Saturday Team – AWAY to Tymon Bawn
Sunday Team – AWAY to Seaford Rock
Over 35s – AWAY to Larkview
A few old reports to bring back memories, good and bad….
29th Feb 2004
Spartak 3 Liffey Wanderers 2
O Toole7 P Kilroy7 Grace7 D Buckley7 I Kilroy7 K Buckley7 McGowan7 O Connell9 Dunne7 D Byrne7 G Byrne7 Sub McNamee 7
An outstanding display by O Connell and a stunning late winner by McNamee were the highlights of a rip roaring battle at Marlay. O Connell scored after his interception won possession ; he passed to Byrnsie and then tucked away the square pass. Spartak’s second arrived when O Connell’s headed knock down was coolly tucked past the static keeper by McGowan.
Sweetest of all in a robust contest was the winner when OConnell’s second attempt to cross found McNamee who gleefully thumped home left footed.
4th May 2003 Griffith 1 Spartak 2
K O’Connell pen , St Leger
O’Toole 7 A Doyle 8 D O’Connell 7 K O’Connell 9 D Mohan 7 K Buckley 8 F McNamee 8 B St Leger 7 A Dunne 7 W O’Connell 7 G Byrne 7. Sub M Cooney 6
Once again Spartak fielded a side depleted by injury and absentees. Once again the players rose to the challenge and fought grittily at DCU to carve out a good result, which keeps the hunt on for runners up spot.
Griffith started as if they meant business, and O’Toole had to save smartly with Buckley tidying up the rebound. O’Toole then had to advance to narrow the angle , forcing the forward to shoot wide. Slowly Spartak gained momentum , with Anto Doyle prominent down the right. Frank McNamee went close with a towering header and then in the next attack Ger Byrne was upended in the box .Kevin O’Connell, revelling in an unaccustomed sweeper role, drilled the resultant spot kick home. Spartak then went on an attacking spree with a flowing move from Mohan, Doyle Stleger finally setting Byrne up 15 yards out, but he blazed over, when a little more coolness was called for.
Griffith came at the visitors in the second half, but Spartak were dangerous on the break with buckley a powerhouse in the middle and Doyle raiding on the right, chances were created for St Leger, Byrne and Will O’Connell who all missed when well placed to score.
The all important second goal arrived when Byrne laid a ball back to Will O Connell out on the left. His cross was neatly laid off by Dunne and St Leger volleyed powerfully home.
A nervous final five minutes was assured when Dan O’Connell, attempting to intercept a cross, blasted the ball into his own net to mark his first team debut with a spectacular own goal. However the defence held firm and the three points were in the bag.
SPARTAK TRIUMPH IN CUP THRILLER
28th November 1999
Bluebell Utd 1, Spartak Dynamo 2
Following last season’s defeat (1-0) at the hands of Bluebell in the FAI Junior Cup, it did not bode well for Spartak when they had to concede home advantage in this Leinster Junior Cup fifth round tie.
However a sprightly start by the men in claret and blue soon put the game in a different light and in the seventh minute tenacity by Kevin O’Connell (when he blocked an attempted clearance) was rewarded with a favourable rebound which took the ball beyond the home keeper. Spartak added a second after 21 minutes when a sweeping move involving Doyle, O’Connell and Dunne was finished when the latter’s driven cross was thumped home first time from the edge of the box by McGowan.
The second half began with a determined Bluebell attempting to impose their game and misplaced Spartak passes were punished by long periods of Bluebell possesion. Spartak were only rarely able to mount a attacks in the increasingly cloying conditions and were hauled back by a goal in the 59th minute when the Spartak rearguard did not deal decisively with a cross. Spartak, although defending with all their might, were on the back foot and Alan Kilroy cleared off the line on a few occasions while Alan Kavanagh in goal resorted to the unorthodox to protect the lead. Gradually the pressure was eased by a late resurgence of inventive passing and movement and Spartak finished strongly for a memorable win.
Alan Kavanagh 7 – Held onto the ball well in difficult conditions.
Declan Buckley 7 – Quick in the tackle and good covering.
Alan Kilroy 8 – Great goal line clearances and a memorable last ditch tackle..
Brian Stafford 8 – Always able to get in front of his player.
Derek Keane 7 – Kept the troops well organised .
Ken Buckley 7 Strong in midfield . Booked for dissent.
Neil McGowan 7 Took his goal well and passed accurately.
Mick Harte 7 – his strength in possession gave Spartak some breathers.
