To mark the first anniversary of Dave’s untimely passing, a Mass will be held in St Attracta’s Church Ballinteer at 6.30 on Saturday 31st January.
13.12.14
Tymon Bawn 1, Spartak 3
It was with a huge sense of relief that Spartak departed Tymon’s pitch.
The goalmouth had to be sanded before the ref gave the go ahead on a heavy pitch. Few games were played on this bitterly cold Saturday, but finally this one got the go ahead.
The local side held the lead for a long time and as the final 15 minutes approached it seemed unlikely that Spartak would take anything from the game. Indeed the Sky Blues were indebted to Mick Greene and Conor Canavan for goal line clearances which prevented Tymon from adding to their 5th minute lead.
The home goal came when the wide man easily brushed aside Ciaran Keane’s challenge and crossed for the striker who got a run on Paul Kinsella to head home from 6 yards.
Spartak were poor in the first half. Distribution from the back was poor, midfielders dwelt on the ball, and the front three showed poor judgment and little in the way of hold up play. In contrast Tymon moved the ball swiftly on the sticky surface and created a few decent chances as well as forcing the play.
The second half saw more of the same; frustration began to set in and decision making suffered as a result.
Ciaran Keane, who in the first half had squandered Spartak’s only decent chance through a combination of drifting unnecessarily offside and then shooting high and wide; then followed by a frustratingly poor effort in the second half shooting wide from 6 yards when clear through on goal; suddenly underwent a remarkable metamorphosis from lumbering villain to cool clean hero in those final 12 minutes.
Firstly he stretched to meet Jeff Gamble’s cross to net from close range for the equaliser; and then , in injury time, with Tymon pressing for a late equaliser, he showed strength and speed in injury time to outpace the cover and add the third goal and clinch the points.
In between Conor Keegan and Mick Leslie combined for the latter to cross low; the goalkeeper fumbled the cross and Jeff Gamble was on hand to poke the loose ball home.
A cheery bunch of Sky Blues headed for a little pre Christmas refreshment.
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 7 Barry Maguire 5 Mick Greene 6 Paul Kinsella 7 Dave O’Kelly 7 Ciaran Keane 7 Conor Canavan 5 Jeff Gamble 5 Niall Lennon 5 Conor Keegan 6 Mick Leslie 5
Subs: Adam Doran 6 Chris Hogan 6 Shane McInerney 6
Results:
First Prize: De Luxe Christmas Hamper – James McClafferty – seller S McClafferty
Second Prize: Superior Drinks Hamper – L Fanning – seller N Bolger
Third Prize: €100 Turkey and Ham voucher – Philip Martin – seller Martin Costello
Fourth Prize: Wine and Goodies Hamper – Mick Costello – seller Mick Costello
Fifth Prize: Bumper Christmas Hamper – Peter Kiernan – seller Dave Kernan
Thanks to All who supported the raffle.
6.12.14
Dingle Utd 2, Spartak 2,
Dingle win 5-4 on penalties
This was one of those games that got away. Spartak had enough chances to win comfortably, but defensive slip ups allowed the home team into the game. Late on Spartak dominated the second period of extra time, but could not find what would surely have been a winning goal.
Conditions in St Josephs’ Cabra were blustery but the surface was good for the time of year.
A neat move after 4 minutes gave he Sky Blues the lead. Mick Greene’ eff Gamble. Spartak almost doubled their lead when a Conor Keegan corner was fumbled , but eventually cleared.
Dingle came to the fore in search of an equaliser and Bobby Hayes was called upon to make a couple of smart saves, but Spartak responded and a fine through pass by Adam Doran put Jeff Gamble clear; however his attempt drifted wide.
Conor Canavan struck the woodwork with a snap shot just before the interval and the same player saw his effort clear the bar just after half time from another corner by Keegan, whose flag kicks were causing panic in the home defence; Jeff Gamble headed over from close range.
Spartak were having a good spell – a great run by Fidel Benson gave Jeff Gamble the chance, but it was saved; similarly Adam Doran’s run saw a sub par shot saved.
Much against the run of play Dingle broke and scored; this gave them renewed heart and they were able to hold on for the extra time period.
Disaster struck for Spartak in the first period when a terrible defensive mix up gave Dingle goal number 2.
The second period of extra time saw Mick Greene equalise almost from the restart , from the spot, after Jeff Gamble dispossessed the keeper and was taken down.
An error by Bobby Hayes gave Dingle a chance, but an eventual offside halted Dingle.
Adam Doran headed against the post, and Keith Kelly had a couple of great runs through , but could not find the finish in either case.
So to penalties.
All penalties but one were scored; neither keeper got close to any of the efforts. Mick Greene, Adam Doran, Shane McInerney and Jeff Gamble all fired in.
Niall Lennon struck the bar with his effort; he got sympathy from Seamus McCahill and Steve Walsh – no surprise, as their most recent penalty efforts hardly reached the keeper!
