Spartak Dynamo FC

19.3.18

The Annual General Meeting will take place in the Eden House on Tuesday 27th March at 9.15pm. Those who have paid annual membership may attend.

25/2/18
Spartak 1, Cabinteely 2

The Sky Blues exited the cup in a tight contest in Marlay.

Ger Byrne gave the Sky Blues the lead on the quarter hour mark with a loveley finish after running on to Steve Walsh’s incisive through ball.
A determined visiting side pushed Spartak back and equalised midway through the half with a firm shot, struck from the edge of the box as a headed clearance fell to the unattended forward.

Kevin Loftus made a few sharp stops as Cabinteely pressed their advantage, but there was no further scoring in the first half.

An early second half goal proved to be the winner for Cabinteely. Dave Kernan was dispossessed and a quick through ball saw the visiting number 10 run clear through the middle and finish. There may have been a suspicion of offside but the goal stood.

Spartak huffed and puffed but lacked the guile to create an equaliser and struggled to match the visitors in midfield. Seamus McCahill headed just over and Billy O’Neill fired over with an angled effort, while Cabinteeley struck the woodwork at the other end.

Form Report
Kevin Loftus 7 Dave Browne 6 Billy O’Neill 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Darragh Logue 6 Stuart Love 6 Niall Lennon 5 Steve Grier 5 Dave Kernan 6 Ger Byrne 6 Steve Walsh 5.
Subs: Owen Marron 5, Tom O’Driscoll 5 Aodhan McCahill 5 Ian Harmon 5.

4.2.18
Spartak 1, Sallynoggin 1

Overnight and early morning rain made the pitch very heavy for this contest between two old rivals.

Sallynoggin started much the better side and were somewhat unfortunate to go in at the interval without scoring, having had much the better of the play. The assured presence of Greg Byrne in the Spartak goal, who dealt capably with shots and crosses, set the tone for a decent defensive display, and clear chances were few and far between in the first half for either side. Indeed the Sky Blues had very few first half opportunities in a lacklustre half. Ger Byrne raced onto a Jeff Gamble flick, but his touch was too heavy and the ball ran on to the keeper. When the visiting custodian kicked out weakly, Neil McGowan sent Jeff Gamble through but he shot early and over. Spartak’ best first half move saw Steve Grier, Jeff Gamble and Owen Marron combine to set up Ger Byrne, but his effort was blocked.

Spartak began the second half as though they meant business, and Stuart Love , twice, and Neil McGowan went close. Sallynoggin then missed a big chance when Greg Byrne parried a shot, but on 56 minutes the visitors went ahead in controversial circumstances. A push on a Spartak defender saw a forward get free, and his cross was tapped in by an unmarked colleague.
Almost immediately Niall Lennon and Owen Marron carved out a clear chance for Ger Byrne, but he pulled the ball just wide. Tom O’Driscoll then had a chance with a ball that rebounded quickly to him twelve yards out, but he fired over.

Ger Byrne, through again, took a touch too many before trying to round the keeper, who fouled him as the ball ran wide. Much to Ger’s chagrin , he was booked for diving. In a big scramble the ball then bounced on top of the bar back into play before being cleared.

Sallynoggin were denied in a rare breakaway by the advancing Greg Byrne, before a penalty was awarded for a foul on Steve Grier. There was a considerable delay as the visitors protested long and loud, and Steve Grier’s penalty was weak and easily gathered by the keeper.

With time running out, Darragh Logue, deployed as an emergency striker, forced the ball over the line from close range to give Spartak a share of the points.

The Sky Blues had enough chances to win, but had to battle hard to get something from the game.

Form Report
Greg Byrne 7 Dave Kernan 6 Billy O’Neill 6 Steve Grier 6 Darragh Logue 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 6 Jeff Gamble 5 Niall Lennon 6 Ger Byrne 5 Owen Marron 6
Subs: Seamus McCahill 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Aodhan McCahill 6

5.1.18
Balbriggan 3, Spartak 0

A long Friday night trek to a dismal windy, cold and wet astro in Balbriggan was the setting for Spartak’s opening game of 2018, the first after the Christmas break.

After a decent first half showing, the Sky Blues faded badly in the second period, and were grateful for some decent stops by Dan Galvin.

