Shamrock Rovers 5 Tralee Dynamos 0

Padraig Harnett - Tralee Dynamos Media Officer

Dynamos rocked by rampant Rovers

Tralee Dynamos ran into a very strong Shamrock Rovers side that lined out with nine players who had first team experience and of course Graham Barrett, who has been capped for Ireland at senior level. The only positive that Dynamos can take is that they remain in joint third position with two home games to come.

Dynamos played with the wind in the first half but on a very quick pitch it meant the ball ran away from the Dynamos forwards. Rovers had the first chance within two minutes when Tadgh Purcell almost got in but was caught in two minds whether to shoot or cross and the chance was gone.

A good move involving Wayne Conway, Cassidy and Burrows almost saw Dynamos creating an opening while a Dynamos free in the 8^th minute was also close.

A minute later Brian Fitzgerald had to make a goal saving tackle when the dangerous Dow Cowan looked like scoring.

For the next five minutes Rovers took complete control and only some last ditch defending and good goalkeeping kept the score line at 0-0.

First Barrett set up Padraig Amoud who did have the ball in the net but the flag was up while a minute later Amoud set up Cowan who slipped, as did two defenders, and scooped his shot over the bar.

In the 17^th minute it looked like Rovers couldn’t but go ahead but this time Eddie Duggan done excellently to clear off the line from Barrett.

Dynamos needed a break at the back and Wayne Conway did well to win a corner and take the pressure off his beleaguered defence but it was only a temporary respite.

In the 28^th minute Birdsall was again called into action making a good save after Amoud was set up by a Simon Madden cross while Cowan again shot over six minutes later when he should have done better and Birdsall made another very good save when Barrett deflected a shot towards goal but the keepers reflex’s were excellent as he pushed the ball away.

In between these chances Dynamos did create a good opening Which ended with Peter McCarthy putting a great ball into the box for the in rushing Cassidy who will be happy to have seen the off side flag up as he just failed to get to the pitch of the ball.

This gave Dynamos some confidence and they put together their best move of the half involving Hayes, Conway, Sugrue and Conway before the Rovers defence got back and cleared the danger. The half time whistle blew and Dynamos went in level with the big Rovers crowd wondering how this was while the Dynamos fans who travelled breathed a sigh of relief.

Rovers opened the second period as they had played most of the first, on the attack. Purcell put the ball into the box and in a scramble Cowan got in his shot, Birdsall made a great save and Adrian Quirke cleared off the line.

Then in the 9^th minute for the second time in the game Rovers fans were cheering a ball in the net but once again the flag was up much to their consternation while again a minute later Fitzgerald made another great tackle to keep the scores level.

In the 11^th minute Dynamos put together a very good move and for an instant it looked like they would get the lead. Peter McCarthy found Conway on the left and he crossed in for Hayes who hit the shot on the run but it just went to the wrong side of the post.

Rovers should have gone ahead when Amoud again headed over and Dynamos were really on the back foot. The dam finally broke in the 20^th minute of the second half when Graham Barrett was allowed much too much space and he ghosted into the box unchallenged and finished well. This seemed to break Dynamos resistance and a minute later it should have 2-0 when Ross Chisolm beat two defenders, rounded the keeper but hit his shot into the side netting.

However in the very next attack the same player, probably still smarting from his earlier miss, picked up the ball out side the box and let fly an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

To their credit Dynamos kept trying and Jamie McIntyre who had just come on for Peter McCarthy got in for a shot that was saved by Duggan in the Rovers goal, the first real save he had to make and that with 70 minutes gone in the game.

However in the next minute it was game, set and three points to Rovers when Chisolm put over a free kick from the right wing that deceived the Dynamos keeper in the wind and crept into the top corner.

Rovers kept attacking and went 4 goals ahead when following a very good Birdsall save from Barrett the ball rebounded off Brian Fitzgerald into the net to really sum up Dynamos day. Rovers got one more before through sub Sawussi but not before Birdsall was again called upon to make another good save from Chisolm.

The final whistle blew to the relief of Dynamos who must put this down to a bad day at the office and regroup before the meet Cobh Ramblers at home. This game is set for September 20^th but with a ‘big game’ involving Kerry on that day it will be re-fixed. They then meet Bohs at home before what could be a huge trip back to Bray Wanderers. The other results this weekend saw Sporting Fingal defeat Cobh 4-1 and Bray and Cork City drawing 0-0. This means that Bohs top the table on 28 points from 14 games followed by Rovers on 27 points from 13, Dynamos on 22 from 13 games played, Bray Wanderers on 22 points from 13 and Cork City on 20 points from 12 played. Its crunch time now as it looks like third place is going to go down to the wire. A bad day in Tallaght but no doubt only a blip on the race to the play-off.

Tralee Dynamos R Birdsall, J Burrows, A Quirke, M O’Rahilly, D Hayes, J Sugrue, W Conway, E Cassidy, P McCarthy, E Duggan. Subs used D Crotty, J McIntyre and D O’Leary. Not used – Peter McCarthy and T Cotter.

Shamrock Rovers – Robert Duggan, Simon Madden, Paul Sherry, Victor Ekawen, Corey Tracey, Ross Chisolm, Tadgh Purcell, Barry Johnston, Dow Cowan, Graham Barrett, Padraigh Amoud. Subs used – Jason Shelele, Stephen Conlon and Abela Sawucsi. Not used Ian Byrne and Tomas Hyland.

Sean O'Sullivan, Jason Fitzgerald & Joby Costello.

Tralee Dynamos next home game will be against Cobh Ramblers. Your support would be appreciated for a team that has given great enjoyment to all in Kerry Soccer in this our 1st venture into League of Ireland Soccer. Now is a time to support this team who have played close on 50 games since their season started over 12 months ago. Let's make the 12th man count and help this team get over the line and into the play offs.

Match report extracted from www.shamrockrovers.ie