Spartak Dynamo FC

The season of 1970-71 was memorable for an Arsenal double in England, an Ajax win in Europe and a surprise win for Cork Hibs in the League of Ireland. However the most important event of that season in football was undoubtedly the formation and first competitive appearance of Spartak Dynamo FC.

The club is holding a 40th anniversary celebration night on 19th February 2011 in the Irish Room of the 3 Rock Pub.

There will be food and music on the night.  It is hoped that as many current and former players (plus partners) as possible can attend.  It will be a memorable occasion.

We will create a page on the site dedicated to the event to keep you updated.

Spread the word to your Spartak colleagues of today and yesteryear.

Please post your team for week 2 of Last Man Standing. This weeks automatic pick is Arsenal. A full list of fixtures is on the Last Man tab above. Please pay your €10 ASAP.. The 1st prize is half the pot.

Saturday team – AWAY to Booth Road Celtic

Sunday team – Home to Courtown Hibernian in the cup

Over 35’s – HOME to Wicklow Town

Spartak 2 St Colmcilles 4

An unbelievable result in a game in which Spartak were generally the better side. Critical individual errors and a mentally deranged referee combined to foil the sky blues.

A sparkling opening move involving a Neil McGowan pass, a super run from Glen Burke and a tidy finish by Graham McEnroe put the home side one up after 3 minutes. Another pass by McGowan saw Ger Byrne through but he pulled his shot wide after his first touch took him away from goal. Graham McEnroe was pulled up for offside when at least 15 yards onside and through on goal but then referee really showed his true colours when Ger Byrne, racing through again, was cynically chopped from behind by the no.3. Any sane referee would have given a red card to the last man, but this official waved play on as Ger writhed in agony. A kick to Keith Kelly’s head drew only a yellow card moments later. Spartak were still well on top and Seamus McCahill had one effort cleared off the line.

Then suddenly the game turned on its head with two goals to the visitors. Confusion between Burke and Kelly allowed a break to develop and the cross was miscued by Fintan Grace to allow the striker to lob home. Only minutes later Steve Grier found himself alone behind his fellow defenders but recovered to pass to Fintan, who was dispossessed and punished again as Colmcilles went 2-1 up.

Spartak , shaken by the turn of events nonetheless tried to strike back when Kelly put Byrne in, and when the keeper could only palm his effort across goal, Graham McEnroe, usually such a reliable marksman, and playing brilliantly up to this point, raced in but scuffed wide from 6 yards.

Spartak began the second half in search of an equaliser, when they really should have been three goals up. Efforts by Neil McGowan went close, one cleared off the line after good work by Burke and McCahill, another taken off Neil’s toe after approach work by Graham McEnroe and Burke.

However worse was to follow when Colmcilles scored again when a poor kick out by Peter O’Toole allowed a clear run on goal.

Spartak then redoubled their efforts and Steve Grier failed to capitalise in a goal mouth scramble and then drove wide when well placed. McGowan drove in to reduce arrears with 5 minutes left and then was just over with a first time effort.

The drama mounted and Spartak looked set for an equaliser. A good run by Burke , with seconds remaining, saw him with the option to cross or shoot; choosing the latter the keeper saved at the expense of a corner.

All up for the corner to no avail, the ball was cleared and three Colmcilles players broke free to add a fourth goal.

A tough cup game against Courtown Hibernians next Sunday will test the resilience of the boys in sky blue.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 5 Martin Costello 6 Fintan Grace 4 Steve Grier 4 Paul Kinsella 5 Keith Kelly 6 Neil McGowan 7 Seamus McCahill 5 Graham McEnroe 6 Glen Burke 6 Ger Byrne 7
Subs Rob Mahon 5 Dave Browne 5 Niall Hanratty Niall Tilley Tom Flanagan

Spartak 5, St Itas 2

A scintillating spell in the first half saw Spartak home and hosed in this contest in which the visitors had equal territorial possesion but could not match Spartak’s finishing skills.

Spartak fell behind after just 3 minutes when uncertain defending by Chris Hogan and Ryan Burke allowed a long range effort from Itas which struck the bar. A visiting forward reacted quickly to score as Mick Greene was caught by surprise.

Spartak settled down and began to play well and after Niall Hanratty’s free was headed over by Mick Costello. Mick’s flick on caused the confusion which led to the equaliser, an OG, as Shane McInerney and Ryan Burke applied pressure.

Spartak then spurned a golden opportunity when Hanratty’s pass released Ryan Burke into a two on one situation, but Ryan, faced with the options of passing to the unmarked Mick Costello or going alone, crossed wastefully wide.

