Lads,
Nominees for Clubman of the Year 2011 are:
Rory Campbell, Mick Greene, Frank McNamee and Paul Mc Gowan.
Send your vote by text to Jason Doyle at 087 2032530 before July 5th.
Time to get some fitness back……
Tuesday 5th July at 7pm and Thursday 7th July at 7pm in Marlay.
Friendly matches to follow later in the month.
All welcome, old and new.
The last Summer kick about is on this Wednesday 29 June at our pitch in Marlay from 7.15. All are welcome to come along.
Pre-season training for the LSL Saturday and Sunday Teams is starting Tuesday 5th July. All players new and old are welcome. Will update later with the time.
Contenders for Player of the year so far are as follows:
Sunday: Keith Kelly, Peter O’Toole, Steve Grier, Neil McGowan.
Saturday: Cathal Clancy, Niall Hanratty, Martin Costello, Dermot Dooley.
Over 35s: Paul McGrath , Paddy Hughes, Frank McNamee
Presentation has not yet been arranged, as over 35s finish their season on 28th May; with Bank Holiday and Swindon Trip, weekends in the immediate future are booked up; so watch this space.
20 have booked flights so far. 24 went last time we were there. Can we beat the record?
Looks like a good trip in prospect. More cry ons than cry offs! Trap is jealous…..
+ Rob Smith and Alan Kavanagh already over there!
Lads,
Rob Smith, our man in Swindon, is arranging games on weekend of 11th /12th June.
Plan is to fly out on Friday 10th June and return on Sunday 12th.
Flights are €62 at present (to Bristol) and rooms in Holiday Inn are £50 per night. That’s only £25 per head.
So cost per head per weekend would be less than €130. Cheap as chips!
Swindon has been a big success on previous trips – we have been there 3 times before.
Need indication of interest by this Friday. Log on here or on Facebook to make your comment.
15.5.11
Pioneers 2 Spartak 1
Spartak had to arrange this one themselves to complete the league programme. With promotion already sealed, there was for once nothing at stake in terms of league or cup.
Peter O’Toole dropped an early cross and when Paul Kinsella and Glen Burke could not clear, Pioneers shot wide from close in. Glen Burke was repeatedly caught in possesion each time the play was switched out to him and put paid to a few attacks.
Tom Flanagan and Seamus McCahill started brightly enough, although Seamus faded later on, but the front two of Ger Byrne and Graham Breen were still suffereing a cup final hangover, with both in listless form.
A long ball on 43 minutes caught out Burke and O’Toole, with forward alllowed two chances to finish, which he duly did.
On 51 minutes a blind back pass by Fintan Grace gifted number two to the home side, and it was only after this that the Sky Blues reacted and began to play ball. Substitute Keith Kelly, making a near miraculous recovery from the injury which ruined his cup final, added some energy to proceedings.
Tom Flanagan converted Breen’s low cross to reduce arrears, and Glen Burke volleyed against the post as Spartk came back strongly. Some eccentric clearances by Dave Browne gave Pioneers a few chances on the break, and they hit the bar with one effort.
In the last minute, with pressure mounting and Pioneers short of cover, Byrne conceded a free in the six yard box, and the home side survived.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 5 Paul Kinsella 6 Fintan Grace 5 Steve Grier 6 Dave Browne 4 Tom Flanagan 7 Seamus McCahill 5 Glen Burke 4 Stuart Love 5 Graham Breen 5 Ger Byrne 5
Subs Neil McGowan 5 Keith Kelly 6 Niall Tilley Thom O’Driscoll Anto Doyle no show
14.5.11
Swords 2 Spartak 0
In a good game of football, well referreed and sporting, played on the intermediate pitch, Swords showed the Sky Blues the difference between shooting and finishing.
As usual with the Saturday lads, there were the usual large quota of absentees, and only three of the starting line up having started the previous game. This has been the case all season, with the very same story for the first two games of the season. Certainly a disadvantage when playing settled sides.
Spartak played well enough up to the 18 yard line, but lacked both composure in the box and desire to follow up loose balls in the six yard area.
