Well known referee Jimmy Hollowed passed away suddenly this week. There will be a minute’s silence before all LSL games this weekend.
Jimmy was a character and a gentleman who regularly refereed Spartak matches, and was famous for talking his way through games.
He will be missed.
RIP.
Training Tues 2nd and Thurs 4th April in St Enda’s
Games v St Pats Ath U-19s – L J Shield Q.F – Sat in Marlay
v Jobstown Sun away
v AIB Monday – Marlay
v Beechwood – Tuesday – Marlay- now Tuesday 16th
Over 35s away to Fassaugh Sat and home to Terenure (Wed)
Reminder that the quiz takes place in Firhouse Community centre this Thursday 21st March.
Make up a team, or if you are Johnny No Mates we will find a team for you on the night!
The 2013 AGM takes place in the Eden on Wed 20th March at 9pm.
Agenda
– Minutes of 2012 AGM
– Chairman’s report
– Financial Report
– Elections
– Any Other Business
Members who paid annual subscriptions before 31/12/12 are eligible to attend and vote.
Any members who wish to submit amendments/motions may do so, in writing, to the Secretary not later than 3 days prior to the meeting.
24.2.13
Seafordrock 6, Spartak 4
A game Spartak should have had wrapped up turned against them with a key dismissal in the 46th minute.
With Steve Grier able to play only after the expert ministrations of Niall Tilly, and Messrs Thomson, McGowan and Farrington missing for a variety of reasons, Spartak went down to only their second defeat in the last ten games against their higher ranked opponents in the Lummy O’Reilly Cup. With Marlay snow covered, the match was switched on the morning and both teams headed to Rockfield Park.
A superb attacking performance was ruined by the concession of goals which should have been easily avoidable.
It took just two minutes for the Sky Blues to take the lead, when Derek Ruxton turned a Dave Browne throw into the path of Steve Walsh, who scored at the second attempt. But the locals were level when a corner, struck low, evaded Thom O’Driscoll and Niall Hanratty to travel across goal and was finished via the crossbar despite Jason Northey getting a finger to the close range effort.
Steve Grier headed over from Niall Hanratty’s free and on 14 minutes Niall Hanratty scored via a deflection to restore the lead. Jason Northey took off a save which was strictly for the cameras as Seaford had a long range shot.
Spartak continued to look dangerous in attack with sweeping moves as Hanratty, McCahill and Ruxton worked well in the middle with Maguire and Walsh always dangerous and during this purple patch Steve Walsh might have added to his total on two occasions, forcing saves from the home keeper.
Some sloppy passing at the back by Dave Browne and Paul Kinsella saw Niall hanratty concede a free which flew wide.
On 43 minutes Spartak scored a magnificent goal to go 3-1 up. Derek Ruxton intercepted and then drilled a 40 yard pass to Conor Maguire, isolated on the left; Conor held it up well against superior odds, and then added the flourish by picking out Steve Walsh’s run through the middle. A neat finish by Steve completed a fine move.
Just before and after the break proved crucial; the home side reduced arrears when a looping shot beat Jason Northey after some untidy defensive work, but the real drama came in the first minute of the second half. A home attack was thwarted by a couple of saves by Northey; then a local forward fired towards goal. Paul Kinsella was covering the goal line and looked well placed to head clear; but for some inexplicable reason he became the villain of the piece when he raised his hands to save, resulting in a straight red card and a penalty. While Jason Northey got his hand to the spot kick, it was not enough to keep it out.
So from 3-1 up to 3-3 and a man down.
The Sky Blues regrouped and a glorious move by Conor Maguire and Seamus McCahill gave Steve Walsh a clear chance running in from the right, but his effort was wide. Then on 55 minutes Conor Maguire gave Spartak the lead again by drilling a free kick into the top corner.
Conor was then fouled in the box but the ref was not interested.
The goalfest continued on 75 minutes when Seafordrock equalised with a soft shot with Jason Northey unsighted. The ten men were showing signs, not surprisingly, of fatigue and at 4-4 would have settled for extra time. Not to be. On 85 minutes the striker accelerated past Dave Browne and clipped the ball past the advancing Northey; an attempted goal line clearance only resulted in an air shot. 4-5!
