A new pitch has come available for Spartak to play their home games on from the beginning of next season. It might need a bit of work in one of the goal mouths but it is worth pursueing.
Swindon trip goes ahead. 25th May Friday, late flight to Bristol 9.15pm to avoid guys having to get the day off. €46 euro at the moment.
Training in Marlay today Tues 3rd at 7pm. No training Thursday, Kilians closed this week.
Lads,
Cost of flight to Bristol with Ryanair – return -25th/27th May – €38!!!!
25.3.12
Sallynoggin 0, Spartak 2
A belated seasonal awakening has seen the Sunday lads obtain 8 wins from last 13 cup and league games and this form and confidence was evident in a straightforward win over the homesters in balmy conditions. This run of form has seen the team rise from bottom of the division to a somewhat more respectable 8th of 14. Had players put in the work pre season the team could well be talking in terms of promotion; as it is, safety is the prerogative and a tough away cup quarter final against the favourites also awaits.
Despite the many missing men (Ciaran Keogh, Thom O’Driscoll, Graham McEnroe, Glen Burke, Conor Canavan, Ger Byrne Anto Doyle – Anto at least turned up to support ) the win was carved out in a brisk first half which saw Conor Maguire score the second while, somewhat fortunately, winning the penalty from which Keith Kelly gave the Sky Blues the lead.
Peter O’Toole, for once, had a quiet day between the posts and was untroubled with fine protection from the back four. The main threats from the home side came from corners and frees, but in the main these were dealt with adequately. The best opportunity came from an early free needlessly conceded by Ken Buckley which was headed over from close range.
Seamus McCahill featured strongly in the opening half with a high work rate but faded later as lack of recent training drained his legs.
The summer’s day atmosphere and unaccustomed heat meant the second half was played at a more leisurely pace with Spartak conceding ground and relying on breaks. Substitute Dave Thomson (did you know the clocks went forward?) provided energy and application but his crosses let down the good approach play
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Paul Kinsella 7 Dave Browne 7 Steve Grier 8 Alex Kenny 8 Ken Buckley 7 Neil McGowan 6 Conor Maguire 7 Keith Kelly 6 Graham Breen 6 Seamus McCahill 7
Subs: Dave Thomson 6 Ross Kelly 6 Steve O’Hara 6
24.3.12
Spartak 1, Ratoath 5
Spartak offered only token resistance to a rampant Ratoath side who were a class above the Sky Blues.
Midfield was ovewhelmed from the start with the visitors midfield showing harder running, stronger tackling and, most tellingly, superior passing . The Ratoath midfield had time and space to pick their passes, and also to make powerful supporting runs, leaving the home midfield looking slow and static. This quickly translated into a two goal lead on 18 minutes, aided by the Sky Blues defence testing out a faulty offside trap. Jason Northey blocked when Mick Greene’s blind back pass created danger and Jason then touched another effort onto the woodwork.
Conor Maguire won and converted a penalty to leave a somewhat flattering half time score of 1-2. Indeed a brief spell at the start of the second period saw Spartak create two chances to equalise, which might have raised spirits, but Conor Maguire’s effort from Niall Lennon’s pass was saved while Dermot Dooley could only direct Chris Hogan’s cross straight at the keeper. The only other chance of note fell to sub Martin Costello but that close range effort was scrambled away.
Ratoath then resumed their rampage with 3 goals between the 52nd and 58th minutes.
5-1 down with over half an hour remaining, it is credit to character that the Sky Blues kept at it doggedly, on a day they seriously underperformed and consequently were so clearly outclassed.
A sobering day and a wake up call.
Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Chris Hogan 5 Mick Greene 5 Paul Kinsella 5 Cathal Clancy 5 Dermot Dooley 5 Niall Lennon 5 Niall Hanratty 5 Steve Walsh 5 Conor Maguire 5 Shane McInerney 5
Subs: Steve O’Hara 5 Martin Costello 5 Colum O’Sullivan 5 Derek McGoldrick
Lads,
At present, by my count, and according to the Red C poll, we have the following definites:
Anto Doyle, Dan O’Connell, Steve Grier, Peter Redmond, Martin Costello, Ross Kelly, Edo Maino and Jason Doyle.
There are a number of maybes :
Shea McClafferty, Brian Stafford, Graham Breen , Neil McGowan, Neill Bolger, Keith Kelly, Paul Kinsella, Seamus McCahill, Jason Northey, Colum O’Sulliivan, Leon David, Cathal Clancy, Dave Browne, Fintan Grace
I may have missed one or two, so feel free to comment and add your name.
So at present we cannnot go ahead and book flights or finalise arrangements until sufficient “maybes” commit to “definite” status. To make the trip feasible we need around 15 travelling.
Feel free to add your name to the maybes or definites by commenting on this post.
This weeks winner of the Spartak lotto is Anto Doyle. His number 32 came up in last nights lotto draw.
19.3.12
Spartak 3, Ballyfermot Utd 2
A Bank Holiday friendly with Phil Nolan’s outfit gave a good run out for a Bank Holiday Monday.
Spartak created a load of first half chances before tiring significantly in the second period as the visitors fought back with two goals from the spot.
Spartak’s goals arose from some good movement, and finishing, from midfield where Seamus McCahill scored two and won the penalty which Mick Greene converted. Mick also supplied the assist for the first, when Seamus took his chance adroitly to turn in a free kick . Ross Kelly and Derek McGoldrick both spurned decent chances, however Adam Doran somehow contrived to stay off the score sheet despite a host of opportunities and some fine approach work.
A useful work out.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Chris Hogan 6 Mick Greene 7 Paul Kinsella 7 Dave O’Kelly 7 Seamus McCahill 8 Niall Lennon 5 Dermot Dooley 7 Derek McGoldrick 5 Ross Kelly 5 Graham McEnroe 6
Subs: Neill Bolger 5 Adam Doran 5 Ken Buckley 6
Apologies for the delay – Jason Doyle is the Week 2 winner in the Spartak Lotto. The winning number in last Wednesdays draw was 2. €110 on the way to you Jay.
End of season trip is pencilled in for Swindon on 25th – 27th May. Our man Rob Smith in Swindon is working on the details.
Expected costs are about €60 for flight plus £25 per night for hotel and maybe £10 for bus transfer.
Extra costs might include insurance for Ross’ shoe and there may be some expenditure on refreshments and a low fibre (or kebab based) diet.
Comment if interested. We will finalise details over coming weeks.