Kevin Mannion’s cross was perfect for Jose Vargas, but he got his header under the ball and directed it over when unmarked. Steve Walsh and Mannion were playing some good approach passes, but there was no first half breakthrough.
The game turned on 54 minutes, when a surging run by Dave O’Kely gave Vargas an opportunity; the goalkeeper gathered the effort and set off a counter from which the home side took the lead. Perhaps a touch of offside involved?
Spartak continued to make chances. Lennon, on early for the injured Kelly, had a near post header saved from Mannion’s cross and then the big chance fell to substitute Chris Hogan, straight through on goal seven yards out, who miskicked weakly wide. Hogan then crossed for Mannion, but when his initial shot was blocked by the keeper, he fluffed the loose ball. Steve Walsh turned well in the box, but shot weakly into the keepers midriff.
Swords added the second on 82 minutes, with another break.
Form Report
Stephen Harris 7 Dave O Kelly 7 Mick Greene 6 Martin Costello 6 Paul Kinsella 6 Shane McInerney 5 Steve Walsh 6 Kevin Mannion 7 Derek McGoldrick 5 Ross Kelly 4 Jose Vargas 5.
Subs : Niall Lennon 6 Chris Hogan 4 Barry Maguire 4 Steve Browne no show.
7.5.2011
Spartak 0, Pegasus 2
Spartak lost the cup final in the most frustrating manner possible, by simply not performing on the day. For the first time this season, Spartak failed to score, and created fewer chances than in any game all year.
The first goal in a cup final is always vital and having got off the hook when Peter O’Toole saved a penalty on 32 minutes (conceded by Steve Grier for second final in a row) Spartak fell into arrears following a corner in the 38th minute.
The Sky Blues never got going at all in the first half, and with Keith Kelly carrying an injury into the game and replaced early in second half, Spartak never got a grip in midfield. In three appearances against Pegasus Keith has had to depart early in each case. Distribution from the back was poor and very little in the way of constructive play in evidence. An over reliance on the long throw, easily dealt with by Pegs, meant that Spartak simply forgot to play the ball on the carpet. A fatal mistake
A slight improvement in the second half gave some hope, with a few half chances following the introduction of Stuart Love, until the red card for Kevin O’Toole dealt a killer blow. When Anto Doyle was caught in possession on 82 minutes Pegasus took full advantage to score number 2.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 8 Composed performance, penalty save, always in command, Peter rounded off an excellent season and should have been rewarded with the man of the match trophy.
Glen Burke 5 One of “those” days from Glen, who defended well enough but lacked composure on the ball, and tended to panic in possession.
Paul Kinsella 6 Strong tackling defender who finished the season as well as he started it, after injury disrupted much of his season.
Steve Grier 6 Decent performance, but failed to vary his throws when they were clearly easy meat for Pegs defenders.
Dave Browne 4 Occasion seemed to get to him, never looked in command and stood too far off his man.
Keith Kelly 4 Should not have started, injured, and made no impact until substituted.
Neil McGowan 5 Had a couple of half chances, one from a free, but persistent injury has reduced his effectiveness.
Seamus McCahill 4 Ineffective on the day. Never got going at all, and a very disappointing performance overall.
Kevin O’Toole 4 His red card effectively nobbled any chance of a late comeback.
Graham Breen 4 Was dominated by the Pegs centre backs, and could not impose himself on the game
Ger Byrne 5 No shortage of energy, but lacked composure and his touch and hold up play were poor
Thom O’Driscoll 4 His normal excellent touch deserted him and he fatally delayed his shot in what was probably Spartak’s best chance.
Stuart Love 6 Unlucky not to start, showed composure and energy to inspire Spartak’s best spell.
Anto Doyle 4 Went on to help search for equaliser, but caught in possession and Spartak were two down.
Fintan Grace, Neilll Bolger, Niall Tilley.
Pegasus v Spartak in the Tom Cullen Cup Final in Kilnamanagh’s ground at 2.30 on Saturday 7th May.
All support very welcome.
