Please post your team for LMS week 4. This weeks automatic pick is West Ham. There will be NO automatic picks after this weekend. Full fixtures are available on the Last Man tab above. Remember the prize fund is a minimium €150
Lads, we are producing a booklet for the 40th celebration. Feel free to forward an article or comment for inclusion to me, by email.
Any memories, highlights, lowlights, etc. Must be fit to publish without risk of defamation!
By 30th November please.
There will be a €50 prize for the highest scoring team in December. The current overall top 10 is shown below. Ryan Burke is beginning to open a gap at the top with September’s winner ‘Chopper’ scoring well recently to move into second. Where are all the strong performers from last year? Anyway, all back to square one for the December competition. Remember you must be fully paid up on annuals and subs to claim the prize.
Lads, important dates for your diaries
SDFC Christmas night in Toast Rathmines, Sat 18th December. Always a great night out.
Don’t forget, 40th celebration night in 3 Rock on 19th February.
Spartak 5, St Pats CY 0
Spartak, who were missing key men, made light of the fact in overpowering St Pats in tough conditions.
A strong display by the home back four, backed up by the outstanding Peter O’Toole, laid the foundation for an important victory and the front two of Ger Byrne and Tom O’Driscoll destroyed the visiting defence.
Initially Spartak’s attacks were halted by some dubious offside calls but then Glen Burke’s shot from distance brought a good save form the visiting keeper. On 15 minutes O’Driscoll exchanged passes with Byrne before outpacing the defence and rounding the keeper for a brilliantly taken score.
Glen then blazed over before a lapse from Martin Costello led to Pats hitting the side netting. O’Driscoll and Byrne combined for Will O’Connell to scuff his effort when well placed, and the keeper saved well from both O’Driscoll and Byrne.
Peter O’Tooles’ kick out was nodded on by the tireless Keith Kelly for Ger Byrne to take on the defence and, despite close attention, slot the ball neatly in for number 2. O’Toole then made a great save to maintain Spartak’s lead.
Spartak began the second period well and Will O’Connell again missed after good combination play had put him in. On 62 minutes Niall Hanratty turned defence into attack and Tom Flanagan’s header put O’Driscoll in to finish with aplomb. Minutes later Keith Kelly won the ball and drove through himself to add number 4.
In between Peter made another sharp save low to his left.
Hanratty’s run gave Byrne the ooportunity to hit the post, and Glen and Ger set up Will again to no avail. Hanratty and Niall Tilley combined for Glen to blaze over and when Hanratty’s excellent long range effort was touched on to the bar by the keeper, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that the inrushing Byrne would add to his goal tally – instead he fired wildly over the bar with the keeper prostrate. A contender for miss of the season.
Niall Tilley crossed for Will O’Connell to finally get on the scoresheet but Glen missed out as he shot over again after good work from Seamus McCahill.
Overall Spartak showed the greater desire to win and turned in a performance to savour.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 9 Niall Hanratty 8 Fintan Grace 8 Martin Costello 8 Dave Browne 8 Tom Flanagan 7 Keith Kelly 8 Glen Burke 7 Will O’Connell 7 Tom O’Driscoll 9 Ger Byrne 8.
Subs Paul Kinsella 7 Niall Tilley 7 Seamus McCahill 7 Kevin O’Toole . Steve Grier no show.
Spartak over 35s 1, Rathcoole 3.
A three goal blast in the first 12 minutes of the second half by the visitors ended Spartak’s recent run and reversed the Sky Blues recent 4-1 cup win over the same opposition.
In a drab first half where the play matched the gloomy weather the game started at a slow tempo with both sides content to play the percentage ball. The first chance fell to the visitors but the forward, having outpaced the defence, blazed over. Spartak picked up somewhat but missed a couple of key chances. Paddy Hughes was through one on one but the keeper saved and, in Spartak’s best move, Shay McClafferty’s ball released Paddy down the right his fine cross was headed over by Brendan Mooney.
Half time was 0-0. Then came those decisive 12 minutes. A long range effort eluded Jimmy Browne for the first; a header when left unattended by the Spartak cover for number two, and with the home defence reeling a dinked ball over the top caught out the back four and the low cross was turned in.