Spartak had no option but to press forward and the 6th goal to the home side saw Dave Browne fouled while attempting to clear, but the goal was allowed.
A bittersweet match which saw Spartak play some exhilarating football but in which they were undone by individual defensive errors.
Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Paul Kinsella 4 Aodhan McCahill 6 Steve Grier 7 Dave Browne 6 Derek Ruxton 8 Thom O’Driscoll 5 Seamus McCahill 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Conor Maguire 8 Steve Walsh 8
Subs: Ken Buckley
17.2.13
Spartak 2, Knockmitten 0
The fact that the match was played at all was a surprise, given the battering the pitch took in the titanic cup battle with Blessington the week before; the short dry spell ensured the pitch was playable, but bumpy.
Neil McGowan missed the game as daughter Juliana arrived at kick off time, and with Niall Hanratty otherwise engaged, Paul Kinsella took the captain’s armband while Seamus McCahill and Thom O’Driscoll returned to the line up. In Thom’s case it was a first start in almost a year due to a frustrating and persistent injury.
Jason Northey was called into action in the first minute almost before the Spartak defence noticed the game had started.
Steve Walsh was finding space on the right, and got the ball past the keeper but the defender cleared; Steve then fluffed his lines after being set up by Dave Thomson and Alan Farrington. A nice move between Walsh and Conor Maguire saw Thom O’Driscoll lose out to a defender in contesting the cross, but on 14 minutes the Sky Blues took a deserved lead when Alan Farrington neatly cushioned a flick on into Steve Walsh’s path and he drilled in from 18 yards.
Some sloppy work at the back saw Steve Grier dispossessed but luckily Seamus McCahill was on hand to dig him out of trouble.
Dave Thomson had a couple of good headed efforts, one just wide, and the other off the crossbar, from set pieces before Thom O’Driscoll celebrated his return by forcing home from close range on 26 minutes after a Seamus McCahill flick on.
Knockmitten then tried an audacious long range effort which Jason Northey pushed over the bar.
The second half was scoreless, with Paul Kinsella’s neat header from Steve Walsh’s pass chalked off for offside. Generally there were few chances, with the conditions mitigating against both sides. Despite some sloppy defending on both sides, the score remained at 2-0.
A welcome three points with 11 matches played, which brings the Sky Blues up to fifth place, having been bottom of the table after losing the first three games.
Form Report (Barry’s this time)
Jason Northey 7 Paul Kinsella 5 Aodhan McCahill 7 Steve Grier 6 Dave Browne 6 Alan Farrington 6 Seamus McCahill 6 Thom O’Driscoll 6 Dave Thomson 7 Conor Maguire 6 Steve Walsh 7
Subs : Ken Buckley 6
In a rain interrupted season so far only a few players have played 10 or more games
Conor Maguire, Neil McGowan, Steve Walsh, Leon David, Paul McGrath, Tom Maher, Seamus McCahill , Aodhan McCahill and Niall Hanratty have all reached double figures.
On goals scored Conor Maguire leads on 7, with Graham McEnroe on 6. As Graham is now London based he is unlikely to add to this total, leaving Neil McGowan and Brendan Mooney, both on 4, as next best.
Full details on site.
13.1.13
Spartak 3, Larkview 1
There are not many games where both centre backs get on the scoresheet, but Messrs Grier and McCahill both featured, Steve with his first of the season, and Seamus with his first for many years on a frosty morning in Marlay. The visitors continually harangued the ref, and received numerous yellow cards, finally getting a red with ten minutes left. The Sky Blues were restrained in contrast.
Spartak took the lead on 10 minutes, when Steve Grier’s throw in was cleared back to him on the right. Stepping inside a defender he fired to the far corner with his left foot. 1-0.
A good break saw Neil McGowan and Conor Maguire combine to give Aodhan McCahill, racing forward from left back, a chance, but the baby of the team fired straight at the keeper.
Larkview equalised from a break after a Neil McGowan pass went astray; the defence was caught square and although Jason Northey raced out, blocked and forced the striker wide, his defensive colleagues did not have the presence of mind to cover the goal.
