Saturday team – AWAY to Rathoath THURSDAY night.
Sunday team – HOME to Mourne Celtic – TUESDAY 20th – AWAY to Liffey Valley in 1/4 final of the cup.
Over 35’s – AWAY to Lusk in the Cup
Spartak 5 Dunboyne 1
A scintillating opening half hour sealed the win for Spartak.
Spartak started very brightly and a couple of early moves broke down as Graham McEnroe struggled to find his touch while Graham Breen and Steve Grier went close with headers.
On 10 minutes a Grier throw was touched on by Breen and Neil McGowan, fresh form his stag party, dived to head in.
On 13 minutes a flowing move threatened to go astray until Gintaras Cibirka, with a flamboyant flick, put Breen in to score.
Spartak owned the ball at this stage and the passing was crisp and neat with Dunboyne unable to get out of their half. Cibirka, back to something approaching form as he nurses a groin injury, was in irrespressible form on the right and Breen was a rumbustious presence up top. McGowan and Flanagan passed smoothly and both full backs, Burke and Mahon, joined the attack regularly. Stuart Love was a driving force in recovering possession and with good covering work. Kenny and Grier formed a formidable barrier at the back. Graham McEnroe improved as the game wore on.
Grier’s throws were causing havoc in the vistors defence with the hapless keeper unable to deal with the delivery and goals from Breen and Flanagan on 32 and 34 minutes added to the total.
Spartak then became somewhat complacent and relied on a saving tackle from Burke before the visitors struck the bar and then scored from a free following hesitancy from Rob Mahon and sloppy play from Grier.
The second half began at a good tempo and the tireless Stuart Love won the ball and passed to Breen who put McEnroe in to score from a narrow angle.
Breen missed a glorious opportunity to complete his hat trick when he turned McEnroe’s cross back into the path of the keeper from close range.
A fine flick by Mc Enroe was finished well by McGowan but the ref mysteriously disallowed the goal.
Cibirka, Breen and Flanagan departed the scene nursing a myriad of injuries and with Tom Kowal having an undistinguished spell as substitute striker, Spartak’s moves lost their fluency, clearly impacted by the loss of key personnel.
Dunboyne’s best chance arrived when Grace did not attack the ball; luckily Peter O’Toole, competent throughout, was able to save comfortably.
Spartak might have added the total but Stuart Love and Rob Mahon’s final efforts were weak, and Graham McEnroe shot wide when through. Spartak finished with ten men as Burke succumbed to cramp.
A fine opening half hour clinched this win.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 7 Rob Mahon 7 Steve Grier 8 Alex Kenny 7 Tom Flanagan 7 Neil McGowan 7 Gintaras Cibirka 8 Graham McEnroe 7 Graham Breen 8 Stuart Love 8.
Subs Kevin O’Toole 6 Fintan Grace 5 Tom Kowal 4 Will O’Connell Dan O’Connell
Ballyoulster 1, Spartak 0
Spartak failed to perform in the first half in this match, and were lucky to be only one down at the interval.
Having created an early chance when Ger Byrne sent Derek McGoldrick away to force a save from the home keeper, Spartak resorted to hoofing the ball aimlessly towards the opponents end line. Build up play was poor, with full backs Hanratty and Greene failing to initiate moves and in midf ield Spartak did not control the ball.
On 21 minutes the home side took the lead from a suspiciously offside position, and the striker rounded Northey with ease to slot hme.
Jason Northey in goal made several good stops, but lack of goal kicking ability and some poor kicked clearances caused uncertainty.
Mark Bolger was an early substitute for the injured McGoldrick, and stamped some authority on a back four which had been hesitant.
In the second half the home side struck the post from a free kick, and Hanratty made a good block from one effort.
As Spartak began to find their passes, Shane McInerney was twice off target with snap shots from the edge of the box, while Tom O’Driscoll, having a quiet game, had a lob scrambled off the line.
Northey then had to save smartly twice when a home forward easily eluded in turn Martin Costello Mick Greene and Mark Bolger.
Spartak began to get in some good crosses from the right and Hanratty and Martin Costello’s efforts caused problems to the home side.
Dave O’Kelly was full of running from full back, but his distribution sometimes lacked precision.
Spartak’s clearest chance came when Shane McInerney made a fine interception and his pass put Ger Byrne free but he shot wildly over from the edge of the box.
Lack of confidence to pass the ball in the opening period proved costly.
Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Mick Greene 6 Martin Costello 6 Dave O’Kelly 6 Shane McInerney 6 Ken Ward 6 Derek McGoldrick 5 Ger Byrne 5 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Mick Costello 5.
Subs Mark Bolger 7 Rob Deering 6 Ross Kelly 6 Chris Hogan Colm O’sullivan Dave Williams
If Wigan and Chelsea dont win all 9 are out…
I know this is months early but if anyone is interested in paintball please post a reply here. Shane got an offer on the tickets of €7 per person and €8.50 for additional 100 paint balls. The date is Saturday 12th June and it down near Bray. He has to confirm by the weekend, so please post by Saturday night.
Training is OFF tonight as pitches are waterlogged. Training in St.Endas on Thursday at 7
Saturday Team AWAY to Ballyoulster on Saturday – MONDAY 12th- HOME to Dun Laoghaire
Sunday Team – HOME to Dunboyne on Sunday – TUESDAY 13th – HOME to St Pats
Over 35’s – Home to Rialto on Saturday – WEDNESDAY 14th – HOME to Greenhills
Lads,
To continue our recent successful trips abroad, we are proposing a trip to Liverpool this year for the May weekend of 21st-23rd.
Cost of flight looks about €70, while accommodation would be approx €100 for 2 nights per person. We have lined up matches for the Sat and Sunday.
If you want to sign up to go please comment on this post; we will be collecting cash next week.
Please post your team for last man standing week 9. Remember there is no automatic pick so if you dont give a team you are out. Full fixture list is on the last man standing tab above. Fixtures take place from 10-14 April.
