Spartak Dynamo FC

The sad news that a former Spartak player, Gerry Power, had passed away aged 48 after a long illness reached us recently from Nicko Farrell.

More recent players may not realise that for most of the 70s Spartak had 5 schoolboy teams at the time Gerry played. His brother Richie played in an older age group and Gerry often stepped up to play at that level as required.

Digesting the news my mind went all the way back to 1976 and a memorable schoolboy game against Raheny Boys away. Spartak were down to 10 men through injury and were 0-2 down at the break. A stirring fight back ensued to force a 3-3 draw with Gerry firing in the glorious late equalizer from the edge of the box. Gerry’s display on the day was typical, full of drive and energy, with no little skill.

Gerry was one of the game’s nice guys with an enthusiastic approach to matches and training and he is fondly remembered by the lads who played with him.

Condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

And you thought it was just a big night for Hano’s birthday!

Alongside the momentous celebration of the birth of one Niall Hanratty, aka Dynamo Child, Spartak will be hosting a quiz night in Firhouse Community Centre.

In between birthday wishes Mick Greene will be asking his usual demonic mix of questons, mostly about the life and times of young Niall – or maybe not.

So get out those atlases, check those flags, which counties surround which , and don’t forget the lord mayor etc. There won’t be any football questions, just a few re Everton!

See you there for a night of fun ,frolics and some amazing Iphone gymnastics.

Mick Greene has polo shirts and sweatshirts for sale – see previous posts.

Date for your Diary – Thursday Nov 8th for Quiz Night in Firhouse Community centre.

If you are in a position to donate prizes, bottle etc please contact Paul.

21.10.12
St Pats SC 0, Spartak 2

The Sky Blues bagged all three points in a low key game in which they failed to press home territorial advantage against an under strength home side who had a number of players out through suspension.

While keeping a clean sheet the Sky blues defence did not cover themselves with glory and the home side had early chances; Alex Kenny headed clear close to the line while Spartak were frequently in trouble of their own making, often through careless or slow distribution.

Steve Grier almost gave Spartak the lead with a fine long range shot which thudded off the crossbar and Neil McGowan, following up, forced the keeper into a good save at the expense of a corner.

Dave Browne then nominated himself for a humanitarian award by halting a Spartak attack to get attention for a Pats forward. I can think of some venues where the action might not be reciprocated!

On 19 minutes a Steve Walsh free was dropped by the keeper and Graham McEnroe almost apologetically prodded home to give the Sky Blues the lead.

Meanwhile the defence continued as before with Niall Hanratty attempting a blind back pass and Dave Browne
conceding a dangerous free for dissent when play was in the other half. Jason Northey pawed away the free.

Spartak then might have scored but after an untidy scramble the ball was cleared.

The second period followed much the same pattern with Spartak failing to press home their advantage, with passing not up to scratch and a certain amount of over carrying the ball; and always at risk of an error at the back. A mix up between Alex and Jason conceded a corner; Steve Grier, who dominated the midfield aerial battles, headed a goalbound shot clear after more defensive mishaps.

Opportunities came to the Sky Blues mostly through the creativity shown by Steve Walsh. He laid on a shot fro Niall Hanratty who fired wide; and then from Steve’s free Graham McEnroe had an effort blocked. A Walsh combination with Conor Maguire put Seamus McCahill through for a good one on one opportunity but he could not find the required finish and the keeper saved. It was no surprise, albeit a big relief, that it was Steve Walsh who laid on the cross for Neil McGowan to nod the insurance goal on 78 minutes. Neil then moments later went on to miss from close range.

While the table will show us moving in the right direction, and three points and a clean sheet are always welcome, this was not one of Spartak’s brighter displays.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Niall Hanratty 6 Aodhan McCahill 6 Steve Grier 7 Alex Kenny 6 Dave Browne 6 Neil McGowan 7 Seamus McCahill 5 Graham McEnroe 5 Conor Maguire 6 Steve Walsh 8
Ken Buckley 5 Paul Kinsella 5 Thom O’Driscoll 5

Mick “Del Boy” Greene has sourced club gear and its coming in at €33 for a sweatshirt and polo. Both will be crested and have initials. The order will be placed next week and Mick will collect cash over the weekend and at training. NO GEAR WILL BE ORDERED WITHOUT CASH UPFRONT

Leicester have advised that their pitch is unplayable

14.10.12
Spartak 4, Beechwood 2

Spartak produced a good performance gaining their first win in four games thanks to some clinical finishing and a spirited all round effort in a fast paced encounter on a rainy morning in Marlay.