Andy Dunne 7 Never stopped working and supplied a cracking cross for the second goal.
Cameron Doyle 7 Incisive first half passing.
Kevin O’Connell 7 Hard working with Dunne. Always available for the out ball.
Spartak over 35’s are away this Thursday for a friendly against Dundrum.Kick off for 7:00pm and all players to be at the away pitch in Dundrum no later than 6:15pm. The pitch is located near St Attractas school in Dundrum, if you are not sure please contact Dave Mohan for details.Please make yourself available as the season is fast approaching……
Home friendly organised against Portmarnock for this coming Saturday.Kick off for 2:00pm, can all available over 35’s be at Marlay pk dressing rooms no later than 12:45pm.Please notify Dave Mohan or Rory Campbell if you are not available for selection, thanks.
Spartak Over 35s 0, Spartak X1 2
A good work out for the over 35s, who were for the most part untroubled by the younger club members. Most of the youngsters took advantage of the extra space due to the slower pace of the match by holding onto the ball unneccesarily prior to launching it onto the willing heads of McGrath and Callan at the heart of the vets defence. Niall Hanratty was a particular culprit here, eschewing his recent good form, and in addition his set pieces were aimed carefully for Jimmy Browne’s gloves.
Both full backs, Rob Deering and Ryan Burke, regularly wasted possession and overlapped rarely.
Up front Ross Kelly made willing runs, but was largely ignored by his colleagues. In midfield, McInerney, Mannion and Hogan failed in general to get beyond the front men or supply sufficient attacking support or guile.
The older guys defence was well marshalled by Callan and McGrath, with Kavanagh and the spiky Crowe offering stout cover in midfield.
Ken Byrne faded after a bright start. Shay McClafferty covered and distributed neatly.
The downside for the over 35s was the lack of substitutes, so necessary at this level, and also that they were toothless in attack. The lack of hold up play meant that inevitably they would concede ground and be forced deep.
Mick Greene, swapping positions with Ross, opened the scoring from Dermot Dooley’s cross. Hesitancy from the referee caused the over 35 defence to stop, expecting a whistle for a throw in. The whistle never arrived.
A good cross by Rob Deering, on a rare overlap, was cleared back to him and he finished neatly for number 2.
Form Report
Over 35s: Jimmy Browne 6 Shay McClafferty 7 Lee Atkins 6 Paul McGrath 7 Greg Callan 7 Tony Kavanagh 6 Ken Byrne 6 Barry Crowe 6 Leon David 5 Jason Doyle 5 Mark Byrne 5 Rory Campbell5
SelectX1: Mick Greene 6 Rob Deering 5 Dillon Burke 5 Rob Flanagan 6 Niall Hanratty 4 Shane McInerney 5 Chris Hogan 5 Kevin Mannion 5 Ryan Burke 5 Ross Kelly 6 Derek McGoldrick 5 Dermot Dooley 6
Saturday Team – AWAY to Laytown
Sunday Team – HOME to Pioneers – AND – Tuesday 31st AWAY to Liffey Valley
Over 35’s – HOME to Portmarnock (Friendly)
All over 35’s to meet Marlay pk for 6:30pm latest on Wednesday 25th.Kick off for 7:00pm sharp due to fading light. If you cannot make it please text Rory Campbell asap if you have not done already (0863360766).Also please note home freindly organised for Saturday.Please make sure you make yourself available as the first league game is fast approaching.
Friendlies organised for next Wednesday the 25th and Saturday the 29th, both at home.If you have not let Rory Campbell know your availability for these games please do so by text (086-3360766) as soon as possible to make sure you are included in the squad (Please put your name on the text).All over 35s players to be at the pitch in Marlay park for 6:30pm on Wednesday for kick off for 7:00pm latest due to the light fading…..A text will be sent out to all squad members confirming all this…..
Training this Wed Marlay 7.30. Everyone is requested to attend. Friendlies planned for Saturday 21st and 28th.
Lads, as the premiership start looms close its time to be thinking about the Spartak Dynamo FC Fantasy league for this year. 2009 saw 29 players from within the club pit their football knowledge against each other in an entertaining competition that was won convincingly in the end by Graham Breen. Let’s see if we can get more than 29 involved this year. Entry is free and the club is again offering a few prizes with the first one being €50 FOR THE TOP SCORING TEAM IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. You must be up to date on annuals and subs to claim winnings. Sign up by clicking the link below (in the links section) and take it from there. The code to join our private league is 939110-206021