The best chances fell to Ger Byrne in the opening half, when put through by Steve Walsh, but Ger opted for power over precision and fired over the crossbar. Tom O’Driscoll gave Ger another opportunity but the ball was screwed wide, while Steve Grier drew a good save from the home stopper.

The second period saw the home side add two deserved goals, while for Spartak it was a damage limitation exercise.

Form Report
Dan Galvin 8 Dave Kernan 6 Billy O’Neill 5 Steve Grier 5 Darragh Logue 5 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Neil McGowan 5 Mick Leslie 5 Niall Lennon 5 Ger Byrne 5 Steve Walsh 5
Subs: Andre Gabriel 5 Cian Donohoe 5

26/11/17
Spartak 4, Bray 1

A 25 yard effort from Steve Grier gave the Sky Blues a deserved half time lead; Spartak had made most of the running, but were pegged back at the start of the second period.

Steve Grier headed in a corner kick to restore the lead, and Jeff Gamble repeated the feat to make it 3-1. Andre Gabriel had taken both flag kicks.

Owen Marron made a super clearance to prevent Bray coming back into the contest, and Ger Byrne made sure of the points when firing in Dave Berry’s cross after Niall Lennon’s interception had picked out the wide man.

A satisfying result.

Form Report
Kevin Loftus 6 Dave Kernan 6 Dave Browne 6 Steve Grier 8 Karl McCullagh 7 Stuart Love 7 Owen Marron 7 Jeff Gamble 7 Niall Lennon 7 Ger Byrne 7 Andrei Gabriel 7
Subs: Tom O’Driscoll 6 Dave Berry 6

19.11.17
St Anthonys Kilcoole 5, Spartak 5

Another extraordinary match and scoreline in what is becoming a weekly goalfest.

Three up inside fifteen minutes, Spartak’s blistering attacking moves showed zest, quick passing and clinical finishing to disorient the home defence. Jeff Gamble’s persistence and tenacity got the first goal inside a minute; then he combined with Ger Byrne who crossed for Owen Marron to nod in. Owen and Dave Kernan’s move saw Ger Byrne hit the bar with Stuart Love knocking in the rebound.

The home side rallied somewhat and forced Kevin Loftus into a couple of saves. Darragh Logue produced an elegant piece of defending to halt a dangerous move. But it was not till the stroke of half time that they reduced arrears when Kevin Loftus parried a shot into the path of an attacker who fired in.

There were several penalty claims by Spartak ignored, most obviously when Steve Grier was pushed in the back before he could shoot.

With just four second half minutes gone, St Anthony’s made it 2-3 when a long cross was squared back across the six yard box for an unmarked tap in. Worse was to follow when Owen Marron, having tracked back assiduously, made a hash of his clearance and the local player took full advantage – 3.3.

Steve Grier forced in Steve Walsh’s spot kick at the second attempt to regain the lead for the Sky Blues before the hosts struck back twice to gain the lead for the first time. With 8 minutes remaining the Walsh/Grier axis struck again from a flag kick for Steve Grier to equalise.

Then the real helter-skelter began as both sides went all out attack.

Both Niall Lennon and Dave Kernan had clear runs on goal as the final whistle approached, but heavy touches proved costly. The home team also spurned a couple of good opportunities before the game ended as Spartak broke again – but the ref blew to book a home player, before finally blowing the whistle on a breathtaking match.

Form Report
Kevin Loftus 6 Dave Kernan 7 Billy O’Neill 7 Darragh Logue 7 Karl McCullagh 7 Stuart Love 7 Owen Marron 7 Niall Lennon 8 Steve Grier 8 Ger Byrne 8 Jeff Gamble 8
Subs: Dave Browne 5 Steve Walsh 7 Cian Donohoe 5

12/11/17
Finglas Utd 4, Spartak 3

A Spartak side missing a few regulars went down to a late comeback by the local side.

A dramatic goal line block in the last seconds denied Darragh Logue an equaliser.

On a fine pitch, Spartak started brightly and took the lead in the first minute. A move involving Dave Browne, Owen Marron, Neil McGowan and Dave Kernan gave Ger Byrne the opportunity, and he scored despite a defender handling en route to the net.

Owen Marron made a marvellous block to prevent a certain goal after Kevin Loftus parried a shot in the goalmouth. Spartak took a two goal lead when Neil McGowan volleyed in, right footed, from Ger Byrne’s cross after a blistering run down the touchline.

