Spartak Dynamo FC

27.4.13
Greenhills/Greenpark 1, Spartak 2

An eventful game in Greenhills saw the Sky Blues collect three valuable points in the promotion chase.

Spartak took the initiative and scored in the 18th minute, when a David Marlow kick out was touched on by Dermot Dooley for Thom O’Driscoll to race on and tuck away a neat shot past the advancing goalkeeper.

Paul Byrne’s header from Thom’s free was just wide and John McCluskey also had a header saved after more good work from Dooley. But on 27 minutes Shane McInerney diverted the ball with an outstretched arm- penalty! David Marlow came to the rescue with a great save low to his left. But the locals continued to press and the Spartak defence switched off following a throw in to allow Greenhills to equalise a minute after the penalty save.

A neat Thom O’Driscoll through ball on 32 minutes sent Shane McInerney scampering away and, before he could shoot, the defender made a despairing challenge – yellow card and penalty. Up stepped Stephen Barr, bravely ignoring the terrible pain from a sore toe, to drill the ball home.

Strangely, Conor Callis was given a yellow card for diving a couple of minutes later when another penalty looked on the cards. This was repeated in the second half when John McCluskey, fouled in the act of shooting form 5 yards out, was also booked for diving!

The second period, although played at a high tempo, and frantic at times, produced no further goals; Conor Callis had the best opportunity for Spartak after good work by Dermot Dooley and Paul Byrne, but dragged his shot wide after a clear run at goal.

Some fine defensive work by the Spartak defence generally kept the hme attack at bay.

It was left to David Marlow to have the last word with a point blank save from a header, from a forward who appeared yards offside.

Form Report
David Marlow 9 Anto Doyle 8 Chris Hogan 8 Martin Costello 8 Stephen Barr 8 Shane McInerney 7 John McCluskey 7 Conor Callis 7 Dermot Dooley 7 Paul Byrne 7 Thom O’Driscoll 7
Subs: David Garavan 6 Ross Kelly 5 Mick Greene

Walkinstown 1 Spartak 4

The Sky Blues secured three more points on the promotion trail with a good performance.

After a quiet opening, Spartak took the lead on 15 minutes from a free conceded by a local injured player returning to the pitch without permission. Sean Doyle’s free found Martin Costello at the far post and his header went in via the keeper.

The Sky Blues then made the near fatal mistake of relaxing and soon the home side were bossing the midfield, with the equaliser arriving when the ball was allowed bounce in the Spartak box and nodded home by the local striker.

Spartak recovered their composure and tempo in the second period and re established the lead on 49 mnutes and when a Sean Doyle free was fumbled by the keeper Dermot Dooley was on hand to score. Dooley then had a big part in the decisive third goal when he won the ball in a tackle and crossed for Stephen Barr to head in. As the home side looked to get back in the match, gaps appeared and Spartak had chances on the break while Stephen Barr, guilty of a few misses, had to wait till the 92nd minute before getting his second following another Doyle free. Sean then received a second yellow in the last minute.

Form Report
David Marlow 6 Anto Doyle 6 Steve O’Hara 5 Sean Doyle 8 Fintan Grace 6 Shane McInerney 5 Mick Costello 5 Stephen Barr 7 Dermot Dooley 7 Paul Byrne 7 Martin Costello 6
Subs: Chris Hogan 6 Conor Callis 6 David Garavan 6

22.4.13
Esker 0, Spartak 3

In blustery conditions Spartak gained a valuable win in Lucan.

Mick Costello, deputising in goal, was the star of the show and was instrumental in keeping a clean sheet and gleaning the three points with a series of saves, safe handling, and good distribution.

On 9 minutes a neat move started by Sean Doyle was carried on by Martin Costello and Paul Byrne to give John McCluskey the chance and he made no mistake.

The Spartak back four was solid throughout and the midfield worked hard in closing Esker down.

A brace of second half goals clinched the win; Shane McInerney’s pass was converted by Paul Byrne on 57 minutes while Dermot Dooley fished off a long kick by Mick Costello for the third goal on 86 minutes.

Jeff Gamble had a brief cameo, on as sub and then sent off within a minute for a challenge on the keeper.

A highly satisfactory performance.