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 7 Barry Maguire 5 Mick Greene 6 Conor Keegan 8 Keith Kelly 6 Ciaran Keane 5 Conor Canavan 5 Jeff Gamble 7 Niall Lennon 6 Fidel Benson 7 Adam Doran 7
Subs: Dave Browne 6 Shane McInerney 6 Mick Costello 6
27.11.14
Willows 2, Spartak 5
On a good pitch, heavy with wintry conditions, Spartak made a fine comeback. After a wasteful opening half, the Sky Blues had only one goal to show from superior possession, when Fidel Benson drove in from close range on the half hour mark when the ball dropped to him following Conor Keegan’s corner.
Mick Leslie risked the wrath of the locals by wearing white boots with pink studs, but put in a decent stint as a hard running front man. Conor Callis had a shot just over before departing the fray with an injury, and substitute Thom O’Driscoll made an immediate impression , firing in a shot which the home keeper struggled to parry for a corner.
Ciaran Keane lobbed onto the woodwork after being sent away by Niall Lennon, but in general Spartak’s approach play in the first period was laborious.
The home side came sharply to life after the interval, and after Mick Greene and Dave Browne made last ditch clearances, back up was not forthcoming and the locals fired in from outside the box. Worse was to follow with a Bobby Hayes error gifting the home side the lead.
However Spartak finally woke up and the influence of Niall Lennon and Fidel Benson in midfield began to gradually increase, while Conor Keegan provided excellent cover at the back. The equaliser came after a few opportunities had been missed when Barry Maguire fed Thom O’Driscoll whose long range effort left the keeper helpless. 2-2.
With 17 minutes remaining a great Mick Greene pass sent Fidel Benson away on the left; his cross was too high but Jeff Gamble fired in a the second attempt.
Spartak then finished strongly and added two goals in the closing minutes.
A Conor Keegan corner was headed onto the bar by Ciaran Keane and Jeff Gamble forced home. Then Niall Lennon capped a fine performance by racing on to a Jeff Gamble flick to surge towards goal and finish neatly.
A pleasing comeback.
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 5 Barry Maguire 6 Mick Greene 6 Conor Keegan 9 Dave Browne 7 Ciaran Keane 5 Conor Callis 6 Jeff Gamble 7 Niall Lennon 9 Fidel Benson 8 Mick Leslie 7
Subs: Thom O’Driscoll 7 Chris Hogan 6 Shane McInerney 6
1.11.14
Spartak 8, Knockmitten 1
Spartak continued their recent improvement with a comprehensive defeat of Knockmitten on a wet and blustery day in Marlay.
Knockmitten contributed heavily to their own downfall by incurring two first half red cards; this effectively ended the match as a contest and indeed the referee blew the game up early on 75 minutes as the result was beyond doubt in the second half.
Jeff Gamble demonstrated his familiar array of talents and helped himself to four goals from a myriad of chances; skipper for the day Mick Leslie scored from left back, as did defender Conor Keegan, while Conor Callis helped himself to two goals. In addition to scoring eight times, Spartak struck the frame of the goal five times in a one sided encounter.
Another three points and a considerable goal difference improvement.
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 6 Mick Greene 6 Mick Leslie 7 Conor Keegan 8 Niall Hanratty 7 Ciaran Keane 6 Conor Canavan 7 Jeff Gamble 8 Graham Campbell 6 Conor Callis 7 Mick Costello 6
Subs: Evans Sarpong 5 Barry Maguire 5 David Kernan 5
25.10.14
Spartak 4, Rush 1
Spartak started well and were gifted a tonic start with a penalty and a keeper error allowing the Sky Blues to go two up almost immediately. When Jeff Gamble tumbled into the box it seemed the foul may have been committed just outside, but a spot kick was awarded and Mick Greene drove in for number one.
A fine through pass by Niall Lennon then saw Ciaran Keane and the keeper contesting the ball but the keeper erred and Ciaran had only to tap to an empty net.
Spartak suffered late cry offs with Adam Doran and Niall Hanratty reporting in with man flu while Shane McInerney was restricted to the subs bench nursing a knee injury.
Niall Lennon continued his excellent form in midfield, displaying a range of passing and also doing his fair share of defensive work while Conor Keegan and Dave O’Kelly combined well at the back with each making timely interceptions and strong challenges. Jeff Gamble was his usual lively self and had a hand in most forward moves.
First half failure to hold the ball up put some pressure on the Spartak defence. Ciaran Keane, Jeff Gamble and Mick Leslie were culpable in this regard. In midfield Conor Canavan was calm on the ball while Fergus Burke showed few ill effects from his season of nocturnal activities and put in an energetic performance. In fact the only ill effect shown was a bout of temporary deafness as a substitute was ready to come on!
Rush got back into the game just on half time; a corner kick struck the near post and rebounded to a Rush player who took advantage of the statuesque Spartak defence to score.
Graham Campbell’ free kick, after Jeff Gamble was taken down on the edge of the box, eluded the keeper for number three and Jeff put the icing on the cake with an injury time effort from 20 yards.
