We are down to 18 survivors, the forgetful or passive entrants falling with Hull’s loss to Arsenal. Of the 18, a very nervous 8 are relying on Rafa’s low scoring Reds to overcome Portsmouth tonight.
Pot is €260, half to club and half to winner.
No more automatic choices made; failure to select a team means you are out, so get your choices in early from now on!
Saturday Team – AWAY to Dun Laoghaire
Sunday Team – HOME to Everton
Over 35’s – AWAY to Peamount
Saturday Team – AWAY to Swords
Sunday Team – AWAY to Knocklyon (2pm kick off)
Over 35’s fixture TBA
Fixtures Week 4 – Starting 13 March
Everton 4, Spartak 0.
A somewhat depleted Spartak side exited the Shield tamely.
Spartak had a great start to this fourth round Shield tie and early on a couple of clear chances to go ahead. Thomas Gaynor released Tom O’Driscoll on a one on one and his chip was well saved. From the corner Cathal Clancy had an opportunity from close in but shot at the keeper. Derek McGoldrick made a number of foraging runs and was taken down on the 18 yard line. Gaynor’s free was wildly over the bar.
At the other end Everton headed against the bar and Jason Northey saved well from another effort. Martin Costello Kevin O’Toole and Cathal Clancy were struggling to assert their authority on the home attackers.
On 36 minutes a rash challenge by Shane McInerney gave Everton a soft penalty and the breakthrough they needed.
At the other end Costello and Clancy fell into the offside trap after Steve Browne touched on an O’Driscoll free.
Northey’s reluctance to leave his line to command the area forced the defence deeper and caused considerable difficulty, along with some poor distribution, paricularly from throws.
Everton began the second half well and hit the bar with a early effort. Niall Hanratty, always reluctant to deliver the simple pass, was caught in possession twice in the same passage of play and Everton broke to score . 0-2.
Clancy picked up a booking following an aerial challenge.
Tom O’Driscoll’s shot was touched over as Spartak tried to get back, but when Costello was caught in possession Everton went on for number three. Hanratty cleared after Northey was rounded and in the last minute Dave Williams had a good chance when Mike Hull’s cross caused panic. From the clearance Everton scored number four on the whistle.
Spartak will rue the fact that the occasion got to some players and that the game came on a weekend when so many were missing. Top scorer Browne’s form has dipped and some key performers in previous games such as Hanratty Costello and O’Driscoll were well below their best.
Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Niall Hanratty 5 Derek McGoldrick 6 Martin Costello 5 Cathal Clancy 6 Shane McInerney 6 Thomas Gaynor 5 Colm O’Sullivan 4 Steve Browne 4 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Kevin O’Toole 5
Subs Mike Hull 5 Dave Browne 6 Dave Williams 5
Fixtures are posted for Last Man Standing week 3. Automatic choice this week is Everton. Only 2 elimanated so far….Cathal and Shane.
Please post your team or you automatically get Everton.
Saturday Team – AWAY to Everton in Leinster Junior Shield – Lost 4-0
Sunday Team – HOME to Cabinteely – Won 4-3
Over 35’s AWAY to Bacchus – Drew 2-2 (Lost on pens)
The Saturday team are going for pints this Saturday night. We are going to start in the Barge about 8ish……Full Saturday attendance expected except for players called out to play Sunday! In that case you will have to be in bed by 3a.m.
Tonights match in Rathoath is OFF. Training in St.Killians at 9pm as normal.
Balbriggan 0, Spartak 2.
Spartak enjoyed a comfortable win courtesy of a clean sheet and two goals by Mick Costello to make it 6 wins from last seven games.
The back four put in a solid shift with Cathal Clancy dominant in the air while also making important blocks and distributing the ball simply. Dan O’Connell was in fine form and almost broke the deadlock with a cracking shot just wide in the first half.
For quite a while Spartak had good midfield supremacy courtesy of Will O’Connell’s tireless covering and neat distribution, but the final ball was often wasteful on the flanks from Niall Hanrattyand Rob Deering or the wrong option taken by strikers Thomas Gaynor and the hard working Glen Burke.
Rob Deering missed a big chance when volleying over from 10 yards after Glen flicked on.
On 38 minutes, Glen and Will combined to win the ball and transferred it to Rob Deering , cutting in from the left. His pass was controlled at the edge of the box by Mick Costello who slotted home. Cathal’s great block prevented Balbriggan from getting straight back into the game.
The visitors began the second period strongly with Dave O’Kelly finding his passing range and Hanratty’s cross was fluffed by Rob Deering. O’Kelly’s cross was neatly laid off by Thomas Gaynor to Burke who blazed over.
Balbriggan threatened when O’Kelly handled and Spartak switched off. Jason Northey missed a cross but the home side could only hit the side netting.
On the hour a fine move by Dan, Glen and Tom saw the ball break to Mick Costello who lashed home first time from 20 yards low into the bottom corner.
Derek McGoldrick made inroads down the left and should have won a penalty but the ref did not oblige. He then laid on a simple chance for Tom Gaynor who stuck the post. Tom was repeatedly caught offside and received a yellow card for protesting too strongly against the decisions.
Balbriggan had a goal disallowed on 80 minutes and that was the last scare.
A fine win and a good performance.
Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Dave O Kelly 7 Dan O Connell 8 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 8 Will O Connell 8 Niall Hanratty 6 Rob Deering 6 Thomas Gaynor 6 Glen Burke 7 Mick Costello 7
Subs: Derek McGoldrick 7 Ross Kelly 6 Colm O Sullivan 6
