What are the odds of number 35 coming out again? Congratulations to Jackie Martin again for winning the Spartak lotto this week. Another €110 on the way to Jackie.
St Kilians is closed for mid term, so we train in St Columbas on WED at 9.
Lads, we are trying to get organised for the Christmas draw ASAP. We badly need prizes (soon). Its too late to bring on the night. Bottles, hamper fillers, vouchers, anything would be much appreciated. Ask your boss, all he can say is “no” (or Yes !).Big effort is needed this year with prizes & ticket sales.
COME ON LADS, IT’S YOUR CLUB!!!!!
22.10.11
Greenhills/Green Park 2, Spartak 3
A late Conor Maguire score gave the Sky Blues the vital extra points in a wind ruined encounter.
In virtually the first move of the game a third minute free kick from Niall Hanratty was powerfully headed in by Fintan Grace for a fine opener. Instead of galvanising the visitors, the opposite was the case for a while at least. Almost immediately Bobby Hayes saved at point blank range from a blasted effort after the local forward was clean through. The home side came close from a free conceded by Cathal Clancy at the edge of the box, but Hayes saved again. A bizarre goal almost came the home side’s way when Hayes slipped as the ball looped goalwards in the wind; luckily Chris Hogan was on hand to clear. Chris had a series of first half run ins with the official and was finally booked.
Niall Lennon, subdued on the day, just failed to connect with a Hanratty free, and when Hanratty ran beyond the home rearguard he snatched at his effort and sent it wide when a second touch seemed the better option. (To his credit he repeated the run in the second period but missed the chance.) When the home keeper was penalised for carrying outside the box, Mick Greene fired well over from the free. Hayes was again called into action to save a free conceded by Martin Costello for handball.
The home side came out for the second half determined to make their mark, but were shocked on 55 minutes when Grace’s header was touched on by Ross Kelly to Ryan Burke, who cleverly lobbed the advancing keeper for his second goal in successive games. 2-0.
Then in the following minute a comprehensive defensive lapse allowed Greenhills back into the game . The Sky Blues defence failed to defend a long ball. A long punt by the keeper saw the Sky Blues back four trying to play a high line, whilst Bobby Hayes was back on his goal line. The ball was allowed to bounce and the local forward nipped into the huge gap and had a simple task to convert.
Worse was to follow on 65 minutes as the Spartak defence appealed for offside and for ball out of play. Both pleas were ignored by the ref and the home side who proceeded to equalise with the Spartak defence failing to observe the maxim of “play to the whistle”. Despite the alleged transgressions the goal was still preventable with a posse of Sky Blues shirts in close attendance.
The game seemed to be swinging the home sides way. The visitors threw on attacking subs in a attempt to regain the lead. All was in the balance, as neither team was happy to settle for a point. The task for Spartak was made more difficult on 87 minutes. A cross was met by the local forward for a glorious opportunity with Chris Hogan appealing for offside. The striker put it over the bar, and Chris’s continued appeals saw the ref produce the red card.
In the last minute Spartak claimed a throw in the corner (from discussion later it may have been a home throw?) and Martin Costello, showing enterprise coming up from the back, made it to the bye line. He pulled the ball back to Colum O’Sullivan, who did not connect cleanly, and looped his effort on to the crossbar. Conor Maguire, who had held the ball up well for much of the game, was on hand to poke home the winner with 15 seconds left on the clock. With no time for the home side to regroup, it was game over in emphatic fashion. Cue delirium for the Sky Blues, despair for the men in green and yellow.
The game as a spectacle was ruined by a strong wind, and Spartak had to show all their determination to get the win. It was a day when grit and will to win proved to be critical factors, as flair was limited due to the conditions.
An important result which sees Spartak with 4 wins out of seven games, leapfrog Greenhills into second place. No team in the league is setting a particularly hot pace, with the result that many teams are still in contention for promotion. Based on points dropped so far this season there are 6 teams within 4 points of each other so its all really congested at this point. Spartak are 2nd lowest scorers in the league but have the 4th best defence.
So much for statistics. Its all to play for with improvement needed to push on.
Form Report:
Bobby Hayes 7 Chris Hogan 6 Mick Greene 6 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Fintan Grace 7 Niall Lennon 6 Ryan Burke 7 Conor Maguire 8 Ross Kelly 7 Niall Hanratty 6
Subs: Neill Bolger 6 Colum O’Sullivan 6 Derek McGoldrick 6 Shane McInerney Dillon Burke Dave O’Kelly
15.10.11
Spartak 3, Three Trout Rovers 0
In this Leinster Junior Shield First Round match, Spartak played hosts to a newly formed UCFL Div 3 side.
A 2nd minute goal settled the home side when Ryan Burke drilled home after a good move. However there was a long wait till the 44th minute for the next effort on target when a looping Shane McInerney shot was tipped over.
Possession was frequently squandered, even from throw ins, and movement at corners was limited .
Despite playing five in midfield Spartak did not dominate possession and were reliant on solid interventions by Cathal Clancy and Fintan Grace to ensure the lead remained.
The visitors had an effort scrambled clear by Jason Northey after a free kick conceded by Neill Bolger
Cathal made a great last ditch tackle when the Three Trout forward bore down on goal after confusion about the defensive line. Jason Northey had to make a couple of decent interventions as the visitors threatened.
