Spartak Dynamo FC

6.5.12
Pioneers 3 Spartak 2

A deeply disappointing result against a home team struggling to avoid relegation; Pioneers started with ten men for a few minutes, held out and gradually strengthened as subs arrived.

Not so prompt were Spartak; many of whom become disoriented after leaving the front garden. In the worst case Alex Kenny crossed the east link at 10.15 and reached the pitch, in St Anne’s, at 11.40; he had reached the Phoenix Park before he noticed he wasn’t on the coast anymore. Lets hope his upcoming exams don’t have any questions on orientation, direction or geography!

Spartak created many chances, but defence was their achilles heel, and the goals conceded were very soft.

Spartak might have wrapped the game up in a bright start when a few good chances were created; with Dave Thomson an energetic mid field presence, the Sky Blues went forward and Ger Byrne and Graham Breen set up Conor Maguire for a straightforward chance 6 yards out but his attempt was a touch casual and allowed the keeper to save. Keith Kelly had a surging run and his cross-cum-shot was just ahead of Ger at the back post.

Having had things easy for the first ten minutes, the Sky Blues became complacent and listless as Pioneers showed a bit more bite; the central defensive partnership of Seamus McCahill and Dave Browne made for an uneasy combination; throw ins were frequently directed to opponents’ feet; Peter O’Toole’s kicking was off.

Peter O’Toole then made a couple of fine saves as the defence faltered; the early warning signs were ignored and from the second save Pioneers made the corner count as there was a lack of aerial power from Spartak and the ball was bundled in from a central position. On 35 minutes things got decidedly worse as a forward got a yard on Ken Buckley to fire in number 2.

Shaken, Spartak came close on the stroke of half time when Breen headed Ciaran Keogh’s header against the bar.

A much better display in the second half saw Spartak on the attack; there was an incredible miss by Neil McGowan after Breen headed Kelly’s throw against the bar. The ball dropped invitingly to Neil, a couple of yards out, but his volley was blocked on the line by the full back.

On 59 minutes Dave Thomson and Conor Maguire combined well for Conor to reduce arrears; and two minutes later the equaliser came from the same formula.

With the Sky Blues looking the most likely winners, Seamus McCahill had an aberration when in possession on the back line facing his goal; he could have conceded a corner or a throw; instead he dawdled, his pocket was picked and the home side nicked a gift winner on 72 minutes.

This was a game in which Spartak should have recorded a straightforward win, and the defeat marks five successive games without a win, after a good run which had lifted the team out of the relegation mire.

With three tougher home games to finish the season, a big improvement is required.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Keith Kelly 5 Ciaran Keogh 6 Seamus McCahill 5 Dave Browne 5 Ken Buckley 6 Neil McGowan 6 Conor Maguire 6 Dave Thomson 7 Graham Breen 5 Ger Byrne 5
Subs: Alex Kenny 5 Graham McEnroe 5 Steve Walsh 5 Conor Canavan Thom O’Driscoll

The votes are in and counted.

Leading candidates for Sunday POTY in a tight contest are last year’s winner Peter O’Toole along with Seamus McCahill, Steve Grier and Alex Kenny, plus previous winners Glen Burke and Neil McGowan.

The main three contenders for the Saturday award, which will show a new name on the trophy, are:

Cathal Clancy, Conor Maguire, Steve Walsh.

The Seniors award will be between between last year’s winner Paul McGrath, Ken Byrne and Graham Johnston

And the coveted Clubman award could go to former winners like Shane McInerney, Dave Mohan , Barry Crowe, Rory Campbell or Paul McGowan , or possibly there could be a new name on the trophy such as Ross Kelly or Mick Greene.

All will be revealed in the Eden on Friday 18th.

Our Man in deepest Wiltshire has arranged the details of our games in Swindon: Rob Smith says –

One is a team called The Plough Inn. A good Sunday league team who have won their league last two years in a row. The other team is Moredon Cheney – the guys who whipped us on the Saturday last year. A revenge mission would be nice.

Acccomodation is in the luxurious Jurys Inn – at £25 per night its great value.

There is a good group going so far, always room for a couple of late entrants; flights are still at €59 to Bristol.

Player of the year trophies will be presented in the Eden on Friday 18th May.

A good night is anticipated, just a week before the Swindon trip.

The Chairman has arranged a bumper night, with hot and cold running women for the single lads, and a consolation drink for the married ones.

Can someone please bring a spare pair of shoes for Ross?

Text your Player of the Year for the Saturday team & Sunday team to Paul by Friday.

Over 35’s text Dave Mohan by Friday.

