Please post your team for LMS week 2. This weeks automatic pick is Chelsea. Full fixtures are available on the Last Man tab above.
St Itas 0, Spartak 6
A scintillating first half performance overwhelmed the locals with top notch passing and impressive finishing.
The big pitch suited Spartak and the Sky Blues took full advantage of the space by completely outplaying the locals from the off.
Spartak did not have long to wait for the opener when Keith Kelly played Dermot Dooley in and when his initial effort was blocked he charged down the rebound and forced it over the line.
Spartak were moving the ball swiftly from player to player and any possession lost was quickly recovered, particularly by Dermot Dooley and Keith Kelly in midfield. Chris Hogan on the right, who had a poor game the previous week and was only selected in Ryan Burke’s absence, turned in his best ever display in a sky blue shirt, composed on the ball and neat in his passing.
Mick Greene robbed an Itas defender on the byline, and when he moved the ball to Mick Costello and he crossed to Dermot Dooley, the latter’s shot rebounded off the post for Neil Bolger to gleefully drive in from close range.
The best move of the match involved many passes and was rounded off when Neill Bolger’s cross was headed in by Derek McGoldrick. McGoldrick then played Mick Costello through to finish in style.
The fifth, just after the break was set up by Mcik Costello for Dooley to fire home from the edge of the box.
Late on the substitutes got in on the action when a good run and accurate cross by Jose Vargas allowed Niall Lennon to shoot home for his first of the season.
Itas never gave up and apart from one bad tackle never resorted to tactics used by some teams when taking a beating. They had a few opportunities, but good defensive work by Martin Costello, Peter O’Toole and Dave O’Kelly snuffed out the danger as Itas strove to gain some consolation. Peter O’Toole was swiftly out to act as sweeper when Martin made a rare error.
A performance to savour – and to build on.
Form Report
Peter O’Toole 7 Dave O’Kelly 8 Mick Greene 7 Martin Costello 7 Cathal Clancy 7 Keith Kelly 8 Dermot Dooley 9 Chris Hogan 8 Derek McGoldrick 8 Neill Bolger 7 Mick Costello 8
Subs: Niall Lennon 6 Jose Vargas 6 Mark Bolger 5 Mick Cooney
Last Man Standing is re-starting next week. Entry to the game is €10 to be paid ASAP. All payments must be made by week 3 or you will automatically eliminated. For the first 3 weeks there will be an automatic pick given, if you do not provide a team. This weeks automatic pick will be Manchester United. Please post your team below otherwise you will be given Manchester United. As long as your team keeps winning you will be entered into next weeks draw. Like the last round everyone gets 2 chances. 1st prize will be 50% of the pot. This weeks fixtures are posted on the Last Man tab above.
Spartak 1 Tymon 0
It wasn’t a vintage performance by the home side but Derek McGoldrick’s strike was enough to bag the points in a game of few chances. First half efforts were restricted to a Mick Costello header tipped over by the keeper and a couple of tame efforts by Ross Kelly. Dave O’Kelly just failed to make contact with the ball when making a good run onto Mick Greene’s free.
Tymon struck a thunderous effort off the underside of the bar and when Chris Hogan lost his man he was relieved to see the shot go wide. Garret Quigley took off a couple of decent stops.
In the first period Spartak generally lacked cohesion and the pass completion rate hit a low as the midfield struggled, but the tempo picked up somewhat after the break.
Tymon were foiled by good defending by Martin Costello and Garrett’s save when Spartak over commiteed to a long free.
A super header back across goal by Cathal Clancy fell for Ross and Mick but they could not take advantage. Derek McGoldrick forced a save from the keeper and then on 72 minutes ran on to a Mick Costello flick to keep his composure under pressure and drive home via the crossbar.
Spartak had an extraordinary escape when Garrett misjudged the ball only for the Tymon No 9 to inadvertently clear the ball off the Spartak goal line.
Mick Greene, beaten by the number 7, was rescued by a great recovery tackle by Dave O’Kelly, who was strong in the air throughout.
Spartak had a chance to make it safe when Neill Bolger crossed for Ryan Burke but his shot was stopped short of the line by the full back.
Martin Costello then incurred a yellow card with an all too blatant foul much to the displeasure of the visitors, who began a schemozzle with their line invading the pitch in the last minute. The ref decided to blow for time.
Form Report
Garett Quigley 6 Dave O’Kelly 7 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 6 Cathal Clancy 6 Neill Bolger 6 Dermot Dooley 6 Chris Hogan 5 Derek McGoldrick 7 Ross Kelly 6 Mick Costello 6.