Form Report
Mick Costello 9 Anto Doyle 7 Steve O Hara 7 Sean Doyle 8 Fintan Grace 7 Shane McInerney 7 Conor Callis 6 John McCluskey 6 Dermot Dooley 7 Paul Byrne 7 Martin Costello 6
Subs: Jeff Gamble 4 Ross Kelly 5 Mick Greene 5

20.4.13
Spartak 0, Castle Park 1

A pivotal game in the league was spoiled by awful refereeing; both sides suffered and the quality of the game deteriorated with each poor call by the official.

From Spartak’s point of view the most contentious call came when a Glen Burke goal was disallowed on 18 minutes; there was no appeal from Castle but the referee spotted an infringement which went unnoticed by others.

Glen and Stephen Barr both fired over at the end of decent moves in what was a scrappy encounter.

Castle struck the underside of the bar and Glen cleared off the line.

The Sky Blues lost discipline for a time as things became feisty with predictable results and Castle began to grow in confidence.

Spartak began to show the effects of their recent exertions and hesitation by Martin Costello saw him concede a corner which was headed home at the back post on 81 minutes for the winning goal.

Thom O’Driscoll had a great chance to equalise when the ball fell to him just inside the box as the final whistle approached; he had time to take a touch but opted for a first time effort which just cleared the crossbar.

Form Report :
David Marlow 7 Anto Doyle 5 Steve O Hara 6 Sean Doyle 7 Martin Costello 6 Shane McInerney 6 Stephen Barr 6 Glen Burke 5 Dermot Dooley 5 Paul Byrne 5 Conor Callis 5
Subs: Mick Costello 5 Thom O’Driscoll 5

19.4.13
AIB 0, Spartak 3

Spartak’s busy mid week schedule continued and the game kicked off late as David Marlow explored all suburbs in the vicinity of the pitch before deigning to join his colleagues.

Excellent facilities at DCU and a really good ref made for a fine match

Spartak lived dangerously in a tight first half as the home side pressed and were grateful for the offside whistle on a couple of occasions. Conor Callis had a few good runs and one effort saved by the keeper and the Callis and Fintan Grace combined to cross for Stephen Barr who headed wide.

But the Sky Blues saved their best for the second period when Niall Hanratty and Anto Doyle combined for Stephen Barr to head home on 58 minutes.

A Paul Byrne double finished off the home side; Callis and Doyle were involved in his first while Hanratty and Barr combined for Paul’s second, and Spartak’s third.

With upcoming gamed in mind, and the points secure, Messrs Grace, Doyle and Mick Costello were substituted giving Anto the opportunity to note the combined age count!

Form Report:
David Marlow 6 Chris Hogan 6 Fintan Grace 7 Martin Costello 6 Mick Costello 7 Anto Doyle 7 Niall Hanratty 7 Conor Callis 7 Paul Byrne 7 Stephen Barr 7 Shane McInerney 6 Dermot Dooley 6 Steve O Hara 6

14.4.13
Leinster Junior Shield Semi Final
Oatfield /Shancastle 7 Spartak 0

An unhappy morning at Ballyowen Asto Pitch after Oatfield’s pitch was deemed unplayable.

There followed Spartak’s worst performance of the season.

While the first goal could be deemed unfortunate when players stopped as Sean Doyle went down injured, the second was a soft concession as David Marlow failed to gather. Spartak’s hopes of a comeback when Sean Doyle was harshly red carded for a last man tackle, just before half time, when he clearly won the ball.

It was a game when the Sky Blues could not muster a single decent attacking move and committed calamitous errors at the back.

The result was inevitable given the performance.

Form Report
David Marlow 4 Chris Hogan 4 Fintan Grace 4 Sean Doyle 4 Cathal Clancy 4 Stephen Barr 4 Steve O’Hara 4 Jeff Gamble 4 Dermot Dooley 4 Paul Byrne 4 Martin Costello 4
Subs Conor Callis 4 Glen Burke 4 Niall Lennon 4

11.4.13
Broadford 0, Spartak 1

On a rain soaked pitch, which was in excellent condition, Spartak made the most of limited possession to gain all three points.

A great goal on 17 minutes was the difference between the teams when Stephen Barr headed home a Sean Doyle free.

Broadford enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but the Spartak defence were resolute throughout with Jason Northey in solid form behind them.

The home side had the most of the chances but good defensive work meant they were not clear cut opportunities.