Also include your vote for the Club Man of the Year

28.4.12
Laytown 0, Spartak 1

The Sky Blues turned on an excellent performance in their last Saturday Div 3a game of the season to beat the League Champions on their own ground. In blustery conditions, right on the sea shore, both teams strove to play good passing football in a game which was well controlled by the ref.

The vital score came on 30 minutes when a corner from Steve Walsh caused problems in the box for the home team. Dermot Dooley won the ball and squared to Steve O’Hara who drove powerfully home to the corner of the net from an angle from just inside the box.

Almost immediately, Laytown created their best chance but the forward fired over the advancing Northey and over the bar. Paul Kinsella then made a vital block, while at the other end Steve Walsh’s quick control allowed a snapshot which was saved. When Conor Maguire forced a corner, Mick Greene’s flag kick picked out Conor, whose volleyed was tipped over. Conor later had a powerful shot blocked, painfully, by a defender. Mick Greene also nicked a ball from the forward, strode goalwards and let fly with a long range effort which the keeper held at the second attempt.

Dooley was the driving force in the Sky Blues performance, combative and full of energy in a hard working midfield trio where O’Hara and Stu Love also toiled to good effect. O’Hara’s replacement through injury at half time by Niall Hanratty maintained the standard.

The back four, and keeper Jason Northey, all had solid games defensively, and restricted the home attack, even if sometimes the urge to welly the ball rather than pass it took over. There were minor quibbles. Chris Hogan’s reluctance to head the ball caused a few problems early on as did Mick Greene’s sometimes panicky clearances. But the overall defensive unit was very good.

Paul Kinsella had a crap start to the game but soon wiped away the memories and on the whole had a fine match. For some reason there was a marked reluctance to shake hands with Paul after the match.

Ross Kelly, Steve Walsh and Conor Maguire combined well at times and together were a thorn in the home side’s defence.

Spartak were promoted last season from 6th place in Div 3a and with a few less injuries and absentees might have mounted a more sustained promotion bid this season. Mid season there were too many absentees, as most sorely felt in the cup game v Moorfield when the squad was decimated. Highlights include the Cup wins over Inchicore and then Carrick in Monaghan, a double over Esker Celtic and taking 4 points off the champs.

The Laytown game saw the team sign off the season in style to make it four wins in the last 5 games.

Some stats from the season:

40 players in total played for the Div 3a side during a season of 28 games. There was no player who was ever present.

Those who appeared in 75% or more of the games were – Steve Walsh 26; Fintan Grace 25; Mick Greene 23; Chris Hogan 22; Conor Maguire 22 Martin Costello 21.

In the league, the top scorers were: Steve Walsh 9; Conor Maguire 6; and Ross Kelly 5. Next best with two each were Niall Hanratty and Colum O’Sullivan.

For the keepers, Jason Northey and Bobby Hayes both kept 3 clean sheets, although Jason had 5 fewer appearances.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Mick Greene 7 Fintan Grace 7 Paul Kinsella 7 Steve O’Hara 7 Steve Walsh 7 Conor Maguire 7 Stuart Love 7 Ross Kelly 7 Dermot Dooley 8
Subs: Niall Hanratty 7 Martin Costello 6 Mick Costello 6 Colum O’Sullivan Derek McGoldrick

23.4.12
Spartak 7, Cherryfield 4

Spartak have now almost caught up on their outstanding games occasioned by their long Shield run and three wins in the last four games has moved the Sky Blues up from 9th to 5th.

Spartak produced some good attacking football, but both defences will not look back with any relish on this game. Spartak’s back four were vulnerable throughout as well as hesitant, and constantly seeking the offside call.

It all seemed so easy at the start. Spartak raced into a three goal lead, and Cherryfield’s opener, just on half time, looked very much of the consolation variety and was quickly cancelled to leave it 4-1 at the break

The Sky Blues displayed their inexperience by beginning the second period without bothering to either pass the ball or close opponents down; a recipe for disaster. The passing from the back, often under no pressure , was particularly careless.

However with the Spartak defence in charitable mood, and with the visitors dominating midfield, with numbers 8 and 6 doing pretty much as they liked in the middle, suddenly it was game on as the score quickly reached 5-4 and Cherryfield looking stronger.

A virtuoso display by Steve Walsh, who scored four times, was the difference between the sides and Steve also crashed a solo effort against the bar.