Brendan Mooney opted to shoot at the keeper from a narrow angle rather than cross to better placed colleagues after the first Rathcoole goal.
Spartak then mounted an attempted comeback and reduced arrears when Frank McNamee nodded down Matt Grimes free for Rory Campbell to slot home.
Spartak pressed hard ad finished strongly but te Rathcoole defence worked hard and did not concede again.
Spartak: Jimmy Browne Dave Mohan Barry Crowe Tom Maher Greg Callan Matt Grimes Brian Stafford Frank McNamee Paddy Hughes Shay McCalfferty Brendan Mooney Mark Byrne Con Mooney Rory Campbell
Please post your team for LMS week 3. This weeks automatic pick is Bolton. Full fixtures are available on the Last Man tab above. The prize fund is a minimium €150
St Kevin’s 2 SDFC 4
Spartak over 35’s made the journey to South Wicklow on Saturday and came away with the 3 points after a tough encounter on a difficult pitch.
The Spartak side were slow to settle and produced a very flat performance for the first 30 minutes. The home side were sharper to the ball and created two early chances when cross field balls allowed their left winger in behind the Spartak defensive line but fortunately he failed to capitalise on both occasions.
The home side opened the scoring after 20 minutes when their striker was gifted a free header from a corner to easily place the ball past Jimmy Browne. With the visiting midfield struggling to assert any authority on the game, there was little threat coming from Spartak and the score remained 1-0 to St Kevin’s at the break.
On the resumption, there was much more urgency and competitiveness in Spartak’s play with the defensive and midfield lines gradually getting on top. A deserved equaliser arrived courtesy of Paddy Hughes from a free kick that was awarded by the local ref for the keeper handling the ball outside his area. Midway through the second half a neat passing move involving several Spartak players culminated with Ken Byrne stretching forward to tap home an excellent cross from Brendan Mooney to make the score 2-1.
With 20 minutes to go St Kevin’s were awarded a penalty following a foul by Brendan Mooney. To the relief of the visitors the kick was sent wide and the game completely changed. Literally a few minutes later a long punt by Jimmy Browne was misjudged by the home defence and Paddy Hughes raced clear to finish his second and Spartak’s third goal. Rory Campbell then finished well to make it 4-1.
There was still time for Spartak to have a few lapses in concentration resulting in one goal scored and two goal scoring opportunities missed for the opposition.
Overall, it was far from a vintage performance by the visiting Spartak team but a competitive effort particularly in the second half was just about enough to bring home the three points.
The Spartak squad was: Jimmy Browne, Dave Mohan, Greg Callan, Brian Stafford, Barry Crowe, Ken Byrne, Matt Grimes, Frank McNamee, Shay McClafferty, Mark Byrne, Paddy Hughes, Rory Campbell, Brendan Mooney, Leon David, Tom Maher.
Spartak 3 Pioneers 2
A late revival by the visitors gave Spartak a nervous final quarter. Having been cruising at three up, Spartak’s concentration dropped disastrously as some players prematurely relaxed.
Before the late collapse, a few players had played really well. Stuart Love had a wonderful first half, combining well with Ger Byrne and Neil McGowan to give Spartak an attacking threat. As usual Stewie was full of running and he made some fine tackles, made a goal for Graham Breen as well as scoring. Stewie also missed a glorious chance when Breener returned the compliment. Like a few other players , he became a shadow of his former self as the second half progressed. Keith Kelly and Tom O’Driscoll were others to have a really good opening half.
Pioneers lost their influential captain very early on as they settled in possession without penetrating the Spartak back line and the Sky Blues duly took the lead on ten minutes when a Steve Grier throw was flicked on brilliantly by Breen for Love to nod home from close in.
The visiting keeper made good saves from Tom O’Driscoll and gathered Glen Burke’s attempted cross (after Glen’s strong run).
Spartak’s second arrived when Stu nodded back Tom O’Driscoll’s corner for Breen to force home. The best move came when Neil released Ger and his cross was nodded down to Love, who was slow to pull the trigger and allowed the keeper to block; McGowan blazed the loose ball over.
Pioneers had their own chances when the striker hit a fresh air shot when close in and then whizzed an effort just past the angle following loose marking at a corner by the home side.