Form Report:
Bobby Hayes 7 Chris Hogan 6 Mick Greene 6 Conor Keegan 8 Dave O Kelly 7 Ciaran Keane 5 Conor Canavan 6 Jeff Gamble 7 Niall Lennon 8 Fergus Burke 7 Mick Leslie 5
Subs: Barry Maguire 5 Graham Campbell 7 Conor Callis 6
Training continues on Marlay Astro at 9 on Tuesdays and 8 on Thursdays.
Players are asked to be warmed up and ready to go on in time to avail of the full hour’s training.
There has been some confusion about times with Dave O Kelly arriving late on Thursday while Mick Leslie, Kevin Loftus, Dave Kernan and Neil McGowan have all been seen very early on Tuesdays!
No Training on Thursday 13th November. That’s set aside for Quiz night, some much needed fund raising, and possibly a few fizzy lemonades. Keith Kelly should beware of taxi doors in the aftermath.
ps – times are the same after the clocks go back!
18.10.14
Leinster Junior Shield
Clondalkin FC 2, Spartak 7
A clinical opening twenty minutes laid the ground work for this victory in a wind blown Collinstown Park.
Twice within the opening 15 minutes a combination of Chris Hogan and Jeff Gamble on the right saw Jeff produce inviting crosses which were gobbled up by Ciaran Keane for the first two goals and on 19 minutes a fine move starting with keeper Bobby Hayes and added to by Mick Greene, Conor Keegan and Niall Lennon saw Shane McInerney send Mick Leslie through on goal. Mick’s effort struct the base of the post but Ciaran Keane was on hand to complete his hattrick. 3-0.
The Sky Blues the relaxed somewhat and the home side mustered a few attacks; Chris Hogan’s back pass was short but the eventual shot was wide and the home side’s efforts paid off when a long range free caused panic leading to an easy tap in.
Some jittery defendng by Spartak saw the home side have a few efforts after the break. but a Ciaran Keane solo goal on the hour added to the Sky Blues’ tally before Shane McInerney, returning after a three game absence, punished the Clondalkin keeper’s poor fly kick by firing the ball straight home from 27.5* yards. A colllector’s item for sure.
A neat set up by Devereux Kesler saw Mick Greene send Jeff Gamble in for number six and then a second collector’s item finished the scoring – Niall Lennon heading in from Conor Keegan’s flag kick.
*(Distance verified by an astonished Mick Greene)
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 5 Chris Hogan 7 Mick Greene 7 Conor Keegan 8 Niall Hanratty 6 Ciaran Keane 8 Conor Canavan 7 Jeff Gamble 7 Niall Lennon 7 Shane McInerney 7 Mick Leslie 7
Subs : Conor Callis 6 Devereux Kesler 6 Barry Maguire 6 Dave O Kelly
4.10.14
Balbriggan 1 Spartak 1
Spartak were denied all three points by a late, late Balbriggan equaliser in the 4th minute of injury time. In truth it was a solid performance by a Spartak side that’s starting to gel after a rocky stat to the season, and the Sky Blues had enough clear chances to have put the game beyond the home sides reach.
The first half was an even affair with both sides having opportunities. The clearest for Spartak came after a Ciaran Keane/Mick Leslie move gave Jeff a chance from 8 yards but his effort was too high. Mick Leslie then had a tentative effort easily saved. Niall Hanratty and Aodhan McCahill were solid throughout in central defence and it was unfortunate that a late slip by Aodhan let the home side in.
The second half was much more in Spartak’s favour, although Mick Greene’s attempt at goal from the kick off fell somewhat short. On 49 minutes came the breakthough goal. Conor Keegan won possession and found Ciaran Keane on the left about 35 yards out. He appeared to mishit his cross, which the goalkeeper misjudged, and the ball popped off the crossbar onto the waiting head of the grateful Jeff Gamble, who nodded in from close range.
A number of Spartak moves were foiled by Jeff Gamble wandering offside, but Spartak created a number of chance, two of which were of the clear cut variety. The first was when Niall Hanratty’s free was nodded down by Aodhan McCahill to to Ciaran Keane at the back post, about four yards out. It should have been a tap in but Ciaran opted instead for an almighty thump to send the football into orbit. The second great opportunity saw Jeff Gamble square the ball across the six yard box for Mick Leslie, who gently flicked the ball wide from close in. Two close chances and neither hit the target.
The Spartak midfield were dominant for most of the half with Niall Lennon continuing his recent run of good form. Fidel Benson had a quieter game and Conor Keegan hustled the home midfield to good effect.
A satisfactory performance but tinged with the disappointment of that late goal.
Form Report:
Bobby Hayes 7 Chris Hogan 6 Mick Greene 6 Niall Hanratty 8 Aodhan McCahill 8 Ciaran Keane 6 Conor Keegan 7 Jeff Gamble 7 Niall Lennon 8 Fidel Benson 6 Mick Leslie 7
Subs: Mick Young 6 Conor Callis 6 Kevin O Sullivan, Rafal Sarwinski, Shane McInerney.
