad a challenging Vere Deane cup match away to Malahide is next on the agenda.

Form Report
Stephen Harris 6 Chris Hogan 5 Conor Canavan 5 Fintan Grace 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Paul Kinsella 7 Mick Greene 6
Conor Maguire 7 Steve Walsh 6 Ross Kelly 6 Shane McInerney 6
Subs: Derek McGoldrick 5 Dan O’Connell 5 Eduardo Maino 5

26.11.11

Spartak 5, Ballycragh 4 (AET)

The Sky Blues finally came out on top of this pulsating contest. With the visitors down to 10 men after 25 minutes, Spartak looked odds on to come out on top, but instead found themselves 0-2 down at the break. When Ballycragh made it 3-1 on 85 minutes, hope faded and Spartak teetered on he edge of disaster. However Steve Walsh’s corner went straight in on 88 minutes, and on 92 minutes Cathal Clancy strode imperiously forward before passing to Conor Maguire, who sent Martin Costello in to fire in the equaliser to a mixture of euphoria and relief from the home side.

That meant extra time; and Conor Maguire duly fired in to make it 4-3 in the first period. Colum O’Sullivan then took centre stage, conceding a penalty and the equaliser first, and then was involved in the move, set up by Chris Hogan, which led to the winner with 90 seconds of extra time remaining. Colum’s shot struck a defender, and Conor Maguire coolly finished the rebound to the net. In between Cathal Clancy had a glorious opportunity from a Niall Lennon cross but headed wide.

Spartak began the match poorly and conceded on 9 minutes when Fintan Grace half cleared a corner. The second Ballycragh goal came on 18 minutes when a hesitant Bobby Hayes allowed a low cross to drift past him.

On 25 minutes the visiting player foolishly struck Cathal and was red carded.

It was a game in which Spartak created more chances than in all games put together so far this season.

In the very first minute a long Conor Maguire pass found Martin Costello who fired wide. A harbinger of things to come? It looked that way. Niall Hanratty fired weakly at the keeper when clear, Fintan Grace’s shot from the left was on target but had no power; Mick Greene’s pass put Conor Maguire in for a one on one, but he shot too close to the keeper. Conor’s pass put Niall Hanratty in but he blazed wide and later hit the bar from Mick Greene’s pass; Shane McInerney was well wide from the edge of the box. And that was just the first half!

The second half was almost all one way traffic , with Ballycragh scoring on virtually their only excursion into home territory on 85 minutes. Their only other chance came courtesy of a tiring Mick Greene, who played across his own goal. Shane McInerney came to the rescue with a risky challenge in the box.

Shane could have had a hat trick, but despite getting into great positions failed to make good contact with the ball sufficient to trouble the keeper. Niall Hanratty, too, could have had a few goals, but lacked the clinical touch, opting for power instead. Chris Hogan, marauding from right back, had several efforts go close; Conor Maguire hit the bar from Steve Walsh’s cross and the ball bounced invitingly a yard out but Martin Costello handled in his attempt to get the ball across the line.

Spartak were now on the rampage, camped in Ballycragh’s half, with unused sub Derek Ruxton acting as a manic ball boy to keep the tempo at a frantic level.

Substitutes Niall Lennon and Steve Walsh had given added impetus and Niall Lennon burst through and looked certain to score but the effort was deflected over.

On another day all those missed opportunities would have given rise to much soul searching following the game.

On 73 minutes Mick Greene and Martin Costello combined to cross for Niall Hanratty to toe poke home. It looked set up for Spartak , but credit must go to Ballycragh, who fought really well with 10 men, defended deep and worked hard and had other ideas, scoring a third goal.

