Spartak Dynamo FC

Spartak 0, Leicester Celtic 5

Spartak’s back four imploded in the second half to allow Leicester to win with ease. The first half saw a tentative Sky Blues approach, with late cry offs and no shows limiting selection and substitution. Spartak’s midfield could only rarely get hold of the ball, and were wasteful in possession. Leicester led one nil at the break, but ran riot in the second period, with too many Spartak players going missing.
A notable exception was Niall Hanratty, who never stopped and continued to show even when the game was beyond recovery.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 6 Anto Doyle 4 Niall Hanratty 7 Paul Kinsella 5 Dave Browne 4 Tom Flanagan 4 Glen Burke 4 Fidel Benson 4 Ger Byrne 4 Graham Breen 4 Martin Costello 5 Niall Lennon 5 Thom O’Driscoll 5 Bobby Hayes Shane McInerney.
No show : Dermot Dooley, Mick Young, Steve Grier.

Spartak 0, Stedfast 0
Spartak 1, VEC 0
Spartak 1 Terenure 0

A determined Spartak squad fought their way through to Sunday’s semi final meeting with Leicester Celtic. An opening scoreless draw with Stedfast, where Peter O’Toole pulled off a last minute save to ensure a point left Spartak with plenty to do to qualify. Spartak might have nicked the game, but Ger Byrne’s excellent volley was ruled out, somewhat dubiously, for offside.

The Sky Blues got an early tonic in the second game, when Shane McInerney’s cross was turned past his own keeper by a VEC defender. That was enough to clinch the points . Glen Burke went close with a couple of efforts and Niall Lennon made a strong impact coming on as sub.

Game three was the decider, and Spartak were up for it. Ger Byrne gave notice of the intention with a volley just over, but it was left to Niall Lennon to emphatically volley home early in the second half after Anto Doyle’s cross had created confusion. Fidel Benson saved the day with a last gasp clearance tracking back, but overall the Spartak defence , well marshalled by Paul Kinsella, were in command.

A solid performance by the whole squad.

Form Report
Peter O Toole 8 Niall Hanatty 6 Conor Canavan 7 Steve Grier 8 Paul Kinsella 8 Dermot Dooley 7 Tom Flanagan 6 Thom O Driscoll 6 Ger Byrne 7 Graham Breen 7 Martin Costello 7 Glen Burke 7 Fidel Benson 6 Dave Browne 6 Shane McInerney 6 Niall Lennon 7 Bobby Hayes 6 Anto Doyle 6

4.8.11
St Judes 1, Spartak 2

Spartak continued their good friendly result sequence, but this result masked the underlying performance, which was shaky, especially in defence in the first half.

The home side played the more composed football in the first half, but Spartak took the lead from the spot, very much against the run of play, after Graham Breen was held back. To the home team’s surprise, a spot kick was given. Even Martin Costello protested vigorously, assuming it was a free out! Mick Greene confidently drilled home on 22 minutes. Corners in particular were causing problems to Spartak, and a number of free headers were permitted. Dave Browne’s underhit back pass caused problems, and later when Dave O’Kelly was outpaced, Judes contrived to miss a double chance.

Judes had much the better chances, aided by uncertainty in the sky blues back four, where Dave O’Kelly and Dave Browne did not gel well together. Spartak’s back four was in some disarray, playing too square and too deep, regularly at odds with each other as waves of attack engulfed them in the early stages. Newcomer Tom Foody and Mick Greene both struggled at full back. Spartak’s only real chance from play in the first half fell to Graham McEnroe, trying to finish a move he had started, but he shot over.

Paul Kinsella gave the visiting defence some stability on his (belated) arrival, and played well. Spartak showed immediate improvement on resumption and had a tonic start to the second period when Niall Lennon found himself in space some twenty yards out and to the left. He fired a super dipping shot to the net to make it 2-0.

Just on the hour, Judes got back into it with a very soft goal, but as they pressed forward in search of the equaliser, Spartak created a few chances on the break. Jose Vargas might, with more confidence, have bagged a couple. Hesitancy in taking control of possession frequently costs him, and denies him the chance to use his pace and trickery.

The Sky Blues, as usual, worked hard for each other. Mick Greene gained composure as the game progressed, and linked well with Graham McEnroe, who showed some classy touches. Mick Young won his fair share of the ball in the middle, but was sometimes profligate in his distribution. Shane McInerney and Niall Hanratty combined well on occasion. Up front, Graham Breen, playing aginst his old club, Martin Costello and Niall Lennon all showed some nice touches.

Meanwhile, back home in bed, Thom O’Driscoll wondered how the game had gone.

Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Tom Foody 5 Mick Greene 5 Dave O Kelly 5 Dave Browne 5 Graham McEnroe 7 Mick Young 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Jose Vargas 5 Graham Breen 6 Martin Costello 6 Paul Kinsella 7 Bobby Hayes 6 Shane McInerney 6 Niall Lennon 7.
Thom O’Driscoll – slept it out!

Lads,

Time to get cracking on your selection.

Prizes will be announced by committee (subject to annuals being up to date!)

Hot shots Ryan Burke, Ross Kelly and fallen idol Graham Breen all looking for good performance this season.

Among the seniors, only Frank McNamee seems to have retained any brain cells and concentration levels sufficient to challenge. Oldies, get the nurse to help you with this if confused!!!

Have mailed on the code to join SDFC201112.

27.7.11
Shelbourne SC 2 Spartak 2

Spartak had the satisfaction of recovering from a two goal half time deficit to gain parity with the homesters.

Martin Costello spurned a glorious chance early on, when, looking well offside, he rounded the keeper, but delayed his effort long enough for the keeper to recover.
Jason Northey caused problems with a poor lofted throw out, but redeemed his error with a good save, and then flapped at a corner after poor defendingby his back four. He was again in action when Mick Greene was outpaced and made a smart save from the resultant effort.

The home side took the lead when a Dave Browne throw was intercepted and the quick break saw Spartak short of cover.
On 42 minutes, a nice move put Martin Costello through one on one, but his effort was delayed and finally delivered at optimum height for the keeper.
To add insult to injury , the Spartak back four were then caught square for the home forward to take full advantage.

Spartak had to change their approach and did so with a renewed effort to play the ball on the ground. The moves began to flow and Graham McEnroe smacked an efort off the crossbar, and a Chris Hogan effort drifted onto the woodwork. Arrears were reduced when Martin Costello turned in Mick Greene’s corner. Mick also provided the through ball to allow Martin to equalise on 58 minutes.

Spartak’s defence lived dangerously and when Niall Hanratty was caught the locals missed a good chance. They also missed an easy one when Robbie Hayes tipped an effort onto the bar, but the home forward fluffed he rebound, and Barry Maguire was on hand to clear.

A good move led to Graham McEnroe putting in a tempting cross, but the Spartak forwards did not make the required runs to get a touch.

Its always better to recover from a deficit, and the Light Blues showed plenty of resolve in the second half after an indifferent opening period.

Form Report:
Jason Northey 6 Barry Maguire 6 Mick Greene 7 Niall Hanratty 5 Mick Young 7 Shane McInerney 6 Graham McEnroe 7 Ross Kelly 6 Derek McGoldrick 6 Martin Costello 7 Ger Byrne 6 Robbie Hayes 6 Chris Hogan 6 Dave Browne 6 Mick Costello 6.

26.7.11
Celtic Park 1, Spartak 2

Spartak did just enough to come out on top of a close encounter where a slower paced second half saw the game open up and yield a host of chances.

All the scores came in a four minute burst just after the interval. A crisp move involving Graham Breen, Glen Burke and Chris Hogan saw Martin Costello, starting up front, slot home. An error by Dave O Kelly gave the home side an opening which they duly took just a minute later, but on 50 minutes Burke and Breen again combined to set up Niall Hanratty. He fired home from the edge of the box, finding the net somewhat more easily than he located the pitch!

Spartak started scrappily and almost conceded twice early on, firstly when Dave Browne was caught out of position, and then when the Sky Blue defence got into a tangle. On neither occasion could the locals take advantage, with Peter O’Toole tidying up effectively.

Most of the creative play for Spartak in the first half emanated from Anto Doyle, always looking to get a passing move going and linking efectively with new boy Conor Canavan, who himself was composed in possession. Dave O’Kelly used the ball well coming out from the back. Graham Breen worked hard up front, but often lacked support.

Celtic Park then shot wide from a good opportunity after Mick Greene was caught ball watching. Mick, however, may have to give lessons in crossing and corner taking after two good efforts by him contrasted with Glen Burke and Doyle’s efforts on the other side.

Spartak’s second half surge was spurred by some good runs by Keith Kelly and Glen Burke. From one move Niall Lennon slpped the full back but then allowed the defender to get back at him before he could shoot. Lennon and Costello both missed from close range after another Kelly run and cross.

Chris Hogan had two long range speculative cross/cum/shots – one startled the keeper by hitting the frame of the goal, and the other was palmed away.

Concentration was slipping in the Sky Blues defence and headers were missed by Browne and O’Kelly; both tended to stand off as the game progressed, allowing time and space to the opposition forwards and leading to chances, while Hogan had to recover smartly after playing the home forwards on side.

Another decent effort, which will help to build fitness and sharpness.

