28.4.12
Laytown 0, Spartak 1
The Sky Blues turned on an excellent performance in their last Saturday Div 3a game of the season to beat the League Champions on their own ground. In blustery conditions, right on the sea shore, both teams strove to play good passing football in a game which was well controlled by the ref.
The vital score came on 30 minutes when a corner from Steve Walsh caused problems in the box for the home team. Dermot Dooley won the ball and squared to Steve O’Hara who drove powerfully home to the corner of the net from an angle from just inside the box.
Almost immediately, Laytown created their best chance but the forward fired over the advancing Northey and over the bar. Paul Kinsella then made a vital block, while at the other end Steve Walsh’s quick control allowed a snapshot which was saved. When Conor Maguire forced a corner, Mick Greene’s flag kick picked out Conor, whose volleyed was tipped over. Conor later had a powerful shot blocked, painfully, by a defender. Mick Greene also nicked a ball from the forward, strode goalwards and let fly with a long range effort which the keeper held at the second attempt.
Dooley was the driving force in the Sky Blues performance, combative and full of energy in a hard working midfield trio where O’Hara and Stu Love also toiled to good effect. O’Hara’s replacement through injury at half time by Niall Hanratty maintained the standard.
The back four, and keeper Jason Northey, all had solid games defensively, and restricted the home attack, even if sometimes the urge to welly the ball rather than pass it took over. There were minor quibbles. Chris Hogan’s reluctance to head the ball caused a few problems early on as did Mick Greene’s sometimes panicky clearances. But the overall defensive unit was very good.
Paul Kinsella had a crap start to the game but soon wiped away the memories and on the whole had a fine match. For some reason there was a marked reluctance to shake hands with Paul after the match.
Ross Kelly, Steve Walsh and Conor Maguire combined well at times and together were a thorn in the home side’s defence.
Spartak were promoted last season from 6th place in Div 3a and with a few less injuries and absentees might have mounted a more sustained promotion bid this season. Mid season there were too many absentees, as most sorely felt in the cup game v Moorfield when the squad was decimated. Highlights include the Cup wins over Inchicore and then Carrick in Monaghan, a double over Esker Celtic and taking 4 points off the champs.
The Laytown game saw the team sign off the season in style to make it four wins in the last 5 games.
Some stats from the season:
40 players in total played for the Div 3a side during a season of 28 games. There was no player who was ever present.
Those who appeared in 75% or more of the games were – Steve Walsh 26; Fintan Grace 25; Mick Greene 23; Chris Hogan 22; Conor Maguire 22 Martin Costello 21.
In the league, the top scorers were: Steve Walsh 9; Conor Maguire 6; and Ross Kelly 5. Next best with two each were Niall Hanratty and Colum O’Sullivan.
For the keepers, Jason Northey and Bobby Hayes both kept 3 clean sheets, although Jason had 5 fewer appearances.
Form Report
Jason Northey 7 Chris Hogan 7 Mick Greene 7 Fintan Grace 7 Paul Kinsella 7 Steve O’Hara 7 Steve Walsh 7 Conor Maguire 7 Stuart Love 7 Ross Kelly 7 Dermot Dooley 8
Subs: Niall Hanratty 7 Martin Costello 6 Mick Costello 6 Colum O’Sullivan Derek McGoldrick
