Please post your team for LMS week 2. This weeks automatic pick is Chelsea. Full fixtures are available on the Last Man tab above.
Last Man Standing is re-starting next week. Entry to the game is €10 to be paid ASAP. All payments must be made by week 3 or you will automatically eliminated. For the first 3 weeks there will be an automatic pick given, if you do not provide a team. This weeks automatic pick will be Manchester United. Please post your team below otherwise you will be given Manchester United. As long as your team keeps winning you will be entered into next weeks draw. Like the last round everyone gets 2 chances. 1st prize will be 50% of the pot. This weeks fixtures are posted on the Last Man tab above.
Spartak 3, Liffey Valley 0
Spartak recorded a good win at the cost of injuries to Graham Breen and Steve Grier who were both vistims of fouls which attracted yellow cards. In Steve’s case a stricter ref might have reached for a red.
Liffey had their best chances before Spartak’s opener. Fintan’s clearing header under pressure flew wide of the post and Peter O’Toole made a fine stop in a one on one. Earlier Ger Byrne had forced the keeper into a save after good approach work by Will O’ Connell and Glen Burke. Neil McGowan’s free following the foul on Steve was tipped over by the keeper.
Spartak persisted with good passing from Burke, Love, McGowan and O’Driscoll and created some decent moves.
The breakthrough came on 35 minutes when a corner was cleared as far as Keith Kelly, who drove a great first time shot from 25 yards off the butt of the upright. Will O’Connell applied the finishing touch.
On 40 minutes Tom O’Driscoll released Ger Byrne with a tremendous pass and Ger rifled the ball across the keeper into the bottom corner. 2-0.
The job was complete in the second minute of the second half when Ger and Graham combined beautifully to release Ger down the wing. His cross was tucked home under the keeper by a grateful Breener!
That completed the scoring but the game did not lack for attacking incidents. and featured a few good efforts – both Tom and Ger hit the woodwork (as did Liffey, who never gave up) and Graham Breen was guilty of a bad miss as Liffey appealed for offside.
Substitute Dillon Burke had a great opportunity to lay on a goal fro Niall Tilley or Ger on the break but crossed to close too the keeper.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 7 Fintan Grace 7 Steve Grier 7 Keith Kelly 8 Will O Connell 7 Neil McGowan 8 Tom O’Driscoll 8 Stuart Love 7 Graham Breen 7 Ger Byrne 8.
Subs Niall Tilley 5 Dillon Burke 5
Spartak 5, Hillcrest 2
An old fashioned “proper” hat trick (3 consecutive goals with right foot, left foot and header) by Neil McGowan was the highlight of this game in which both sides were missing players. Spartak’s replacements filled the gap admirably with Will O’Connell completing 90 minutes for the first time this season.
Spartak dominated the early proceedings without producing the final cuting edge. Ger Byrne forced a good save from the keeper, Glen Burke had shots over and wide, and Graham Breen headed wide.
On 24 minutes a free for a foul on Glen produced the breakthrough when Neil McGowan’s free made it 1-0.
Hillcrest had their chances following errors by Glen and Keith Kelly and Neil made a good saving tackle after a free which he had conceded for talking.
On 39 minutes a deflected cross was met by Neil for a diving header to make it 2-0.
Nibbler, the most dangerous visiting forward, beat both Dave Browne and Fintan Grace but shot just wide.
Hillcrest reduced arrears right at the start of the second half when Will O Connell and Dave Browne were beaten down the Spartak left and Glen Burke could not clear the resultant cross at the far post.
Graham Breen volleyed over before Spartak added number three when his header was met first time by Neil for his hat trick.
Being Spartak , we could not resist giving away an goal from an attacking throw in. Dave Browne’s throw was short, defensive cover badly organised, and Spartak were once again (!) caught on the break. 3-2.
On 83 minutes nerves were calmed when Neil’s free was parried by the keeper to Ger Byrne who slotted home. Glen Burke scored number 5 with a long range deflected shot after a good move.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 7 Dave Browne 6 Will O’Connell 7 Fintan Grace 7 Keith Kelly 8 Neil McGowan 9 Graham McEnroe 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Graham Breen 6 Ger Byrne 6
Subs Steve Grier 6 Niall Tilly 5 Dillon Burke 5 Derek McGoldrick Niall Hanratty
Saturday Team AWAY to White Church
Sunday Team HOME to Hillcrest
Over 35’s AWAY to Garden Co.
Iveagh Celtic 2, Spartak 4
Spartak began well and totally dominated the opening half with some fluent football. Breen and McEnroe were a handful for the home defence and good passes from the back and midfield gave the sky blues numerous opportunities.