On 63 minutes a slick passing move involving Chris Hogan and Ryan Burke gave Ross Kelly the chance to put in a good cross, which Colum O’Sullivan headed neatly home for number 2 to make the game safe.
The visitors never stopped trying and created a number of openings, but suffered from the lack of a finishing touch. Three Trout had a shout for a penalty for handball against Cathal Clancy, but the ref, who was quite lenient to both sides, waved away claims.
As the game meandered and the pace dropped, the Sky Blues scored a third goal on 77 minutes when Cathal again won possession with a crunching tackle; Niall Hanratty’s long ball sent Ross Kelly clear and he made no mistake.
On to Round 2 with a clean sheet and
Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Chris Hogan 7 Dillon Burke 6 Fintan Grace 7 Cathal Clancy 8 Neill Bolger 6 Colum O’Sullivan 6 Ryan Burke 7 Steve Walsh 6 Ross Kelly 7 Shane McInerney 6
Subs: Niall Hanratty 7 Martin Costello 5 Conor Maguire 5 Fidel Benson Jose Vargas Dave O’Kelly Niall Lennon Mick Greene
8.10.11
Spartak1 Laytown 1
Laytown took the initiative at first and Spartak had some early scares. When Martin Costello was beaten the lack of cover was exposed, but the forward fired wide and minutes later Martin and Fintan Grace were eluded by the visting attack but again the shot was across goal and wide.
A foul on Neill Bolger gave the Sky Blues a free in a good position, but Martin Costello’s side footed effort was too weak to trouble the keeper.
Once again Laytown took control and Martin cleared off the line and then in the follow up was deemed not to have handled on the line before Laytown blazed over. Minutes later Laytown again burst past the defensive line but shot wide.
Spartak were not enjoying any bouts of possession and were generally second best around the park. The Laytown midfield was on top and it was just as well for the Sky Blues that the Louth forwards were profligate.
Against the run of play Spartak took the lead on 40 minutes. Neill Bolger was again fouled. Mick Greene fired in a dangerous free from the left between the keeper and defence and good runs by Fintan Grace and Ross Kelly caused confusion in the visitors defence. Ross took control and evaded the keeper before shooting in.
In the second period the pattern continued. Bobby Hayes lost the ball in a challenge at the edge of the penalty area and the visitors were denied only by superb blocks by Chris Hogan and Martin Costello before Niall Hanratty had a rush of blood to the head and poked the ball towards the open goal. Again the clearance came just in time.
Spartak midfield did not come to terms with the visitors and were unable to give Ross Kelly the necessary support as the Laytown midfield determined the pace of the game and controlled possession.
Laytown had two thirds possession, some of it gifted from Sky Blues throws and attempted passes.
No one in the middle was able to put their foot on the ball and dictate the tempo of the play, and some of the home players struggled to keep with the pace of the game, which at times was at a frenetic level.
Laytown levelled matters from a throw in flicked on into the 6 yard box, and the home defence was flatfooted as the forward poked in the equaliser.
There were two more main chances to get a winner.
Bobby Hayes made a fine save to deny Laytown following a loss of possession in a dangerous area.
The inroduction of Fidel Benson and Colum O’Sullivan added some energy and attacking urgency to the home cause and Steve Walsh belatedly came to life. Steve almost won the game with a coruscating dribble , beating three men and finishing with a shot which cannoned off the bar.
Spartak had to be happy with a point with the visitors extremely frustrated that they did not turn possession into goal supremacy.
Form Report
Bobby Hayes 7 Chris Hogan 7 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 6 Fintan Grace 6 Neill Bolger 5 Jose Vargas 5 Niall Hanratty 5 Steve Walsh 6 Ross Kelly 7 Shane McInerney 5
Subs: Cathal Clancy 6 Colum O’Sullivan 6 Fidel Benson 6 Ryan Burke Dillon Burke
Saturday team are away to Greenhills/Green Park. Kick off is the earlier time of 2pm. The Over 35’s are home to Dundrum. Sunday lads have an afternoon kick off away to Meath Rangers.
Saturday Team are home to Three Trout Rovers from the UCL in the FAI Junior Shield. The Over 35’s are away to Dundrum in the league. The Sunday lads are playing CIE Ranch in the FAI Umbro Junior Cup.
Lads,
The financial news is poor at the moment.
The clubs main source of income arises from weekly subs, annual subs, and the two or three fundraisers during the season. As you know, the recent quiz was extremely poorly attended and the returns were well below expectations.
It costs about €12,000 to run the club for a season, more than half of which will go on Astro facilities.
Annual subs of €50 euro per head are due by end October. Thanks to those who have paid to date. The rest, please start to pay now, even in instalments, this weekend.
To help the situation, the club is now running a lottery , based on the bonus number of the main Lotto draw. First draw is Wednesday 12th October. You can pick your own number by contacting Shane McInerney/Dave Mohan. €5 per number per week; prize is €110 each week, and club retains €115 if all 45 numbers sold. You must, of course, be paid up ahead of time. See the tab for detailed rules.
Bring your €5 to training Thursday, or to the weekend games. Better still , €20 gets you in for next 4 draws and saves time. Don’t forget – its your club, so you need to support it.
Hey, you might even win!
Cancel all other social arrangements and get along to the Spartak quiz night, to answer Mick Greene’s fiendish questions under the watchful eye of Niall Hanratty as moderator/referee/general factotum.
All who can donate spot prizes are asked to do so. Thanks in advance.
Should be a good evening.
Be there for 9pm