Spartak began well, and Derek McGoldrick , captain for the night on his last home game before he hits New Zealand had two early chances blocked, while Shane McInerney fired a tame effort wide from the edge of the box.
Ross Kelly gave Steve Walsh the chance to round the keeper and score before an incisive Niall Lennon pass made it number 2 for Steve. Derek McGoldrick’s break drew the keeper and gave Ross the chance to fire the third to the empty net from 30 yards. Cherryfield broke through the middle and reduced arrears before Walsh’s corner was nodded home by Dave O’Kelly for number 4.

The home side were well on top and had other chances. A Lennon through ball to Walsh looked likely to provide another but was harshly blown up for offside. Dave O’Kelly raced through but shot straight at the keeper.

Tommy Coady, the visiting manager, formerly of this parish, switched his number 11 at half time to the right wing to give Mick Greene a handful and he was instrumental in two goals to get back to 4-3. A McInerney header intended for Jason Northey was intercepted but Northey saved. The panic which spread through the home ranks was reduced when O’Kelly and McGoldrick combined to allow Steve Walsh to claim his hat trick.

Cheeryfield then hit the post and scored the rebound to make it 4-5, but the Sky Blues calmed somewhat as the substitutes replace tiring legs and O’Kelly and Kelly combined for Walsh to lash in yet again and then finally Greene’s free was nonchalantly flicked home by Niall Hanratty to complete the scoring.

A memorable night for Steve Walsh.

Form Report
Jason Northey 5 Chris Hogan 5 Mick Greene 5 Fintan Grace 5 Cathal Clancy 5 Niall Lennon 5 Dave O’Kelly 6 Steve Walsh 9 Ross Kelly 7 Derek McGoldrick 5 Shane McInerney 6
Subs: Steve O’Hara 6 Colum O’Sullivan 5 Niall Hanratty 5 Paul Kinsella Dermot Dooley

22.4.12
Spartak 0, RSFC 3

Spartak, somewhat depleted by injuries, found themselves up against it with RSFC clinching promotion on the day with a display of composure and calm distribution.

Hard though the midfield trio worked to stem the tide, they could not make up for the overall superiority of the visitors. The quality of passing from the back was the biggest contrast between the sides and gave the RSFC midfield time and space continuously.

A soft opening goal settled any anxiety RSFC may have felt and they finished off the Sky Blues with two excellent breakaway goals in the second half.

Spartak struggled to create opportunities and had to wait for the final minutes for their bets chance, set up by Neil McGowan for Graham Breen to fire over.

The day was also marred by an injury to the visiting full back who fell awkwardly, while Keith Kelly left the fray early with a groin injury and Seamus McCahill battled on , bloodied but unbowed, after a clash of heads.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 5 Keith Kelly 6 Ciaran Keogh 5 Paul Kinsella 5 Alex Kenny 7 Dave Browne 5 Neil McGowan 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Stuart Love 6 Graham Breen 5 Ger Byrne 5
Subs: Steve Grier 5 Ross Kelly 5 Conor Canavan 6

21.4.12
Spartak 2 , Greenhills/Greenpark 3

A somnolent start to this game saw Spartak lack both pace and intensity and quickly go two down; both goals had a touch of offside to them however the second was quite preventable if the Sky Blues had closed down rather than spent precious time appealing.

The visitors were handing out punishment which was leniently dealt with by the ref; and Spartak allowed themselves to be outmuscled.

Ross Kelly had a score chalked off for offside which looked a great deal more legitimate than the visitors two; and Ross also just failed to guide his shot on target after getting past the keeper from Steve Walsh’s pass.

Spartak reduced arrears just before the break when Shane McInerney bundled in Conor Maguire’s attempted cross shot.

The second half saw a big improvement with Greenhills restricted to breaks. On a rare break they scored at the near post on 65 minutes to restore their lead after Ross Kelly’s scrambled equaliser on 48 minutes.

The home side then had more of the play and some great chances were missed; Colum O’Sullivan looked certain to head home from very close in from Niall Hanratty’s corner; Conor Maguire fired over, while Ross spooned over after a neat square ball from Martin Costello.

Conor Maguire, subjected to rough treatment throughout without much protection finally lost his composure; the first time he was lucky to escape a red card, but on the second occasion he had to go.

A soft start and two goals conceded left the Sky Blues with just too much to do, despite a dominant second half performance.

Form Report
David O’Kelly 6 Chris Hogan 5 Mick Greene 5 Fintan Grace 5 Cathal Clancy 5 Steve O’Hara 5 Mick Costello 5 Conor Maguire 5 Steve Walsh 6 Ross Kelly 6 Shane McInerney 6
Subs: Martin Costello 5 Niall Hanratty 5 Colum O’Sullivan 5 Derek McGoldrick Niall Lennon