Spartak were not flattered to be 2-0 up at the break; only the home keeper and some loose finishing prevented what would have been an unnassailable lead.
Graham Breen’s header from Keith Kelly’s corner put Spartak one up after 21 minutes; Stuart Love’s glancing header took advantage of good work by Kelly and Breen to make it two.
Seamus McCahill, Neil McGowan, Breen , McEnroe and Love all had other chances in the opening period, but could not add to the total.
As is often the case, Iveagh reduced arrears in the first minute of the second half with a lob from a suspiciously offside position. Glen Burke handled the ball as it crossed the line and the ref initially gave him a red card, which he rescinded on awarding the goal.
As Iveagh pressed forward, Peter O’Toole was called into action and made some smart saves. Seamus McCahill had a clear run on goal but shot wide; Graham Breen poked the ball past the advancing keeper but wide.
Spartak added number three when McEnroe intercepted a pass and crossed for Breen to bundle in; and number four came after a neat move by Kelly and McGowan put McCahill in for an impressively cool finish.
Iveagh did not give up and struck the post, scored to make it 2-4, and Glen Burke cleared off the line, and they blazed over after a slip by Dave Browne.
Good work by McEnroe put Martin Costello in for a clear chance to wrap things up but he opted for a gentle chip into the keepers hands.
A fine opening half and welcome three points.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 7 Rob Mahon 7 Steve Grier 7 Fintan Grace 7 Keith Kelly 8 Neil McGowan 7 Seamus McCahill 7 Graham McEnroe 8 Graham Breen 9 Stuart Love 7
Subs Dave Browne 6 Niall Tilly 6 Martin Costello 5 Dillon Burke
Please post your selection for Last Man Standing Week 4. This is the final week with an automatic pick. This weeks team is Blackpool. If you dont select a team you will get Blackpool. Also anyone not paid up by the weekend will be eliminated. Fixtures are on the Last Man tab above.
Saturday Team – HOME to Booth Road Celtic
Sunday Team – AWAY to Iveagh Celtic KICK OFF IS 2.30pm
Over 35’s – AWAY to Greenhills AFC in the cup.
Spartak 3 Pegasus 4
Spartak once again conceded four goals. In a game where the visitors, a solid outfit, had only a half dozen atacks they nonetheless were able to capitalise on virtually every opportunity. Indeed Peter O’Toole hardly had a save to make apart from the goals.
The goals Pegasus scored are worth examining. On 8 minutes a long ball into the Spartak box was missed by Paul Kinsella, and the no.10 was able to evade Steve Grier and drive past Peter O’Toole.
The second, an equaliser at 2-2, was the result of a half cleared corner returned to te the taker; he drilled it from close to the bye line no more than a few yards from goal, and the ball evaded Paul Kinsella and Peter O’Toole, wth the rest of the defence gone awol, to allow a simple tap in at the back stick.
The third arrived with five minutes to go, when Spartak, in search of a winning goal, over committed for a throw in (again!) with both Dave Browne and Steve Grier of the back four out of position, and a cross to the far post and a close range header. The fourth , in injury time, resulted from Dave Browne being caught in possession.
Spartak , for their part, could and should have scored a hatful. However it should not be necessary to score 5 to win a game.
Ger Byrne scuffed against the post from close range, Glen Burke headed against the bar from a couple of yards, the keeper made a double save from Glen when he broke through, Niall Tilly could not force the ball past the keeper from close in , and earlier Niall had checked his run when he had a clear path to goal. Seamus McCahill dragged his shot wide after a good move.
Having gone one down, Spartak had their best spell and scored twice, through Tom O’Driscoll after a good move involving Keith Kelly Ger Byrne and Neil McGowan, and Steve Grier headed in Glen’s corner for number two.
Although well on top, Spartak became complacent and lost their rythm . Pegasus equalised, and Spartak found it hard to find the passes in the second period.
A late cameo appearnce by Graham Breen, on his return from injury, yielded at least four good chances, the last of which was taken by Glen, but that was scant consolation, as it was in the last minute, to make it 3-4.
Its all in contrast to last season, when Spartak were able to defend for long periods and get goals on the break as in the wins over Everton and Knocklyon.
With Colmcilles losing to Pats, Spartak missed a great opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table, instead opting to slide towards mid table.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 5 Dave Browne 5 Rob Mahon 5 Steve Grier 5 Paul Kinsella 5 Keith Kelly 6 Neil McGowan 6 Seamus McCahill 5 Tom O’Driscoll 7 Glen Burke 5 Ger Byrne 5
Subs Niall Tilly 5 Stuart Love 5 Graham Breen 7
Saturday team – AWAY to Laytown
Sunday team – TBA
Over 35’s – AWAY to Wicklow Town
