Please post your team for Last Man Standing week 8. THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC PICK. A full list of fixtures is on the Last Man tab above. If you give a team that you have already chosen (or automatically chosen) you will get the next team available to you alphabetically.
The 2011 SDFC AGM will be held in Taylors Three Rock on Monday 28th March at 9pm.
Order of business:
1. Ascertainment that quorum is present
2. Reading and approval of minutes of last AGM
3. Report of the Chairman
4. Financial Report
5. Nominations and balloting
6. Election results
7 Any other business.
12.3.2011
Leicester 3 Spartak 1
A late comeback from Spartak was insufficient to cause Leicester any undue worries in this pretty one sided encounter in Loreto Park. When Martin Costello gave away a foolish penalty midway through the second half to give Leicester their third goal it effectively extinguished any hopes of a meaningful comeback, despite a late show of energy and defiance from the Sky Blues.
Leicester’s strike force caused endless problems to the Spartak defence and when Martin Costello was too easily turned the striker crossed for a header neatly finished.
Indeed Leicester had two goals disallowed in mysterious circumstances by the eccentric referee and could have led by more than one at the break. The second disallowed goal came from slack marking by Dave O’Kelly and a dropped cross by Robbie Hayes. Martin Costello’s attempted clearance, in attempting to retrieve the situation, although hitting the back of the net , was adjudged not to have crossed the line!
In truth, the referee ruined the game for both sides, as he wanted to be the centre of attention at all times with some interesting interpretations of the rule book.
Some of Spartak’s most experienced players had serious off days. Dave O’Kelly was frequently caught out of position and slow to recover, and gave way a number of opportunities for the home side. Derek McGoldrick ,on the other flank, suffered a torrid time against a good winger, sometimes diving in too early and too often easily beaten by his man.
Further forward, Spartak failed to hold on to the ball or establish any real rythm or pattern. Jose Vargas was profligate with the ball, and while Ross Kelly worked hard, he lacked incisiveness, although going closest with a short range effort. Dermot Dooley was almost anonymous and Mick Costello well short of his best, shooting wide from decent effort in the first half, but fading later.
Leicester’s second after 52 minutes came from a move which looked well offside, and was finished despite Robbie Hayes initial block.
Spartak had chances, with Mick Costello shooting weakly and Jose Vargas having a close range effort saved.
The best move of the game by the Sky Blues saw Niall Lennon , one of the few Spartak players willing to pass the ball on the day, put Steve Browne away on the right; but his perfect cross was fluffed in turn by both Colum O’Sullivan and Martin Costello.
Having made a mess of an earlier free, Shane McInerney rolled an indirect free in the box to Browne, who roofed it to reduce arrears and put a reasonable gloss on an abysmal performance.
With seven goals conceded in two games, and it could have been more against Leicester, defensive frailties need to be remedied.
Form Report
Robbie Hayes 5 Dave O Kelly 4 Derek McGoldrick 4 Martin Costello 5 Paul Kinsella 6 Shane McInerney 5 Dermot Dooley 4 Niall Lennon 6 Jose Vargas 4 Ross Kelly 5 Mick Costello 4
Subs Steve Browne 6 Colum O’Sullivan 4 Dillon Burke 5 Ryan Burke Jason Northey
At the recent 40th celebration, John Delaney presented the club with complimentary tickets for the Macedonia game on 26th March. If you wish to join the lads for a good night at Lansdowne Road, and you have paid your annual sub, please reply to this post.
Applications close on 17th March.
Saturday sees the 35’s play their biggest game of the season to-date.We have drawn a home fixture to Ratoath Harps who play out of Div 1 North. Kick off for 2:30pm and all support is welcome.For those of the 35’s who make the squad we will be meeting for 1:00pm sharp and no later.