Sean Doyle and Martin Costello might have added a goal in the second period in rare attacks. But honours to a defence which did a fine job.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Niall Hanratty 7 Fintan Grace 7 Sean Doyle 8 Stephen Barr 8 Shane McInerney 6 Niall Lennon 5 Conor Callis 5 Mick Costello 6 Paul Byrne 6 Martin Costello 6
Subs Steve O’Hara 6 Thom O’Driscoll 6 Jeff Gamble 6

8.4.13
Spartak 2, AIB 1

Desire and self belief were the key characteristics of this win over a team close to the top of the table in the first of the midweek games.

In April, the swallows return, daffodils bloom and Niall Lennon comes out of winter hibernation to make his first start since 6th October!

For a long time Spartak looked as if they would get nothing from this game after AIB scored from a corner on 20 minutes. Jeff Gamble had a chance but could not capitalise after good work from Paul Byrne. Stephen Barr made a fine saving tackle at the other end and Jason Northey saved following a free to keep the deficit at one at the interval.

AIB smacked one off the bar to give notice of their promotion intentions and then Mick Costello had a good run but his cross was lacking. Then Mick headed wide from a good position after approach play by Chris Hogan and Paul Byrne. As Spartak came more into he game Steve O’Hara fired over after a golamouth scramble.

An error in the AIB defence let Stephen Barr in for the equaliser on 77 minutes and then to Sky Blue joy Byrne and Barr combined to allow Martin Costello to drill home on 86 minutes.

A fine victory fuelled by a will to win spirit.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Steve O’Hara 7 Sean Doyle 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Stephen Barr 7 Jeff Gamble 5 Niall Lennon 6 Mick Costello 5 Paul Byrne 6 Martin Costello 6
subs : Conor Callis 6 Dermot Dooley 5 Joe Roe Shane McInerney Fintan Grace

The Sky Blues will be led out on Friday 24th May by captain Fintan Grace for a final against long time competition favourites Crumlin United under 19s, who have cruised through their league and this competition (so far). Despite their youth , Crumlin present formidable opposition.

The game is a 7.30 kick off in John Hyland Park Baldonnel, home of St Francis FC. Looks like being a gala occasion at a fine ground.

Directions:
From M50 take Red Cow exit and proceed past Newlands Cross
Take exit 2 for Baldonnel, turn right over the bridge at the top of the ramp
Straight through the first roundabout, take a left at the second roundabout, and John Hyland Park is 300 yards on the left.

6.4.13
Leinster Shield Quarter Final
Spartak 3, St Pats Ath u-19 2

Spartak began shakily and were quickly two goals down. Players seemed overawed by the occasion and forgot to perform the basics. Indeed a fluent St Pats could have been more than two ahead as they were creating all the running with the Sky Blues unable to intervene. The first half hour of this game was strewn with unforced errors by the men in Sky Blue who were taking all the wrong options.

The outlook seemed bleak for the home side until a magical burst of two goals in the 41st and 43rd minutes in what were Spartak’s first two attacks. Chris Hogan’s throw in gave Stephen Barr the option to play it back to him; instead Stephen made a dart for the bye line and pulled the ball back for Martin Costello to finish from close range. Just over a minute later Martin won the ball in mid field and prodded a through ball which Jeff Gable, hitherto very subdued, raced on to and coolly slotted past the advancing keeper.

This rocked the visitors and Spartak began the second half in something approaching form. Normal service was resumed with a great deal more concentration being brought to bear on the game. The winning goal arrived on the hour mark when Shane McInerney found Conor Callis on the left; Conor’s cross was deflected into the path of Jeff Gamble and Jeff’s left footed first time finish gave the keeper no chance and was worthy of winning the game.

The Spartak back four then found renewed confidence and battled to keep a wave of Pat’s attacks at bay. At the other end Stephen Barr might have scored with a headed effort .

Always a great result when coming back from two down to win.

Form Report
David Marlow 6 Chris Hogan 6 Fintan Grace 6 Sean Doyle 6 Cathal Clancy 7 Shane McInerney 6 Dermot Dooley 5 Jeff Gamble 7 Martin Costello 7 Stephen Barr 6 Conor Callis 6 Anthony Doyle 5 Mick Costello 5 Steve O Hara 5 Joe Roe Ross Kelly