Almost immediately the home side reduced arrears; but then Spartak, playing fast attacking football, created a host of chances. Dave Kernan’s effort was blocked; Neil McGowan and Stuart Love both fired wide from decent positions.

The home side came back strongly, forcing a goal line clearance, and then equalised when sloppy defending conceded possession. Ger Byrne converted Dave Kernan’s cross, but despite the home side going down to ten men, they availed of two crass defensive errors to score twice as Spartak squandered good possession.

A decent display, spoiled, yet again, by lack of concentration in the final quarter.

Form Report
Kevin Loftus 6 Dave Browne 5 Billy O’Neill 6 Darragh Logue 6 Karl McCullagh 7 Stuart Love 5 Neil McGowan 6 Dave Kernan 7 Niall Lennon 5 Ger Byrne 9 Owen Marron 7
Subs: Cian Stenson 5 Tom O’Driscoll 5 Mick Leslie 5 Andrei Gabriel 6

8.10.17
Spartak 1, Gorey Rangers 3

Spartak came up against an strong Wexford outfit in the second round, and despite a decent performance, exited the cup.

A scoreless first half saw Spartak defend well and attack only sporadically. The Sky Blues best chance fell to Dave Kernan, who headed onto the top of the bar from Stuart Love’s pass.

A deflected goal on the hour mark gave the visitors a breakthrough, and Spartak’s luck was out when Steve Grier’s goalbound shot was blocked. Almost immediately Gorey made it 2-0.

Gorey plundered a third before Spartak reduced arrears when Owen Marron’s pass gave Dave Kernan the chance to fire in, and Spartak then saw a Jeff Gamble header go wide before Mick Leslie had half chance, as the visitors relaxed and Spartak pushed on.

But a deserved win for the vistors.

Form Report
Johnluke Hayes 5 Dave Browne 6 Billy O’Neill 7 Ken Ward 7 Darragh Logue 7 Stuart Love 6 Neil McGowan 6 Dave Kernan 7 Steve Grier 7 Ger Byrne 8 Owen Marron 7
Subs: Jeff Gamble 6 Collie Dunne 6 Mick Leslie 6 Keith Kelly 6

1.10.17
Spartak 3, St Anthony’s Kilcoole 4

Two calamitous individual defensive errors, early and late, saw Spartak drop all three points in a game they should have won comfortably.

Spartak went a goal down before gradually imposing themselves on the game, with goals by Steve Grier, Ger Byrne and Grier again to lead 3-1 midway through the second half.

Spartak then failed to stop the cross, and an unmarked Anthony’s player fired in to reduce arrears. A long ball through the middle saw the Spartak defence at sixes and sevens, and the runner rounded Johnluke Hayes to equalise.

The final ignominy saw Spartak concede possesion in the box, recover it, usher the opponent away from goal and the concede a spot kick.

Probably best not to dwell too long on this one.

Form Report
Johnluke Hayes 6 Cian Donohoe 5 Darragh Logue 5 Ian Harmon 5 Keith Kelly 5 Niall Lennon 6 Neil McGowan 6 David Kernan 6 Steve Grier 6 Ger Byrne 6 Steve Walsh 5
Subs: Ken Ward 5 Stuart Love 5 Billy O’Neill 6 Dave Browne 6

22.9.17 Tom
Derry Rovers 0, Spartak 2

A Friday night trip to Edenderry saw Spartak through to the second round, courtesy of an own goal and a Steve Grier clincher.

Played on grass under lights, the surface did not lend itself to early season craft, and Spartak generally had less possession than the locals. However the Sky Blues’ centre back pairing had a near impeccable evening to deny Derry clear cut opportunities.

Johnluke Hayes kept Spartak in the game when he pushed away a piledriver and Spartak’s tenacity was rewarded when a move down the right saw Sean Doyle’s header deflected just over the line to edge Spartak in front at the break.

Derry Rovers huffed and puffed to no great avail and when Jeff Gamble’s persistence saw him escape the attentions of two defenders to break free on the left, his cross was met first time by Steve Grier to seal Spartak’s passage to round 2.

Form Report
Johnluke Hayes 8 Cian Donohoe 6 Darragh Logue 6 Sean Doyle 9 Keith Kelly 9 Niall Lennon 6 Owen Marron 6 Neil McGowan 7 Steve Grier 8 Jeff Gamble 7 Tom O’Driscoll 6
Subs: Stuart Love 6 Niall Hanratty 6