On 18 minutes a peach of a pass from Hanratty released Ross Kelly, who drilled home first time from 18 yards. And the goal of the match followed minutes later when Hogan fed Hanratty and his pass was smashed into the bottom corner by Derek McGoldrick.

Spartak, and Hanratty in particular, were now rampant and Hanratty smashed a long range effort off the crossbar, before Mick Costello supplied Ross Kelly to slip his second beyond the advancing keeper.

Chris Hogan , who supplied some good forward passes, was at times careless defensively, and when his attempted pass across field was intercepted, Mick Greene had to scramble the ball away for a corner. Indeed Itas had a few decent efforts off target before Mick Costello, with Hanratty again the supplier, scored number 5 on 44 minutes after a good run.

The second half was a more prosaic affair after the heady stuff of the opening period. Hanratty, who tired noticeably after a blistering opening half, blazed wide from a good position and Hanratty and Hogan combined well for the latter to cross well, but just out of reach of McGoldrick.

As Ita’s strove to get back in the game, Cathal Clancy had to clear off the line and Ita’s reduced arrears from a corner on 65 minutes. The defensive line became somewhat erratic and Spartak were fortunate that the visitors’ efforts were either off target or within the clutches of Mick Greene.

Form Report
Mick Greene 6 Chris Hogan 6 Dillon Burke 6 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Shane McInerney 7 Niall Hanratty 9 Ryan Burke 6 Derek McGoldrick 7 Ross Kelly 8 Mick Costello 7
Subs Mike Hull 5 Kevin Mannion 6 Niall Lennon 6 Eoin Grogan

Training has switched for the over 35’s on Wednesday nights from Marlay park to an astro pitch in Blackrock from 9:00pm to 10:00pm.The new ground is located in Carysfort National school  on Convent road just off Carsfort avenue Blackrock.For those travelling from Dublin city, you have to go through Blackrock village, turn right at the tonic pub,through the next lights, 500 yards past the Avoca pub and turn right.If coming from stillorgan head for Blackrock, turn left onto Carysfort Avenue , turn left at the next set of lights approx half mile down.Please contact Dave or Rory if your not sure……………

Saturday Team – HOME to St. Ita’s

Sunday Team – HOME to St. Colmcilles

Over 35’s – HOME to Esker Celtic

Seaford Rock 4, Spartak 6

With six goals scored, and the luxury of a early missed penalty, this should have been a straightforward win for Spartak. However in a strange game some defensive lapses and freak goals allowed Seaford some degree of hope.

Spartak were awarded a penalty after 2 minutes, but Seamus McCahill fired well wide. Almost immediately Seaford went ahead when Fintan Grace fluffed a clearance and a lack of cover from Dave O’Kelly and Keith Kelly left their number 10 all alone to finish. All through the match the number 10 was given too much time and space.

Dave O’Kelly then had a chance to equalise but could not make contact with the ball as it drifted across an unguarded net. On 31 minutes Glen Burke nodded in the equaliser from Seamus’ flick on, and a minute later Glen drove home after good work by Ger Byrne. Efforts by Tom O’Driscoll, Seamus McCahill and Glen all went close before the break as Spartak belatedly came to life.

On 51 minutes Tom O’Driscoll finished neatly after good approach work by Neil McGowan and Keith Kelly, but Seaford scrambled a goal back minutes later when Peter O’Toole fumbled a free kick in attempting to catch it under pressure when punching might have been the wiser option.

Ger Byrne punished a poor kick out by racing through and rounding the keeper to score to make it 4-2 and then a great move by O’Driscoll, McGowan, Kelly and McCahill fell just short as Kelly’s cross was too weak.

Dave O’Kelly’s throw in was intercepted and a hopeful punt ended up in the net for another Seaford goal. Peter took a knock in trying to save, and was clearly hampered for the rest of the game. O’Kelly then shipped a silly booking for comments to the ref after he had been fouled.

Spartak scored number 5 when Keith Kelly’s intended cross drifted in, but Peter O’Toole then had a slip up to allow Seaford to score number 4.

A fast turn and pass by Niall Tilley started the move, carried on by Seamus, to put Neil in to finish coolly and complete the scoring. A neat end to an untidy match.

Form Report

Peter O’Toole 4 Dave O’Kelly 6 Fintan Grace 6 Steve Grier 6 Paul Kinsella 6 Keith Kelly 7 Neil McGowan 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Glen Burke 7 Ger Byrne 8
Subs Niall Hanratty 5 Rob Mahon 5 Niall Tilley 6 Dave Browne