Spartak Dynamo FC

14.4.13
Leinster Junior Shield Semi Final
Oatfield /Shancastle 7 Spartak 0

An unhappy morning at Ballyowen Asto Pitch after Oatfield’s pitch was deemed unplayable.

There followed Spartak’s worst performance of the season.

While the first goal could be deemed unfortunate when players stopped as Sean Doyle went down injured, the second was a soft concession as David Marlow failed to gather. Spartak’s hopes of a comeback when Sean Doyle was harshly red carded for a last man tackle, just before half time, when he clearly won the ball.

It was a game when the Sky Blues could not muster a single decent attacking move and committed calamitous errors at the back.

The result was inevitable given the performance.

Form Report
David Marlow 4 Chris Hogan 4 Fintan Grace 4 Sean Doyle 4 Cathal Clancy 4 Stephen Barr 4 Steve O’Hara 4 Jeff Gamble 4 Dermot Dooley 4 Paul Byrne 4 Martin Costello 4
Subs Conor Callis 4 Glen Burke 4 Niall Lennon 4

The Sky Blues will be led out on Friday 24th May by captain Fintan Grace for a final against long time competition favourites Crumlin United under 19s, who have cruised through their league and this competition (so far). Despite their youth , Crumlin present formidable opposition.

The game is a 7.30 kick off in John Hyland Park Baldonnel, home of St Francis FC. Looks like being a gala occasion at a fine ground.

Directions:
From M50 take Red Cow exit and proceed past Newlands Cross
Take exit 2 for Baldonnel, turn right over the bridge at the top of the ramp
Straight through the first roundabout, take a left at the second roundabout, and John Hyland Park is 300 yards on the left.

7.4.13
Jobstown 2 Spartak 1

Basic defensive errors proved the undoing of the Sky Blues in this fixture. Having taken the lead when Derek Ruxton’s shot went in with the aid of a deflection after good work by Conor Maguire, and Stephen Walsh lobbing over when he looked odds on to score, the good work was undone by poor defensive organisation.

Keith Kelly fired in a free which Seamus McCahill had gone forward; the other defenders, Dave Browne and Aodhan McCahill had the job of covering one forward. Keith’s free was cleared and Aodhan’s attempted header only improved the position for the Jobstown striker who ran fifty yards, easily outpacing Dave Browne, to clip neatly over the advancing Jason Northey; earlier Jason had saved well when Dave Browne missed his clearance and Jason had to be on his toes as his back four were sloppy at times.

Jobstown enjoyed plenty of possession but clear chances were few and far between.

The winning goal arrived from a corner when Lee Malone’s man evaded him to power in a header.

A last minute corner by Alan Farrington was touched on to the bar by the home keeper and Neil McGowan was unable to apply the finishing touch from an acute angle.

There were positives from the game in the continuing return from injury of Thom and Keith; but a workmanlike performance was spoiled by basic, and very avoidable, defensive errors.

Form Report
Jason Northey 8 Keith Kelly 6 Aodhan McCahill 5 Seamus McCahill 5 Dave Browne 4 Derek Ruxton 5 Neil McGowan 6 Niall Hanratty 5 Alan Farrington 5 Conor Maguire 6 Stephen Walsh 5
Thom O’Driscoll 5 Lee Malone 5

21.4.13
Spartak 1 Blessington 2

The league leaders, in pole position for the title, met a Spartak side who gave them a fright in their quest for honours with a decent performance.

The visitors took the lead on 10 minutes and added number two from a free kick which deceived Jason Northey after 26 minutes.

Although Dave Browne had a header saved in between the goals, for a while it looked as if Bblessington would add considerably to their scoreline but , thanks to increased efforts by the Sky Blues, that did not happen.

Derek Ruxton fired over after a move involving Dave Browne and Conor Maguire.

In teh second half Blessington concentrated on protectin their two goal advantage, with Spartak having the better chances. Conor Maguire fired wide and then when Keith Kelly’s free was fumbled Derek Ruxton shot over.

On 66 minutes after a short free Coor Maguire’s effort came back off the post and Seamus McCahill knocked in to reduce arrears.

However Blessington dug in with the game becoming feisty and the Sky Blues could not find what would have been a deserved equaliser.

Form Report –
Jason Northey 5 Niall Hanratty 7 Dave Browne 7 Seamus McCahill 7 Keith Kelly 7 Derek Ruxton 7 Neil McGowan 7 Steve Walsh 7 Conor Maguire 7 Thom O’Driscoll 6 Ken Buckley 6

Well known referee Jimmy Hollowed passed away suddenly this week. There will be a minute’s silence before all LSL games this weekend.

Jimmy was a character and a gentleman who regularly refereed Spartak matches, and was famous for talking his way through games.

He will be missed.

RIP.

Training Tues 2nd and Thurs 4th April in St Enda’s

Games v St Pats Ath U-19s – L J Shield Q.F – Sat in Marlay
v Jobstown Sun away
v AIB Monday – Marlay
v Beechwood – Tuesday – Marlay- now Tuesday 16th

Over 35s away to Fassaugh Sat and home to Terenure (Wed)

Reminder that the quiz takes place in Firhouse Community centre this Thursday 21st March.

Make up a team, or if you are Johnny No Mates we will find a team for you on the night!

The 2013 AGM takes place in the Eden on Wed 20th March at 9pm.

Agenda

– Minutes of 2012 AGM
– Chairman’s report
– Financial Report
– Elections
– Any Other Business

Members who paid annual subscriptions before 31/12/12 are eligible to attend and vote.

Any members who wish to submit amendments/motions may do so, in writing, to the Secretary not later than 3 days prior to the meeting.