A great game, almost a nightmare but finally the goals came to the delight of the boys in sky blue.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 5 Chris Hogan 6 Mick Greene 6 Fintan Grace 6 Cathal Clancy 8 Mick Costello 5 Shane McInerney 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Conor Maguire 7 Ross Kelly 5 Martin Costello 6
Subs Niall Lennon 7 Steve Walsh 7 Colum O Sullivan 6 Derek McGoldrick Dave O’Kelly Derek Ruxton

Its cup action for both Saturday teams this weekend. The young lads are playing Balbriggan at home and the Over 35s are away to Greystones. The Sunday lads are away to Castlepark on Sunday morning

St Kilians is closed for mid term, so we train in St Columbas on WED at 9.

This weeks lotto bonus ball winner is Gerry Keane. His number 19 came up in the Wednesday lotto and as a result he wins €110. Congratulations Gerry.

15.10.11
Spartak 3, Three Trout Rovers 0

In this Leinster Junior Shield First Round match, Spartak played hosts to a newly formed UCFL Div 3 side.

A 2nd minute goal settled the home side when Ryan Burke drilled home after a good move. However there was a long wait till the 44th minute for the next effort on target when a looping Shane McInerney shot was tipped over.

Possession was frequently squandered, even from throw ins, and movement at corners was limited .
Despite playing five in midfield Spartak did not dominate possession and were reliant on solid interventions by Cathal Clancy and Fintan Grace to ensure the lead remained.

The visitors had an effort scrambled clear by Jason Northey after a free kick conceded by Neill Bolger
Cathal made a great last ditch tackle when the Three Trout forward bore down on goal after confusion about the defensive line. Jason Northey had to make a couple of decent interventions as the visitors threatened.

On 63 minutes a slick passing move involving Chris Hogan and Ryan Burke gave Ross Kelly the chance to put in a good cross, which Colum O’Sullivan headed neatly home for number 2 to make the game safe.

The visitors never stopped trying and created a number of openings, but suffered from the lack of a finishing touch. Three Trout had a shout for a penalty for handball against Cathal Clancy, but the ref, who was quite lenient to both sides, waved away claims.

As the game meandered and the pace dropped, the Sky Blues scored a third goal on 77 minutes when Cathal again won possession with a crunching tackle; Niall Hanratty’s long ball sent Ross Kelly clear and he made no mistake.

On to Round 2 with a clean sheet and

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Chris Hogan 7 Dillon Burke 6 Fintan Grace 7 Cathal Clancy 8 Neill Bolger 6 Colum O’Sullivan 6 Ryan Burke 7 Steve Walsh 6 Ross Kelly 7 Shane McInerney 6
Subs: Niall Hanratty 7 Martin Costello 5 Conor Maguire 5 Fidel Benson Jose Vargas Dave O’Kelly Niall Lennon Mick Greene

8.10.11
Spartak1 Laytown 1

Laytown took the initiative at first and Spartak had some early scares. When Martin Costello was beaten the lack of cover was exposed, but the forward fired wide and minutes later Martin and Fintan Grace were eluded by the visting attack but again the shot was across goal and wide.

A foul on Neill Bolger gave the Sky Blues a free in a good position, but Martin Costello’s side footed effort was too weak to trouble the keeper.

Once again Laytown took control and Martin cleared off the line and then in the follow up was deemed not to have handled on the line before Laytown blazed over. Minutes later Laytown again burst past the defensive line but shot wide.

Spartak were not enjoying any bouts of possession and were generally second best around the park. The Laytown midfield was on top and it was just as well for the Sky Blues that the Louth forwards were profligate.

Against the run of play Spartak took the lead on 40 minutes. Neill Bolger was again fouled. Mick Greene fired in a dangerous free from the left between the keeper and defence and good runs by Fintan Grace and Ross Kelly caused confusion in the visitors defence. Ross took control and evaded the keeper before shooting in.

In the second period the pattern continued. Bobby Hayes lost the ball in a challenge at the edge of the penalty area and the visitors were denied only by superb blocks by Chris Hogan and Martin Costello before Niall Hanratty had a rush of blood to the head and poked the ball towards the open goal. Again the clearance came just in time.

