Please post your team for week 6 of Last Man Standing. There is NO automatic pick this week so if you dont post a team you are out. If you post a team you have already given you will be given the next available team alphabetically
With no footie or training due to weather all concentration turns to pursuit of prizes in December.
Only 4 remain in the Last Man Standing – all survived the weekend – Frank, Ross, Shane and Ian. A prize of €150 awaits the victor…
The €50 prize for Fantasy Football (for December) has started with a close leading pack including season leader Ryan Burke with well known shark Graham Breen lurking close behind. At the other end its a Scousefest. The Tasty Toffees (Mick Greene) languish in bottom place with Liverpool’s win lifting Seamus McCahill (temporarily?) out of the basement.
Please post your team for week 5 of Last Man Standing. There is NO automatic pick this week so if you dont post a team you are out. If you are not on the list on the Last Man tab you have not yet posted a team or paid but due to automatic picks you are still in the competioion with one life. If you wish to post a team please do so and pay Paul by the weekend, then you will be added to the list.
Marlay is off today Sat and tomo Sunday for games against Drimnagh and Seaford due to snow, despite availabilty of yellow footballs.
Please post your team for LMS week 4. This weeks automatic pick is West Ham. There will be NO automatic picks after this weekend. Full fixtures are available on the Last Man tab above. Remember the prize fund is a minimium €150
Lads, we are producing a booklet for the 40th celebration. Feel free to forward an article or comment for inclusion to me, by email.
Any memories, highlights, lowlights, etc. Must be fit to publish without risk of defamation!
By 30th November please.
Spartak 5, St Pats CY 0
Spartak, who were missing key men, made light of the fact in overpowering St Pats in tough conditions.
A strong display by the home back four, backed up by the outstanding Peter O’Toole, laid the foundation for an important victory and the front two of Ger Byrne and Tom O’Driscoll destroyed the visiting defence.
Initially Spartak’s attacks were halted by some dubious offside calls but then Glen Burke’s shot from distance brought a good save form the visiting keeper. On 15 minutes O’Driscoll exchanged passes with Byrne before outpacing the defence and rounding the keeper for a brilliantly taken score.
Glen then blazed over before a lapse from Martin Costello led to Pats hitting the side netting. O’Driscoll and Byrne combined for Will O’Connell to scuff his effort when well placed, and the keeper saved well from both O’Driscoll and Byrne.
Peter O’Tooles’ kick out was nodded on by the tireless Keith Kelly for Ger Byrne to take on the defence and, despite close attention, slot the ball neatly in for number 2. O’Toole then made a great save to maintain Spartak’s lead.
Spartak began the second period well and Will O’Connell again missed after good combination play had put him in. On 62 minutes Niall Hanratty turned defence into attack and Tom Flanagan’s header put O’Driscoll in to finish with aplomb. Minutes later Keith Kelly won the ball and drove through himself to add number 4.
In between Peter made another sharp save low to his left.
Hanratty’s run gave Byrne the ooportunity to hit the post, and Glen and Ger set up Will again to no avail. Hanratty and Niall Tilley combined for Glen to blaze over and when Hanratty’s excellent long range effort was touched on to the bar by the keeper, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that the inrushing Byrne would add to his goal tally – instead he fired wildly over the bar with the keeper prostrate. A contender for miss of the season.
Niall Tilley crossed for Will O’Connell to finally get on the scoresheet but Glen missed out as he shot over again after good work from Seamus McCahill.
Overall Spartak showed the greater desire to win and turned in a performance to savour.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 9 Niall Hanratty 8 Fintan Grace 8 Martin Costello 8 Dave Browne 8 Tom Flanagan 7 Keith Kelly 8 Glen Burke 7 Will O’Connell 7 Tom O’Driscoll 9 Ger Byrne 8.
Subs Paul Kinsella 7 Niall Tilley 7 Seamus McCahill 7 Kevin O’Toole . Steve Grier no show.
Please post your team for LMS week 3. This weeks automatic pick is Bolton. Full fixtures are available on the Last Man tab above. The prize fund is a minimium €150
Spartak 3 Pioneers 2
A late revival by the visitors gave Spartak a nervous final quarter. Having been cruising at three up, Spartak’s concentration dropped disastrously as some players prematurely relaxed.
Before the late collapse, a few players had played really well. Stuart Love had a wonderful first half, combining well with Ger Byrne and Neil McGowan to give Spartak an attacking threat. As usual Stewie was full of running and he made some fine tackles, made a goal for Graham Breen as well as scoring. Stewie also missed a glorious chance when Breener returned the compliment. Like a few other players , he became a shadow of his former self as the second half progressed. Keith Kelly and Tom O’Driscoll were others to have a really good opening half.
Pioneers lost their influential captain very early on as they settled in possession without penetrating the Spartak back line and the Sky Blues duly took the lead on ten minutes when a Steve Grier throw was flicked on brilliantly by Breen for Love to nod home from close in.
The visiting keeper made good saves from Tom O’Driscoll and gathered Glen Burke’s attempted cross (after Glen’s strong run).
Spartak’s second arrived when Stu nodded back Tom O’Driscoll’s corner for Breen to force home. The best move came when Neil released Ger and his cross was nodded down to Love, who was slow to pull the trigger and allowed the keeper to block; McGowan blazed the loose ball over.
Pioneers had their own chances when the striker hit a fresh air shot when close in and then whizzed an effort just past the angle following loose marking at a corner by the home side.
At the start of the second half there were ominous signs that Spartak had dropped concentration. Burke was caught in possession, Will OConell had to track back to prevent a breakthrough and Peter OToole made a fine save to spare Steve Grier’s blushes after he lost possession in the penalty area. Steve and Keith Kelly were backing off the play, sitting too deep and creating space for Pioneers between Spartak’s defence and midfield.
On 54 minutes Steve Grier nodded hme at the back post from Tom’ODriscoll’s expert corner kick to give the home side a three goal cushion. Little did anyone know at the time it was the winning goal!
Stu hen played Steve in and when he squared Ger Byrne struck the bar from 3 yards – Ger was relieved to be given offside.
As Pioneers tried to force their way back, Glen made a great saving tackle; but a good shot reduced arrears as Spartak backed off. Then a looping effort hit the top of the bar as Peter struggled to readjust in the sticky conditions. A bad lapse of concentration by Glen Burke, another who started brightly and faded, allowed Pioneers to get the equaliser and then it was game on with 11 minutes to play.
Spartak then had to regain some measure of concentration and also
started winning a few tackles and headers, with subs Seamus McCahill battling well while Tom Flanagan used possession tidily.
An unnecessarily stressful close to a match in which Spartak’s dead ball expertise had placed them in a comfortable position.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 6 Fintan Grace 6 Steve Grier 6 Keith Kelly 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Will O’Connell 5 Graham Breen 6 Ger Byrne 6
Subs Seamus McCahill 6 Tom Flanagan 6 Dave Browne Paul Kinsella