Conor Maguire struck the bar with a decent effort and a Steve Walsh free whistled past the post while Paul Kinsella and Neil McGowan combined to put in Niall Hanratty but he dragged his shot wide. Conor Maguire was having no luck with set pieces and fired some poor deliveries which were easily blocked.
On 40 minutes the Sky Blues regained the lead; mistakes in the visiting defence gave Neil McGowan a chance to lob the keeper from 30 yards; but his effort, miscued, turned into a perfect pass for Conor Maguire who fired home.
The visitors began the second half in determined mood; however they were thwarted both by Jason Northey’s good saves, sterling defensive work, and their own limitations.
On the hour Spartak added a goal. Neil McGowan’s corner saw Conor Maguire’s shot blocked. The ball fell to Seamus McCahill six yards out and he fired home for his first goal since records began! Or April 2011 to be precise.
That was more or less that and the home side kept their shape and discipline to see out the result.
Form Report
Jason Northey 8 Paul Kinsella 7 Aodhan McCahill 7 Steve Grier 8 Seamus McCahill 7 Derek Ruxton 7 Neil McGowan 7 Niall Hanratty 6 Dave Thomson 7 Conor Maguire 7 Steve Walsh 7
Subs: Stuart Love 6 Thom O’Driscoll 6
2.12.12
Spartak 3, Dundrum 0
A fine team performance on a cold and damp morning in Marlay with much to admire – apart from the time keeping!
Goals from Neil McGowan, Niall Hanratty and Steve Walsh sent Dundrum, who were in third place at kick off, home empty handed.
Some neat approach play by Dave Thomson, Aodhan McCahill and Steve Walsh gave Neil McGowan the chance to open the scoring with his right footed shot from 20 yards just too high for the keeper.
Spartak played some bright football in a tight contest and created chances for Steve Walsh, who saw his free saved, and Dave Thomson, who fired over.
More than anything, this game was a triumph for hard work and while Derek Ruxton epitomised the work ethic, his midfield colleagues toiled alongside to great effect. Dave Thomson had a fine outing while Niall Hanratty came strongly into the picture as the game wore on. The guile of Steve Walsh and Neil McGowan provided excellent support for frontman Conor Maguire, who did not score but nonetheless had one of his best days in Sky Blue.
After the interval a lapse in concentration by Dave Browne allowed the forward in, but he fired straight into the grateful arms of Steve Grier, deputising capably in goal. Dundrum began to press but could not find the final touch and Spartak were restricted to break outs.
Aodhan McCahill was continually capable of playing the out ball to relieve defensive pressure while big brother Seamus marshalled the defence and provided good distribution. Paul Kinsella was tigerish as he returns to form and fitness while Dave Browne won many head to head battles.
On the hour mark a throw in by Paul Kinsella was neatly controlled on his chest by Conor Maguire with his back to goal; he squeezed a pass through the crowded area where Niall Hanratty pounced gleefully to slot the ball into the corner. 2-0.
In the last minute a fine run by Conor Maguire and pass by Neil McGowan saw Steve Walsh finish insouciantly from the edge of the box to cap a fine morning’s work.
A highly satisfying team performance.
Form Report
Grier 7 Kinsella 7 A McCahill 8 S McCahill 8 Browne 7 Ruxton 8 McGowan 8 Thomson 7 Hanratty 7 Maguire 9 Walsh 8 O’Keeffe
25.11.12
Spartak 2 Liffey Valley 5
The Sky Blues met more than their match against a strong Liffey Valley side who lost no time in taking an early lead on 5 minutes when a Dave Browne clearing header was volleyed in. Spartak attacked and had shots blocked by McGowan and Walsh.
But on 36 minutes the visitors added number 2 and then almost immediately Aodhan McCahill conceded a penalty; however Jason Northey came to the rescue with a save.
Things went from bad to worse however and Liffey soon added to their total to lead 5-0; a humiliation was on the cards but some consolation was gained when Conor Maguire dispossessed a defender to go through and score, and then Derek Ruxton scored with a fine header from Steve Walsh’s corner.
A dismal display defensively.
Form Report
Northey 6 Kinsella 6 A McCahill 7 Browne 5 Kenny 6 Ruxton 8 McGowan 6 S McCahill 5 Hanratty 5 Maguire 6 Walsh 6 O’Driscoll 5