Spartak midfield did not come to terms with the visitors and were unable to give Ross Kelly the necessary support as the Laytown midfield determined the pace of the game and controlled possession.

Laytown had two thirds possession, some of it gifted from Sky Blues throws and attempted passes.
No one in the middle was able to put their foot on the ball and dictate the tempo of the play, and some of the home players struggled to keep with the pace of the game, which at times was at a frenetic level.

Laytown levelled matters from a throw in flicked on into the 6 yard box, and the home defence was flatfooted as the forward poked in the equaliser.

There were two more main chances to get a winner.

Bobby Hayes made a fine save to deny Laytown following a loss of possession in a dangerous area.

The inroduction of Fidel Benson and Colum O’Sullivan added some energy and attacking urgency to the home cause and Steve Walsh belatedly came to life. Steve almost won the game with a coruscating dribble , beating three men and finishing with a shot which cannoned off the bar.

Spartak had to be happy with a point with the visitors extremely frustrated that they did not turn possession into goal supremacy.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 7 Chris Hogan 7 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 6 Fintan Grace 6 Neill Bolger 5 Jose Vargas 5 Niall Hanratty 5 Steve Walsh 6 Ross Kelly 7 Shane McInerney 5
Subs: Cathal Clancy 6 Colum O’Sullivan 6 Fidel Benson 6 Ryan Burke Dillon Burke

The seniors travelled for a local derby to Dundrum FC on Saturday. As before the seniors took an age to get going and before we knew it we were 1 down.A simple set piece corner saw the no 3 for Dundrum rise higher than anyone else on the pitch to head home,Dave the cat Mohan was unlucky not to tip over after getting his fingertips to it.An unusual missed penalty by Paul Scholsey Burke meant we went in at half time one down.A quick chat at half time where everyone expressed their opinion and everyone seem to have a different solution as how to fix it. Fifteen mins into the second half we were two down, a ball given away by Matt Grimes in midfield and no one chasing  back let them in for a soft second.Anyway with  20 mins to go, two nil down and a mountain to climb we got a lucky break when the referee awarded a second penalty after a hand ball in the box.Penalty scored (me) and now Dundrum were on the back foot , we started pressing hard from the midfield and some great balls across the field into the box were starting to pay off .The next goal came from great work in the middle which led to Matt crossing a pinpoint pass into my path and with the keeper coming off his line it made it easy for me to lob him…2-2 and the game was up for grabs.5 mins to go and we got the winner, the same pass from Matt Grimes meant I could take it down and have a shot, the keeper saved but couldnt hold it and Jamie Brennan was there to slot home for the winner.Dundrum were shell shocked to say the least and the expression daylight robery springs to mind.So 3 out of 4 wins for the Seniors means a good start to the season and long may it last.

One thing to note is we still havent got the commitment that were looking for off certain players and we will need this if we are going to make a difference in this league.Due to either illness, holidays,injuries or other comittments we only had 13 players available out of a possible 23.Anyway training on Tuesday at 8:45pm Blackrock.

Man of the match this week was Jamie Brennan (7)

Squad: Dave Mohan (6) Paul Burke (5) Paul McGrath (6) Jamie Brennan (7) Tom Maher (5) Matt Grimes (5) David Kavanagh (6) Shea McCafferty (5) Brian Stafford(6) Ken Byrne (5) Paddy Hughes (5) Graham Johnston (6) Rory Campbell (9.5)

Congratulations to Mary McInerney, the first weekly winner in the Spartak Lotto. Her number 2 was the bonus ball in the Wednesday National Lottery. Mary collects the €110 prize. Not bad for €5!

Saturday Team are home to Three Trout Rovers from the UCL in the FAI Junior Shield. The Over 35′s are away to Dundrum in the league. The Sunday lads are playing CIE Ranch in the FAI Umbro Junior Cup.