Spartak Dynamo FC

3/10/15
Clontarf 5, Spartak 0

Spartak can have few complaints about this result. Having gone a goal down early on, the Sky Blues had a good chance to equalise when Cian Keane’s cross was controlled by Jeff Gamble, but his shot was saved, and straight away the home side broke for number 2, despite Spartak having men back in numbers.

Some ill advised excursions from the back by Niall Hanratty gave Clontarf the chances they needed. Up to now Niall’s form in midfield had been a key factor for Spartak, but the switch to defence did not work well on this occasion. In one instance Bobby Hayes took off a great save when faced one on one. But the home side added three more before the interval, as Spartak’s back four failed to stem the tide.

Spartak showed a level of spirit to battle their way through a goal-less second half, but the damage had been done.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 7 Chris Hogan 4 Mike Burke-Sweeney 5 Niall Hanratty 4 Fintan Grace 4 Shane McInerney 5 Conor Callis 4 Jeff Gamble 6 Ciaran Keane 5 Ciaran Bermingham 4 Mick Costello 6
Subs: Mick Leslie 5 Evans Sarpong 5 Stephen Bermingham 5

26.9.15
Spartak 4, Knockmitten 2

A stunned Spartak found themselves a goal down after just 16 seconds in this match, but the response was impressive, with the Sky Blues building wave after wave of attacks, forcing the visiting keeper into a series of fine saves.

A sparkling bout of football eventually brought three first half goals, and a raft of chances missed. The highlight of the half came from Jeff Gamble, who snatched a poacher’s hattrick.

Before the goals, however the visiting keeper pulled off a string of stops, when it seemed certain that Spartak would score.

The equaliser came when Steve Browne, breaking from the back, essayed a through pass which Jeff Gamble converted. Gamble then fired in the loose ball from Niall Hanratty’s free kick, before heading in when Martin Costello’s cross deceived the keeper and came off the crossbar.

The second half was a somnolent affair, both teams’ energy sapped by the warm conditions. The visitors tended to hold the ball better, and pulled one back near the end. Spartak’s players had dropped their concentration levels and as a result passing and decision making suffered. Jeff Gamble, hero of the first half, was profligate with the ball, and missed a great chance after rounding the keeper.

Chris Hogan’s cross was turned in by a defender after 5 minutes, but from then on it was the visitors who looked more likely to score, as Spartak wilted in the sunshine. The fresher legs of three substitutes made no difference to the slow tempo of the second period.

Form Report
Greg Byrne 6 Chris Hogan 6 Mick Leslie 5 Steve Browne 5 Fintan Grace 6 Niall Hanratty 7 Conor Canavan 7 Jeff Gamble 7 Dave Kernan 6 Martin Costello 6 Mick Costello 6
Subs: Ciaran Bermingham 5 Ciaran Keane 5 Conor Callis 5

12.9.15
Earl Celtic 2, Spartak 6

Spartak were somewhat flattered by the final scoreline, as Earl had enough of the play to justify a closer margin. Indeed, when Earl reduced arrears to 3-1 just after the interval, and seemed likely to close the gap further, it was then that the Sky Blues displayed resilience and skill to add further scores against a stretched local rearguard and close the game out

The Sky Blues had a dream start when Shane McInerney fired home from a half cleared corner after just three minutes, and on six minutes Niall Hanratty headed in a Jeff Gamble cross to double the advantage.

Earl countered, and Spartak were grateful to the ample posterior of Steve Browne, who blocked a goalbound shot. Jeff Gamble further shocked the home side when, at the second attempt, he scored a third goal before the break.

Earl strained every sinew to get back in the game in the second period,and Spartak had to manfully face an onslaught, with some great blocks and interventions, one in particular from Shane McInerney being a standout. Indeed it was Shane who did well to start the move that saw Ciaran Keane cross for Jeff Gamble to head in number 4.

Earl did manage to reduce arrears to 4-2, but a first ever goal from Chris Hogan and a final score from Fidel Benson finished the scoring.

A triumph for spirit, togetherness and hard work.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 7 Conor Canavan 7 Chris Hogan 7 Steve Browne 8 Martin Costello 7 Shane McInerney 8 Niall Hanratty 8 Jeff Gamble 8 Evans Sarpong 7 Fidel Benson 7 Mick Costello 7
Sub: Ciaran Keane 7

29.8.15
Mid Sutton 2, Spartak 8

Spartak overcame an inexperienced Mid Sutton side with some ease in the end, having waited till the 33rd minute to open the scoring.

The Sky Blues began shakily enough, and an error and foul by Conor Canavan saw the locals awarded a free, which, luckily, came to nothing.

With Niall Hanratty dominating the middle of the park, Spartak created many openings in the first half hour, but invariably chose the wrong option. When a team has a period of domination without punishing the opposition, there is always the concern that missing those chances will return to haunt them, and the locals had a good opportunity during this period, but fired over.

So it was that when Conor Callis’ deflected shot beat the keeper for the opener, it was greeted with relief in the Sky Blue ranks.

Chris Hogan blasted a chance high and wide after a good move before Jeff Gamble fired in via the crossbar for number two, and just on half time Conor Callis slalomed past a number of defenders before driving in a third goal.