Form Report: Peter O’Toole 7 Conor Canavan 7 Mick Greene 6 Dave O Kelly 7 Dave Browne 6 Shane McInerney 6 Keith Kelly 7 Anto Doyle 6 Stuart Love 6 Graham Breen 7 Martin Costello 6 Niall Lennon 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Chris Hogan 6 Glen Burke 6

20.7.11
Balally 0, Spartak 1

A fine individual score by Ger Byrne, allied to some decent defending, combined with good saves from Robbie Hayes to give the Sky Blues a win in the first pre season friendly. The home side were somewhat wayward in their finishing, and a more clinical approach might have got them into the game as the Spartak defence was sometimes split as a unit.

Ger’s goal was a typical effort, as his industrious work nicked the ball from a defender before racing on and clipping in a low shot to the corner of the net from just outside the box in the 19th minute.

Early pressure from Balally led to a couple of goalmouth scrambles in the Spartak goalmouth, and when Dave O’Kelly was beaten, the local forward blazed over. Robbie Hayes made a fine save to deny a goal when Dave Browne was beaten and then O’Kelly recovered well after being caught under the ball on another occasion.

Gradually Spartak got to the tempo of the game, and the front two of Graham Breen and Byrne caused discomfort to the home defence. Stuart Love, captain for the eveining, and Shane McInerney both toiled manfully in midfield but lacked the creative touches. Anto Doyle and Steve Walsh on the flanks were often bypassed and did not unduly worry the home defence.

Mick Young came on for his first appearance as Spartak rotated the substitutes, and he made a favourable impression, coming in for some rough treatment. Indeed the referee flashed a number of cards to the home side. Spartak had other chances, with Steve Walsh shooting over after a good move, and Mick Greene’s excellent corner caused havoc but was not finished. On half time, Byrne shot over from a good position.

The second period saw both sides come close. Adam Doran had a nice cameo appearance, with his volley from Niall Hanratty’s cross being well saved , Breen just wide with a side footer from his corner, and after a good Doran run and cross Rob Deering cut back to Niall Lennon who could only square the ball across the goal. Dan O’Connell looked comfortable in possession and had a few bright runs, without delivering the final ball.

A lovely break by Steve Walsh and Lennon resulted in Walsh racing in to shoot wide. As gaps in the Spartak rearguard appeared, Balally blazed wide, hit the bar, and were foiled by a great clearance by Barry Maguire.

With 6 subs and regular rotation, Spartak players had the luxury of never being under undue physical pressure, and adapted easily to the changes.

Overall a decent workout, and a good squad performance.

Robie Hayes 7 Barry Maguire 6 Mick Greene 6 Dave O Kelly 7 Dave Browne 7 Shane McInerney 6 Stuart Love 6 Anto Doyle 5 Steve Walsh 5 Graham Breen 6 Ger Byrne 7 Niall Hanratty 5 Niall Lennon 5 Rob Deering 5 Adam Doran 7 Dan O Connell 6 Mick Young 6.

A number of players did well in tonight’s speed and agility tests, with Jose Vargas scoring 83% against the 9 second benchmark. Thom O’Driscoll, Keith Kelly and Niall Hanratty were at or above the 70% mark,

Stamina remains the issue in some cases, with some players still outside the range of acceptability – but working on it! Unlike certain absentees…..

Average numbers at training after 4 sessions – just under 20, certainly well short of last year’s bumper turn out at the same stage. Average would need to be nearer 30, at least. So get down training (Anto that means you!)

Training continues despite a number of absentees for various reasons, mostly spurious.

The fitness tests show that some lads have enjoyed the summer more than others. Its early days yet but some signs are already evident!

80% fitness is the target level and approaching this range (but with a bit to go) are Stuart Love, Conor Canavan, Dermot Dooley, Martin Costello, Rob Deering. Graham Breen emerged from his portable glass cage to give a creditable first effort.

At the other end we have Jason Northey at 10% also in the red zone at below 45% are Niall Hanratty, Mick Greene, Shane McInerney, Dillon Burke, Thom O’Driscoll.

The remainder have attained mid table oblivion for the moment, but are well off the fitness standard required.

MIA from training at the moment are injury victims Neil McGowan and Tom Flanagan, while also absent are Glen Burke (marathon exhaustion) Ger Byrne (toothache!!! ) Will O Connell and Anto Doyle (both post Swindon stress?) Cathal Clancy (wielding a murderous club) as well as the holidaying Paul Kinsella and Steve Grier. Plus Seamus McCahill in Canada, for some reason unable to make training.

We continue thursday…..

Lads,

Nominees for Clubman of the Year 2011 are:

Rory Campbell, Mick Greene, Frank McNamee and Paul Mc Gowan.

Send your vote by text to Jason Doyle at 087 2032530 before July 5th.