Spartak over 35’s are away this Thursday for a friendly against Dundrum.Kick off for 7:00pm and all players to be at the away pitch in Dundrum no later than 6:15pm. The pitch is located near St Attractas school in Dundrum, if you are not sure please contact Dave Mohan for details.Please make yourself available as the season is fast approaching……
Home friendly organised against Portmarnock for this coming Saturday.Kick off for 2:00pm, can all available over 35’s be at Marlay pk dressing rooms no later than 12:45pm.Please notify Dave Mohan or Rory Campbell if you are not available for selection, thanks.
Spartak Over 35s 0, Spartak X1 2
A good work out for the over 35s, who were for the most part untroubled by the younger club members. Most of the youngsters took advantage of the extra space due to the slower pace of the match by holding onto the ball unneccesarily prior to launching it onto the willing heads of McGrath and Callan at the heart of the vets defence. Niall Hanratty was a particular culprit here, eschewing his recent good form, and in addition his set pieces were aimed carefully for Jimmy Browne’s gloves.
Both full backs, Rob Deering and Ryan Burke, regularly wasted possession and overlapped rarely.
Up front Ross Kelly made willing runs, but was largely ignored by his colleagues. In midfield, McInerney, Mannion and Hogan failed in general to get beyond the front men or supply sufficient attacking support or guile.
The older guys defence was well marshalled by Callan and McGrath, with Kavanagh and the spiky Crowe offering stout cover in midfield.
Ken Byrne faded after a bright start. Shay McClafferty covered and distributed neatly.
The downside for the over 35s was the lack of substitutes, so necessary at this level, and also that they were toothless in attack. The lack of hold up play meant that inevitably they would concede ground and be forced deep.
Mick Greene, swapping positions with Ross, opened the scoring from Dermot Dooley’s cross. Hesitancy from the referee caused the over 35 defence to stop, expecting a whistle for a throw in. The whistle never arrived.
A good cross by Rob Deering, on a rare overlap, was cleared back to him and he finished neatly for number 2.
Form Report
Over 35s: Jimmy Browne 6 Shay McClafferty 7 Lee Atkins 6 Paul McGrath 7 Greg Callan 7 Tony Kavanagh 6 Ken Byrne 6 Barry Crowe 6 Leon David 5 Jason Doyle 5 Mark Byrne 5 Rory Campbell5
SelectX1: Mick Greene 6 Rob Deering 5 Dillon Burke 5 Rob Flanagan 6 Niall Hanratty 4 Shane McInerney 5 Chris Hogan 5 Kevin Mannion 5 Ryan Burke 5 Ross Kelly 6 Derek McGoldrick 5 Dermot Dooley 6
Esker 3 Spartak 4
Spartak overcame defensive wobbles to recover from 2-0 down and record a 4-3 win thanks to a coolly taken late winner by Dave “Chopper” O’Kelly.
Despite being tentative in the challenge Spartak created a few early chances, with Ger Byrne forcing the keeper into a fine save and Tom O’Driscoll just over with a lobbed effort under pressure. Gintaras Cibirka had the most straightforward chance but he hit the side netting and a good cross by Cibirka was just missed by Byrne.
Initially Tom Flanagan and Seamus McCahill passed well from central midfield, but later faded from the game and were caught up in the general malaise of sloppy passing, with both full backs, Dave O’Kelly and Fintan Grace, also guilty of wasting good possession along with the midfield.
Esker had some lively attackers and caught Spartak defenders on the hop to take the lead when uncertainty between O’Kelly Martin Costello and Keith Kelly allowed the no. 9 to score. Minutes later it was 2-0 when a shot from long range caught Peter O’Toole unawares after O’Kelly’s misplaced pass was intercepted.
Spartak’s defence was uncertain and prone to some poor decision making which gave Esker easy possession.
Cibirka, rusty and taking time to settle, nonetheless then made two vital interventions to get Spartak back into the match. First, Byrne finished well from Cibirka’s long pass on 42 minutes and then, in first half injury time, after Seamus McCahill tried to force his way through but was halted at the expense of a free at the edge of the box, Cibirka drove home for the equaliser.
Stuart Love had a few opportunities early in the second half, striking the post with a header but it took the intervention of Neil McGowan, just on as sub, to give the sky blues the lead on 65 minutes with a snap shot after Cibirka recovered possesion.
The game seemed well in Spartak’s control at that point; however a lack of energy and concentration was to cost dear as O’Kelly was overlapped and the cross, which seemed destined for the safety of O’Toole’s gloves, was headed in for a close range equaliser.
Mick Costello came on to good effect and when he was fouled on 83 minutes, McGowan’s free was deflected into O’Kelly’s path. A touch took him past the last man, and he then tucked the ball into the far corner for the winner.