At the start of the second half there were ominous signs that Spartak had dropped concentration. Burke was caught in possession, Will OConell had to track back to prevent a breakthrough and Peter OToole made a fine save to spare Steve Grier’s blushes after he lost possession in the penalty area. Steve and Keith Kelly were backing off the play, sitting too deep and creating space for Pioneers between Spartak’s defence and midfield.
On 54 minutes Steve Grier nodded hme at the back post from Tom’ODriscoll’s expert corner kick to give the home side a three goal cushion. Little did anyone know at the time it was the winning goal!
Stu hen played Steve in and when he squared Ger Byrne struck the bar from 3 yards – Ger was relieved to be given offside.
As Pioneers tried to force their way back, Glen made a great saving tackle; but a good shot reduced arrears as Spartak backed off. Then a looping effort hit the top of the bar as Peter struggled to readjust in the sticky conditions. A bad lapse of concentration by Glen Burke, another who started brightly and faded, allowed Pioneers to get the equaliser and then it was game on with 11 minutes to play.
Spartak then had to regain some measure of concentration and also
started winning a few tackles and headers, with subs Seamus McCahill battling well while Tom Flanagan used possession tidily.
An unnecessarily stressful close to a match in which Spartak’s dead ball expertise had placed them in a comfortable position.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Glen Burke 6 Fintan Grace 6 Steve Grier 6 Keith Kelly 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Tom O’Driscoll 6 Will O’Connell 5 Graham Breen 6 Ger Byrne 6
Subs Seamus McCahill 6 Tom Flanagan 6 Dave Browne Paul Kinsella
Spartak 2 Leicester 4
A disappointing and disjointed first half laid the foundations for this defeat. A second half revival could not yield enough to get a share of the points.
In sticky conditions a number of players did not play to their potential. Robbie Hayes had a shaky return to action after injury; Neill Bolger lacked his usual energy; Mick Greene and Niall Hanratty looked short of sharpness; Chris Hogan was unable to reproduce the form of the Ita’s match.
Most of all the passing, so much in evidence last week, was replaced by a desire to launch the ball in the general direction of the opposition goal, when a more considered approach paid off so handsomely in the previous match.
The Leicester defence were able to move the ball through to midfield all too easily, with both Hanratty and Seamus McCahill losing the midfield battle in the first half. Leicester took the lead when Robbie Hayes came for a corner kick but only succeeded in knocking the ball into the path of a grateful visiting player who scored.
Neill Bolger had two chances to get the Sky Blues back in the game but in the first instance was caught for pace when clear and then from Mick Costello’s header on he could only flick into the keeper’s hands.
Niall Hanratty had a perfectly good goal ruled out by the eccentric ref when he finished neatly after a one two. Some consolation arrived when a Leicester player, clearly onside, was called back. On 41 minutes Spartak were exposed on the left side and the cross was finshed. 0-2.
The second half had only started when a good run and cross by Derek McGoldrick led to Mick Costello scoring. But Leicester restored their two goal lead almost straight away when a 20 yard shot eluded Hayes after some sloppy defensive cover.
Spartak then had a series of chances to take control of the match, in their best 20 minute period of the game as Graham McEnroe had a good spell in the middle of the park. Arrears were reduced when a superb interception by Dave Browne allowed Hanratty to cross. Harassed by McCahill, the keeper lost possession and McCahill had time to look up before crossing for Ross Kelly to nod home.
A chance for an equaliser beckoned; Hanratty had two great opportnities, once when through on the right he shot tamely at the keeper; and then volleyed over from 8 yards when unmarked.
Derek McGoldrick was through twice but on each occasion he took the ball too wide before crossing to the keeper’s grateful gloves.
Leicester weathered the storm and Spartak were relying on long balls with players pushing forward and abandoning the midfield area.
A last minute assault on goal by Spartak was halted by a poor Browne cross and Leicester broke to beat Greene for pace and slot past Hayes for number four.
Form Report
Hayes 4 Browne 6 Greene 5 Costello 6 Clancy 6 Hanratty 5 McCahill 6 Hogan 5 McGoldrick 5 N Bolger 5 Mick Costello 6
Subs: McEnroe 7 R Kelly 6 R Burke 5 D Burke McInerney Northey