The over 35’s made it’s second trip to Lucan this season to take on Esker celtic, this time in the Jim Byrne cup.After already been beaten out there in the league 2-1 the 35’s had only one thing on their mind. (or at least the manager did,revenge). We started slowly but took the lead with a well worked move which saw Ken Byrne break through the defence and strike well, scoring but also taking a heavy fall for the cause.The 2nd goal came from a sweeping move and break from the back with a good combination between Paul McGrath and Rory Campbell who then pushed a sweet ball to Andy Byrne who in turn slid a super ball across to Paul (Scholsey) Burke who duly obliged from about 15 yards.
Two nil up at the break and nothing but encouragement from the management at half time,still wasn’t enough to stop Spartak from leaking a goal.Now it was 2-1 and it could have gone either way, next goal was crucial.Lucky for us it came from hard work down the left from Andy Byrne and Shea McAfferty which was finally finished off by Stephen Moore.Still enough time for Spartak to leak another goal and for the game to finish 3-2.
Squad: Jimmy Browne (6), Dave Mohan (6), Paul McGrath (7), Greg Callan (7), Barry Crowe (6), Gary Harte (7), Paul Burke (7), Graham Johnston (7), Matt Grimes (6), Andy Byrne (6), Ken Byrne (7), Shea McAfferty (6), Leon Davids (6), Stephen Moore (6), Rory Campbell (9).
Spartak 1 Whitechurch 4
Spartak suffered a heavy defeat and can have no complaints after a weak defensive display.
It was an unhappy return to the Spartak goalmouth for Jason Northey, who was beaten 4 times and looked well below peak form throughout. While he could not be faulted for the first two goals, he was beaten easily at is near post for number three after Cathal Clancy was bypassed, and was slow and cumbersome in dealing with back passes. The first two goals came in the 16th and 17th minutes , the first when Mick Costello allowed his man to get in a clear strike and the second from an angled drive.
With the exception of Paul Kinsella, who made some vital covering tackles and is gradually returning to early season form , the remainder of the defence had a torrid time, with Niall Hanratty lucky not to concede a penalty when the game was scoreless. Cathal Clancy was also lucky to escape the ultimate sanction when blatantly pulling back a forward and Martin Costello was well below his usual standard, both in covering and distribution.
Spartak were not without some spirit, and fought back from three down. Niall Lennon drove in from the edge of the box after Chris Hogan crossed, and Hogan himself narrowly missed reducing arrears further when he hit the side net after Mick Costello had put him clean through.
Spartak, 3-1 down at the break, huffed and puffed to try to get back in the game. It was the visitors who missed a great chance when lobbing wide after going through.
Mick Costello and Dan O’Connell had a couple of half chances, but it was the visitors who made the game safe with a fourth goal when the marking following a long throw was again abysmal.
Form Report
Jason Northey 4 Niall Hanratty 5 Paul Kinsella 6 Martin Costello 4 Cathal Clancy 5 Kevin Mannion 5 Dermot Dooley 5 Chris Hogan 5 Niall Lennon 5 Ross Kelly 4 Mick Costello 4
Subs: Steve Browne 4 Neil McGowan 5 Dan O Connell 5
Spartak 3 Seaford 0
Three goals in the first half hour killed off this game. In protesting at the third goal, the visiting keeper verbally abused the ref and got a red card for his trouble.
Stuart Love opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, steering home from Graam Breen’s cross after a slick move. Breen first and then Love flicked on Dave Browne’s throw for Neil McGowan to finish on 13 minutes, and Will O’Connell drove in after a scramble when Breen’s header hit the bar and McGowan’s back heel into the danger area. The keeper claimed offside, but his protests went way too far.
In truth Spartak should have added to the total in the second half, but a combination of poor finishing and a ref who whistled for offside anytime the ball was played forward didn’t help.