A somewhat below par performance overall, but a good fighting spirit to come back from two down and also to get the winner when pegged back to 3-3.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 5 Dave O’Kelly 6 Fintan Grace 5 Martin Costello 5 Keith Kelly 6 Tom Flanagan 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Gintaras Cibirka 7 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Stuart Love 5 Ger Byrne 7
Subs Niall Tilly 6 Neil McGowan 7 Mick Costello 6 Mick Greene Shane Corrigan Shane McInerney
Saturday Team – AWAY to Laytown
Sunday Team – HOME to Pioneers – AND – Tuesday 31st AWAY to Liffey Valley
Over 35’s – HOME to Portmarnock (Friendly)
All over 35’s to meet Marlay pk for 6:30pm latest on Wednesday 25th.Kick off for 7:00pm sharp due to fading light. If you cannot make it please text Rory Campbell asap if you have not done already (0863360766).Also please note home freindly organised for Saturday.Please make sure you make yourself available as the first league game is fast approaching.
Spartak 4 Mourne 0.
A comprehensive victory for Spartak, whose strikers ran Mourne ragged and wih more clinical finishing could have seen an even more embarrassing outcome for the visitors. Ger Byrne and Graham McEnroe worked really well together and the partnership tormented the Mourne defence on a hot day on a big pitch. Ger had a marvellous outing, lacking only goals, and his hounding of the defence, lung bursting runs and crosses caused havoc all day. Graham won the ball repeatedly in the air, and his skilful turns and passes opened up the visitors defence.
A frantic start to the game saw Spartak well up for the contest with vigorous interventions from Keith Kelly, Martin Costello and Seamus McCahill more than matching the visitors physical application. A good pass by McCahill sent Byrne away but his shot was too close to the keeper, who blocked.
On 24 minutes a lofted ball from Stuart Love was misjudged by the keeper and Glen Burke finished to the empty net from a tight angle. Almost immediately a throw in by Kelly was adroitly tucked home by McCahill. 2-0.
A good header by Fintan Grace gave Byrne an oportunity from close in, but he was slow to react and the ball was cleared.
On 50 minutes a nice move saw Byrne make a great run and then unselfishly pass to McEnroe for a simple finish.
Flanagan and McCahill continued to dominate the middle and plied the strikers with good supply. The back four, apart from a sloppy closing period, were on top of their opponents throughout.
Byrne and McEnroe missed a number of chances to add to the tally and Niall Tilley, on for Glen Burke, missed a straightforward chance.
The fourth arrived when Byrne’s headed effort from Burkes’ corner
was cleared off the line but McEnroe drove home, again from close range.
A bright start to the season.
Form report
Peter O’Toole 7 Dave O’Kelly 7 Fintan Grace 7 Martin Costello 8 Keith Kelly 8 Tom Flanagan 7 Seams McCahill 7 Glen Burke 7 Graham McEnroe 8 Stuart Love 7 Ger Byrne 9
Subs Niall Tilly 6 Shane Corrigan 6 Dan O’Connell 6 Neil McGowan Tom O’Driscoll Cathal Clancy
Spartak 2 Swords 2
Spartak, having bossed the opening 15 minutes, suddenly found themselves 0-2 down when two long balls down the middle were defended poorly.
Early opportunities from Colum O’Sullivan Jose Vargas and Glen Burke were off target before a mix up between Mick Greene and Dave Browne gave Swords a surprise lead. The problem was compounded a minute later, on 17 minutes, when Dave Browne was caught under a long ball and could not recover in time to prevent number 2.
Spartak recovered from their shock and Shane McInerney struck the bar with a snapshot, O’Sullivan’s close range shot was saved and Vargas goal was disallowed for handball.
On 36 minutes a Dave Browne throw was flicked on by Mick Costello to Glen Burke who struck the bar from close range, but Mick Costello recovered to turn the ball in. Vargas had a good run but his efort was saved.
Spartak were all set up for a storming second half display but it never materialised. McInerney and Dooley faded in midfield and Spartak’s forward play lacked fire.
There was a good shout for a penalty before Dooley shot wide and Spartak had to wait until the 79th minute when a long free from Keith Kelly was powerfully headed home by Dave Browne for his first ever goal for the club.
Spartak failed to press on, with the enigmatic Glen Burke fading in and out of the game, the players in sky blue slow to the second ball. Both full backs failed to push on and the midfielders showed no desire to get on the end of crosses or passes.
Indeed Spartak were grateful to Mick Greene who pulled off a point saving stop when the visiting number 9 had eluded a couple of defenders.
Two really poorly conceded goals and a lack of desire from too many players to get on the scoresheet meant Spartak had to settle for a single point. There will be tougher opponents.
Form Report
Mick Greene 6 Tony Kavanagh 7 Derek McGoldrick 6 Keith Kelly 7 Dave Browne 6 Shane McInerney 5 Dermot Dooley 6 Jose Vargas 6 Colum O’Sullivan 6 Glen Burke 6 Mick Costello 7
Subs Mark Bolger 5 Dillon Burke 5 Ryan Burke 6 Mike Hull Chris Hogan Rob Flanagan.
Friendlies organised for next Wednesday the 25th and Saturday the 29th, both at home.If you have not let Rory Campbell know your availability for these games please do so by text (086-3360766) as soon as possible to make sure you are included in the squad (Please put your name on the text).All over 35s players to be at the pitch in Marlay park for 6:30pm on Wednesday for kick off for 7:00pm latest due to the light fading…..A text will be sent out to all squad members confirming all this…..
Great image from half-time in the cup final V Dunboyne 19 May 2009. Best caption please.