24.2.13
Seafordrock 6, Spartak 4

A game Spartak should have had wrapped up turned against them with a key dismissal in the 46th minute.

With Steve Grier able to play only after the expert ministrations of Niall Tilly, and Messrs Thomson, McGowan and Farrington missing for a variety of reasons, Spartak went down to only their second defeat in the last ten games against their higher ranked opponents in the Lummy O’Reilly Cup. With Marlay snow covered, the match was switched on the morning and both teams headed to Rockfield Park.

A superb attacking performance was ruined by the concession of goals which should have been easily avoidable.

It took just two minutes for the Sky Blues to take the lead, when Derek Ruxton turned a Dave Browne throw into the path of Steve Walsh, who scored at the second attempt. But the locals were level when a corner, struck low, evaded Thom O’Driscoll and Niall Hanratty to travel across goal and was finished via the crossbar despite Jason Northey getting a finger to the close range effort.

Steve Grier headed over from Niall Hanratty’s free and on 14 minutes Niall Hanratty scored via a deflection to restore the lead. Jason Northey took off a save which was strictly for the cameras as Seaford had a long range shot.

Spartak continued to look dangerous in attack with sweeping moves as Hanratty, McCahill and Ruxton worked well in the middle with Maguire and Walsh always dangerous and during this purple patch Steve Walsh might have added to his total on two occasions, forcing saves from the home keeper.

Some sloppy passing at the back by Dave Browne and Paul Kinsella saw Niall hanratty concede a free which flew wide.

On 43 minutes Spartak scored a magnificent goal to go 3-1 up. Derek Ruxton intercepted and then drilled a 40 yard pass to Conor Maguire, isolated on the left; Conor held it up well against superior odds, and then added the flourish by picking out Steve Walsh’s run through the middle. A neat finish by Steve completed a fine move.

Just before and after the break proved crucial; the home side reduced arrears when a looping shot beat Jason Northey after some untidy defensive work, but the real drama came in the first minute of the second half. A home attack was thwarted by a couple of saves by Northey; then a local forward fired towards goal. Paul Kinsella was covering the goal line and looked well placed to head clear; but for some inexplicable reason he became the villain of the piece when he raised his hands to save, resulting in a straight red card and a penalty. While Jason Northey got his hand to the spot kick, it was not enough to keep it out.

So from 3-1 up to 3-3 and a man down.

The Sky Blues regrouped and a glorious move by Conor Maguire and Seamus McCahill gave Steve Walsh a clear chance running in from the right, but his effort was wide. Then on 55 minutes Conor Maguire gave Spartak the lead again by drilling a free kick into the top corner.

Conor was then fouled in the box but the ref was not interested.

The goalfest continued on 75 minutes when Seafordrock equalised with a soft shot with Jason Northey unsighted. The ten men were showing signs, not surprisingly, of fatigue and at 4-4 would have settled for extra time. Not to be. On 85 minutes the striker accelerated past Dave Browne and clipped the ball past the advancing Northey; an attempted goal line clearance only resulted in an air shot. 4-5!

Spartak had no option but to press forward and the 6th goal to the home side saw Dave Browne fouled while attempting to clear, but the goal was allowed.

A bittersweet match which saw Spartak play some exhilarating football but in which they were undone by individual defensive errors.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Paul Kinsella 4 Aodhan McCahill 6 Steve Grier 7 Dave Browne 6 Derek Ruxton 8 Thom O’Driscoll 5 Seamus McCahill 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Conor Maguire 8 Steve Walsh 8
Subs: Ken Buckley

17.2.13
Spartak 2, Knockmitten 0

The fact that the match was played at all was a surprise, given the battering the pitch took in the titanic cup battle with Blessington the week before; the short dry spell ensured the pitch was playable, but bumpy.

Neil McGowan missed the game as daughter Juliana arrived at kick off time, and with Niall Hanratty otherwise engaged, Paul Kinsella took the captain’s armband while Seamus McCahill and Thom O’Driscoll returned to the line up. In Thom’s case it was a first start in almost a year due to a frustrating and persistent injury.

Jason Northey was called into action in the first minute almost before the Spartak defence noticed the game had started.

Steve Walsh was finding space on the right, and got the ball past the keeper but the defender cleared; Steve then fluffed his lines after being set up by Dave Thomson and Alan Farrington. A nice move between Walsh and Conor Maguire saw Thom O’Driscoll lose out to a defender in contesting the cross, but on 14 minutes the Sky Blues took a deserved lead when Alan Farrington neatly cushioned a flick on into Steve Walsh’s path and he drilled in from 18 yards.

Some sloppy work at the back saw Steve Grier dispossessed but luckily Seamus McCahill was on hand to dig him out of trouble.

Dave Thomson had a couple of good headed efforts, one just wide, and the other off the crossbar, from set pieces before Thom O’Driscoll celebrated his return by forcing home from close range on 26 minutes after a Seamus McCahill flick on.

Knockmitten then tried an audacious long range effort which Jason Northey pushed over the bar.

The second half was scoreless, with Paul Kinsella’s neat header from Steve Walsh’s pass chalked off for offside. Generally there were few chances, with the conditions mitigating against both sides. Despite some sloppy defending on both sides, the score remained at 2-0.

A welcome three points with 11 matches played, which brings the Sky Blues up to fifth place, having been bottom of the table after losing the first three games.

Form Report (Barry’s this time)
Jason Northey 7 Paul Kinsella 5 Aodhan McCahill 7 Steve Grier 6 Dave Browne 6 Alan Farrington 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Thom O’Driscoll 6 Dave Thomson 7 Conor Maguire 6 Steve Walsh 7
Subs : Ken Buckley 6