Any thoughts of a second half home revival were quashed just 2 minutes after the restart, when Callis claimed his hattrick from Gamble’s pass. Then a great Mick Costello cross was scrambled clear only as far as Hogan who crossed for Ciaran Bermingham to neatly head home and open his account for Spartak.

A lapse of concentration by Mick Leslie saw the home side reduce arrears, and late on Niall Hanratty took some of the gloss off a battling performance with a drilled own goal.

But Spartak added three more; Fintan Grace marked his return from a year long injury absence by converting a penalty after Jeff Gable was fouled; Conor Callis added his fourth; and sub Stephen Bermingham neatly chipped in number 8.

Form Report
Greg Byrne 7 Chris Hogan 7 Steve Browne 8 Fintan Grace 8 Mick Greene 6 Niall Hanratty 8 Conor Canavan 6 Jeff Gamble 8 Mick Leslie 6 Ciaran Bermingham 7 Conor Callis 9
Subs: Mick Costello 7 Stephen Bermingham 6 Bobby Hayes 6

15.8.15
Arthur Griffith Park 3, Spartak 4.

On a poor surface in Lucan Spartak trailed 1-3 with just 18 minutes left in this pre season friendly. In truth the home side had looked more likely to add to their lead, but a late and spirited response saw Spartak win out.

A Bermingham/Callis/Gamble move sent Mick Leslie through to reduce arrears, and a fine Steve Browne through pass released Jeff Gamble who equalised. Mick Leslie then missed a good chance before scoring the winner, and completing his hat trick, when the ball broke to him in the box following Ciaran O’Brien’s interception.

Ciaran Bermingham had sent Mick Leslie through in the first half to give Spartak the lead, before AGP raced ahead, thanks in no small measure to poor defending.

A useful work out, but the result should not be allowed to paper over some below par performances.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 5 Chris Hogan 4 Mick Greene 6 Steve Browne 6 Fintan Grace 6 Mick Costello 5 Edo Maino 5 Conor Callis 6 Mick Leslie 8 Ciaran Bermingham 7 Ciaran O’Brien 6 Ciaran Keane 4 Jeff Gamble 7

13.8.15
Celtic Park 1, Spartak 3

A desultory performance on a warm summer’s evening in Beaumont, which saw Spartak do just enough to win, building up a decent 3-0 adavantage before fading badly in the final 20 minutes as the heat and lack of fitness told.

An adroit finish by Ciaran Bermingham topped off a neat Love/Leslie/Kernan move to give Spartak a half time lead. Steve Grier’s snapshot made it two, and a McGowan/Kernan move saw the latter’s fine cross converted at close range by Martin Costello.

A small step towards match fitness.

Form Report
Bobby Hayes 6 Chris Hogan 5 Mick Greene 5 Martin Costello 7 Dave Browne 7 Stuart Love 7 Neil McGowan 7 Kevin Loftus 5 Dave Kernan 7 Ciaran Bermingham 6 Mick Leslie 6 Steve Grier 6 Ciaran Keane 5

VEC – Willie Kissane Memorial tournament
8.8.15
Spartak 0, CYM 1
Spartak 0, VEC 2
Spartak 0, Leicester Celtic 0
Spartak 0, Sandford Ath 0

Missed chances were the order of the day as Spartak failed to score in all 3 30 minute games. Alan Farrington will rue firing wide of an empty goal against finalists Leicester Celtic in the pivotal game , while Conor Canavan blazed over from four yards against Sandford.

A tough workout , which should improve fitness and match sharpness.

Form Report
Mick Costello 7 Dave Kernan 6 Mick Leslie 5 Paul Kinsella 7 Martin Costello 7 Stuart Love 8 Glen Burke 5 Alan Farrington 5 Thom O’Driscoll 5 Steve Browne 5 Ciaran O’Brien 5 Dave Browne 5 Steve Walsh 5 Conor Canavan 5 Ken Buckley 5

Following a hard fought series of games a Rory Campbell managed team won the final against James Byrne’s squad, who progressed well in earlier rounds.

The qualifying groups were hard fought with just a single goal between trophy semi final qualification and elimination from both cup and shield.

Greystones second string ran out Shield winners in the secondary competition, making it a double celebration fro the visitors.

Well done to all participants.

On Sunday 26th July, at the Postal Club in Kiltipper, the second annual Dave Mohan Memorial tournament takes place.

Last year saw 16 teams take part and the day was a big success, enjoyed by all.

Another fine day’s football in prospect.

The season just past saw some notable achievements.

In goalscoring, two players exceeded the 30 goal mark for the first time in the club’s history, with Jeff Gamble (38) and Steve Walsh (31) achieving this landmark. Previously, only John McCluskey, Martin McGorian, and Tony Little (6 times!) have reached the 30 goal mark.

Tom Maher made his 800th appearance, while Dave Browne finished on 199, so is next up for the 200 club.

Mick Leslie (36) Jeff Gamble (33) and Ciaran Keane (31) made the most appearances in a season which saw 93 players turn out in the club colours.

The Sunday team notched 98 goals in total in a double winning season.

For the over 35s, Padraig Finnerty made the most appearances (19) while James Byrne, with 5 goals, was top scorer, with their 46 goals being spread around many players.

Mick Greene was the only player to turn out for all three sides, and added 4 goals to his total in the process.