The benefits of a squad closer to full strength saw fine impacts from the substitutes to clinch the win. With Keith Kelly , Paul Kinsella and Graham McEnroe all still to return the squad now looks in better shape for the tough battles ahead.

A high intensity start saw the Sky Blues immediately pressurise their opponents; Steve Walsh’s free was touched away by the Beechwood keeper, Niall Hanratty had a shot blocked, a sweeping move by Neil McGowan and Walsh put Conor Maguire away to shoot over; then Neil robbed a home defender to shoot home low right footed from the edge of the box. And that was just the first four minutes!

Almost immediately Stuart Love headed wide from close range but then the visitors got their act together and, combined with some defensive errors, came very close to scoring. There were several near misses and also a couple of scrambles which featured point blank saves by Jason Northey and goal line clearances by Hanratty. Beechwood were aided by the fact that the Spartak defenders’ distribution was often poor, sometimes alternating between too slow or just panicky.

Steve Walsh had a chance when put through by Neil McGowan but the keeper saved; Steve Grier’s free was saved after Stuart Love was fouled;and when Conor Maguire swung over the resultant corner Seamus McCahill missed a glorious headed opportunity. Beechwood then had a good move and finish but much to home relief the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside. Steve Grier then fired just over just before the break.

Amazingly there was only one goal to show for a half which saw some fine attacking play from both sides.

A neat move in the 47th minute saw Spartak extend their lead; Stuart Love passed inside to Neil McGowan who quickly fed Steve Grier on the burst; his sublime pass gave Conor Maguire the opportunity, and he showed great composure to finish.

On 56 minutes Beechwood got back in the game; With Spartak penned back, Neil McGowan’s clearance was short and when the ball was played back in he was turned in the box and the striker blasted home. Adam Doran then substituted for a hamstrung Neil McGowan to immediate effect. A neat move with Steve Walsh and Stuart Love saw Adam provide the “hollywood” ball, releasing Conor Maguire who neatly rounded the keeper before finishing.

Beechwood continued to press and the game looked far from safe; and when Aodhan McCahill fouled a player at the corner of the box they reduced arrears on 72 minutes. While the Spartak wall obediently lined up a good ten yards away the visiting player popped the ball into the far corner past a startled Jason Northey without waiting for a whistle. 3-2.

At that point the spread betters on the sideline were punting heavily on a Beechwood comeback.

However it was the Sky Blues who struck the decisive blow with the redoubtable Niall Hanratty playing a wonderful pass down the line to Derek Ruxton, who fired in a trademark cross. Seamus McCahill and Conor Maguire were lurking but the defender intevened with a handball. Conor Maguire stepped up to despatch the penalty and complete his hat trick on 81 minutes. Ken Buckley came in for Seamus McCahill to ensure Spartak closed the game out as the ref allowed 6 extra minutes.

Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Niall Hanratty 7 Aodhan McCahill 6 Steve Grier 7 Alex Kenny 7 Dave Browne 7 Neil McGowan 7
Seamus McCahill 7 Stuart Love 7 Conor Maguire 9 Steve Walsh 6
Subs: Adam Doran 7 Derek Ruxton 6 Ken Buckley 5

7.10.12
Beech Hill 1, Spartak 1

With both sides idle from league duties, this proved a welcome run out on a perfect day for football.

Spartak should have taken the lead when combined play by Conor Maguire and Steve Walsh saw Stuart Love stab against the post from point blank range, with Ross Kelly’s follow up being blocked. Derek Ruxton had a shot pushed away by the keeper while Lee Dunne headed over from a corner.

A long ball saw a forward beat Jason Northey to the ball, but he then over ran the ball harmlessly, and luckily for Spartak, wide. Maguire then conceded a free kick which was despatched past Northey on 43 minutes.

The Sky Blues had an escape when Dave Browne was caught in possession, but a few minutes in the second half a move by Dunne and Maguire gave Steve Walsh an opening which he fired home, celebrating his elevation to skipper for the day.

Paul Kinsella went close as did Maguire and Kelly just failed to connect with Maguire’s fine pass as the Sky Blues pressed for a winner.