Keith Kelly and Glen Burke both had chances when clear though, but did not unduly trouble the keeper.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Dave Browne 6 Fintan Grace 6 Steve Grier 6 Tom Flanagan 6 Keith Kelly 5 Neil McGowan 7 Will O Connell 5 Stuart Love 6 Graham Breen 6 Tom O Driscoll 5
Subs Kevin O Toole 6 Ken Buckley 5 Glen Burke 5
Hillcrest 1 Spartak 2
A late goal conceded by Spartak made for a nervous ending in a scrappy match on a bobbly pitch in Lucan.
A well flighted Neil McGowan free was firmly headed home by Seamus McCahill after just 3 minutes to give the Sky Blues a tonic start.
Spartak showed some sloppiness in defence and when Dave Browne gave away possession, Hillcrest drilled a cross along the six yard box which required only a touch.
A Hillcrest slip up gave Ger Byrne a clear opportunity but he shot weakly and the keeper gathered. The Spartak full backs, Glen and Fintan, were both staying at home and neither was using the ball well. On the single occasion that Glen made a burst, with plenty of support, he fired wastefully over and behind.
An error by the home centre half let Ger Byrne in on 50 minutes, and this time he made no mistake, beating the keeper neatly.
Seams McCahill had a shot tipped over following a Keith Kelly free, and then a great move by Kevin O’Toole and Tom O’Driscoll saw Neil’s volley blocked; the loose ball fell to Ger who could not adjust his body to force it home from close range.
As Hillcrest sought to get back in the game Glen cleared off the line and then when Dave Browne was beaten in the area, getting a bloody nose for his trouble, the home side fired a good chance wide.
Hillcrest finally scored when Spartak failed to clear and Paul Kinsella allowed the winger to cross to the back post for a bundled finish, with Glen and Seamus noticeably absent.
Spartak’s work rate throughout was decent, but the passing was off and the distribution from the back poor. Keith Kelly at centre half was a solid presence and covered well.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Glen Burke 5 Fintan Grace 6 Keith Kelly 8 Dave Browne 5 Kevin O Toole 5 Neil McGowan 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Stuart Love 6 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Ger Byrne 6
Subs: Steve Browne 5 Paul Kinsella 5 Anto Doyle Ken Buckley Tom Flanagan
Terenure College 1, Spartak 2
Two late goals prevented an embarrassing defeat against a poor Terenure College side, who managed virtually no attacks and only took the lead from a harshly awarded penalty.
The players in Sky Blue for the most part stubbornly refused to pass the ball in a timely fashion and, in the manner of the playground, ran with the ball until dispossessed. Neiher Derek MCGoldrick nor Dave O’Kelly could supply crosses and the front two of Niall Lennon and Niall Tilley found it hard going against the big home central defence.
The first half was of a poor standard, with the home side content to play kick and rush while the Spartak lads lost virtually all of the physical battles. Free kicks and throw ins were carelessly taken and frequently possession was lost cheaply. Spartak had a couple of half chances but nothing clear cut.
Terenure took the lead from the spot when Shane McInerney was penalised for handball.
Spartak raised their tempo, if not their guile, in the second period, but missed a glorious chance to equalise when a harshly awarded penalty was blazed over by Paul Kinsella.
The winning goal on 85 minutes was a thing of beauty and completely out of character from the rest of the game. A scintillating one touch move involving Dere McGoldrick, Steve Browne and Seamus McCahill was finished coolly by Dermot Dooley.
Earlier Seamus had equalised from close in after a scramble following a throw in, and Dooley had forced a fine save from a snap volley.
Spartak left Bushy Park breathing a collective sigh of relief.
Form Report
Robbie Hayes 5 Dave O’Kelly 5 Paul Kinsella 6 Martin Costello 6 Cathal Clancy 5 Shane McInerney 6 Dermot Dooley 6 Niall Hanratty 5 Derek McGoldrick 5 Niall Lennon 5 Niall Tilley 5
Subs Seamus McCahill 7 Steve Browne 6 Ken Buckley 6 Ross Kelly Jason Northey