Subs : Niall Hanratty 5 Niall Lennon 5 Ryan Burke 5 Dillon Burke Kevin Mannion Jose Vargas
Whitechurch 1, Spartak 2
A battling Spartak side took all three points from the derby clash on Saturday. With Cathal Clancy suspended, Dave Browne stepped in and added a touch of composure to the Sky Blues defence. In midfield Dermot Dooley, and particularly Neill Bolger, were up for the battle and were instrumental in the solid overall performance.
Spartak went in front after 12 minutes when Dave O’Kelly’s cross cum shot floated over the keeper’s head. With their tails up, Spartak had two more chances in quick succession when Jose Vargas had a onoe on one opportunity saved and O’Kelly was just wide with a header.
On a narrow pitch there was plenty of defending to do from set pieces and throw ins and Whitechurch hit the bar with one effort.
Some of the Spartak players found it hard to maintain discipline and it was from a free kick awarded for talking out of turn that Whitechurch equalised. A simple free and header across the box found the Spartak defence in disarray and it was a simple tap in for the home forward on 51 minutes.
The response from the boys from Marlay was as effective as it was immediate. A great run and cross by Derek McGoldrick and Chis Hogan, aka Tubes, ghosted in at the near post to slot neatly home.
Spartak conceded a number of yellow cards mostly for inability to remain quiet as the game threatened to bubble over, and Mick Costello had what looked a perfectly good goal disallowed. at teh other end Mick Greene made a couple of snappy saves to keep the lead.
A rare defeat for the home side and a satisfying perfomance from Spartak.
Form Report
Mick Greene 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Dave O’Kelly 7 Martin Costello 6 Dave Browne 7 Neill Bolger 8 Dermot Dooley 7 Chris Hogan 6 Derek McGoldrick 7 Ross Kelly 6 Jose Vargas 5
Subs Mick Costello 6 Adam Doran 6 Ryan Burke 6 Mark Bolger Niall Lennon
Saturday Team AWAY to White Church
Sunday Team HOME to Hillcrest
Over 35’s AWAY to Garden Co.
Spartak 0, Booth Road 4
In a game of few chances Spartak nonetheless managed to concede four goals, despite having the majority of the play.
Spartak lacked creativity with the wide men unable to deliver meaningful crosses and mdfielders failing to get beyond the front men. Up front Ross Kelly and Niall Lennon were restricted to shots from distance, one of which the keeper fumbled onto the post.
A snap shot put Booth ahead and Spartak responded when Dermot Dooley and Ross Kelly both headed against the crossbar but on 41 minutes Mick Greene was caught flat footed and the lob was enough to beat the advancing Gareth Quigley.
Niall Hanratty had a great opportunity to reduce arrears at the start of the second half but snatched at his shot and put it wide.
Dave O’Kelly had a free header from a corner which went wide; and later had a one on one effort saved.
Booth made it three following a corner and a fumble by Quigley and miskicj by Dermot Dooley. The fouth arrived courtesy of Cathal Clancy who obliged the forward by taking him down which resulted in a red card and penalty.
Booth finished; Spartak had some shots.
Form Report
Garrett Quigley 6 Dave O’Kelly 5 Mick Greene 4 Martin Costello 5 Cathal Clancy 5 Shane McInerney 5 Dermot Dooley 5 Niall Hanratty 4 Derek McGoldrick 4 Ross Kelly 5 Niall Lennon 5
Subs Ryan Burke 5 Jose Vargas 5 Chris Hogan 5 Neill Bolger Jaso Northey Damien O’Connell
Laytown 1, Spartak 0
A flat performance resulted in defeat when a rare Laytown attack paid dividends.
A strange game played in a high wind which regularly took the ball into some trees and bushes beside the pitch meant the ball was rarely in play.
Spartak lacked the nous and creativity to break down the home defence. Niall Hanratty had the best chance but shot wide with only the keeper to beat.
A disheartening performance.
Form Report
Gareth Quigley 6 Chris Hogan 5 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 5 Cathal Clancy 5 Shane McInerney 5 Dermot Dooley 5 Niall Hanratty 4 Derek McGoldrick 4 Dave O’Kelly 6 Rob Flanagan 4.
Subs : Kevin Mannion 5 Colm O’Sullivan 5 Niall Lennon 6 Dillon Burke Ryan Burke Jason Northey Jose Vargas
Please post your selection for Last Man Standing Week 4. This is the final week with an automatic pick. This weeks team is Blackpool. If you dont select a team you will get Blackpool. Also anyone not paid up by the weekend will be eliminated. Fixtures are on the Last Man tab above.
Saturday Team – HOME to Booth Road Celtic
Sunday Team – AWAY to Iveagh Celtic KICK OFF IS 2.30pm
Over 35’s – AWAY to Greenhills AFC in the cup.