Form Report
Jason Northey 6 Paul Kinsella 7 Aodhan McCahill 7 Seamus McCahill 7 Dave Browne 7 Stuart Love 6 Niall Lennon 7 Derek Ruxton 6 Ross Kelly 6 Conor Maguire 7 Steve Walsh 7 Lee Dunne 6

30.9.12
Spartak 2, Sallynoggin Pearse 3

A gift goal 8 minutes from time gave the visitors the points after Spartak had made all the running in the second half.

Some games go to the team which has the fewer chances, and this was one of those.

Spartak were disrupted when Jason Northey pulled up in the warm up, and Steve Grier took his place between the sticks. While Steve took off a few good saves, this game will be remembered for his poor passing out from the back. The winning goal came when, taking a goal kick and trying to find Keith Kelly out wide, Steve mishit his pass to a forward, on the edge of the box, who duly capitalised.

The first goal was similar – Steve’s clearing kick travelled 30 yards and when the ball was lobbed back in towards the unprotected goal, Dave Browne’s header was directed centrally and went straight to another visiting striker, who had a simple task. On a positive note, Jason Northey has kindly offered kicking lessons to Steve.

This was Spartak’s best game so far for chances made; Conor Maguire was a constant menace up front and will hardly play as well again without scoring.

Spartak should have led early on but Conor Maguire’s effort which beat the keeper struck a defender and looped on to the top of the net. Steve Walsh fired wide and Graham McEnroe’s surge into the box was halted by a tackle. McEnroe’s cross was then turned in by a defender for the Sky Blues’ equaliser; but some weak midfield tracking allowed the visitors to play through for an effort which Steve Grier saved well but the rebound was converted.

It was a different Sky Blue team which emerged after the interval; the visitors were pushed back and the balance of play swung completely in Spartak’s favour. A first time pass by Maguire put McEnroe in for a sweetly struck equaliser; then Steve Walsh fired just wide.

Conor Maguire then fastened on to a long ball and from out wide wriggled his way past two defenders in a solo effort but was foiled by a good save from the keeper when a finish would have been a candidate for goal of the season.

Niall Hanratty’s blazing shot was goalbound but was blocked, at some personal expense, by a defender; then Hanratty shot just wide when teed up by Stuart Love. Maguire then had a good chance saved.

Then, in a pivotal moment, McEnroe opted not to put Steve Walsh in for a clear run at goal and the chance was lost.

Sallynoggin gave notice of their intent when hitting the post on a break, but they then got out of jail courtesy of that late goal.

The general display was good , particularly when dominating the third quarter, and Keith Kelly’s return to fitness is a welcome one.

The reality is that after three games, and nul points, the concession of soft goals makes the task of winning games doubly difficult. And this was one game which should have yielded three points.

Form Report
Steve Grier 5 Keith Kelly 7 Aodhan McCahill 7 Alex Kenny 8 Dave Browne 6 Ken Buckley 6 Graham McEnroe 6 Niall Hanratty 7 Stuart Love 6 Conor Maguire 8 Steve Walsh 6
Subs Paul Kinsella 5 Jason Northey

23.9.12
Spartak 1, Shamrock Rovers (Wexford) 5

The Leinster Junior Cup draw matched Spartak with the Wexford Premier Champs, one of the best junior sides in the country; and injuries, illness and other absentees made the Sky Blues task all the more difficult.

When faced with superior opposition it is always imperative that the underdog scores first; preferably after a decent scoreless time to build frustration in the favourites. Unfortunately the Wexford boys scored from a corner after just 7 minutes when the forward was able to stoop in the centre of the six yard box to head home after his run evaded the static home defenders.

The game ran upon predictable lines, with the visitors no.9 and no.6 in a class apart; having said that the goals were conceded by elementary defensive mistakes, clinically punished, rather than by brilliant play. The second came directly from a stray defensive pass; the third was another clever run by the no.9 and the fourth from another stray pass by the overworked Spartak defence.

The Sky Blues pulled one back when Dave Browne’s throw was fed to Graham McEnroe by Dave Thomson and Graham’s through ball was expertly converted by the lively Conor Maguire.

A last minute penalty, after a comical mix up, completed the visitors’ scoring.

The work rate and endeavour of the Sky Blues showed a good spirit; and losing to a superior side is never a disgrace; but the real tests for this re-shaped side lie ahead in the League. There were encouraging signs of determination but defensive qualities need to be strengthened to avoid the basic mistakes of recent games.