Greyhound Bar KO Cup Final

DYNAMOS CHOOSE THE RIGHT ROAD

Spa Road 0  Tralee Dynamos  2

Article by Mike Rice

Tralee Dynamos lifted their first Greyhound Cup in 13 years at Mounthawk Park on Saturday evening when they defeated Division One side Spa Road in a Tralee Derby that created a lot of excitement.

It was a David and Goliath clash between one of the aristocrats of Kerry soccer Tralee Dynamos and Division one side Spa Road. The game was played in continuous rain which made underfoot conditions slippery. However both sides overcame the adverse elements well and served up a good clean game of football.Dynamos came into the game as raging hot favourites and as expected they enjoyed the lions’s share of possession for most of the game.The game began at a rather tame pace with Dynamos engaged in their passing game and putting a lot of pressure on the Spa Road defence.

It was always going to be a tall order for Spa Road to overcome the premier side but urged on by their big band of enthusiastic supporters in the stand they could not be blamed for lack of effort of team spirit.Dynamos got the first chance of the game after just 2 minutes when Jamie Mc Intyre was put through by James Wall but his shot missed the target.There minutes later Spa Road got a free 30 yards from goals and Dynamos keeper Derek O Shea had to dive full length to stop a powerful free kick from Jonathan Loughnane.

Now Dynamos were well on top at midfield and were carving out a lot of attacking moves which kept the Spa Road defence very busy.In the 20^th minute Dynamos went close when a free kick near the sideline by David Conway reached Eoin Cassidy and in the box but he shot wide from five yards.Then the Spa Road keeper was called into action on a number of occasions making fine saves from Adrian Quirke, and James Wall.Five minutes later Spa Road were given a chance when Eoin Cassidy’s back pass led to a corner for Spa Road.

It was floated into the box by John Quirke and when it broke out Mark Greensmyth let fly from 20 yards and Derek O Brien had to make a good save.Now Spa Road were under constant pressure with Dynamos forcing a series of corner kicks and it seemed only a matter of time before they would score. Then the sucker punch came two minutes into injury time when Dynamos forced two consecutive corners the second by James Sugrue into box where Eoin Cassidy rose highest and glided the ball into the roof of the net.

This was a cruel blow for Spa Road to concede a goal so late in the half. Dynamos introduced Damian Quirke for Jamie Mc Intyre at the start of the second half and they continued to dictate proceedings.After two minutes James Wall brought another fine save out of Packie Griffin.Then Spa Road added a bit of height to the team by introducing Mike Duggan and Patrick Moriarty and they began to get more of the play at midfield.Then Dynamos introduced Adrian Mc Hugh and he was not long on the field when he sealed the game for Dynamos.

James Wall took control of the ball in his own half and put Damian Quirke through down the right flank.He delivered a high ball into the box which broke down in the small box and fell at the feet of Adrian Mc Hugh and he found the corner of the net.To their credit Spa Road battled bravely and forced a couple of corners.Then as the game entered the 4^th minute of injury time a foul on on Shane Fitzgerald resulted in a free kick for Spa Road right on the verge of the box.Up stepped Jonathan Loughnane with his left peg and although Dynamos keeper Derek O Shea had a hand to it flew into the top corner of the net.

However it was too little too late for Spa Road as after the kick off the final whistle sounded.On the evening Dynamos were by far the better side and were worthy champions on the day.Both sides are to be complimented for providing a good sporting game which only necessitated one yellow card.There were great scenes of jubilation as the main sponsor Aidan O Connor presented the Greyhound Bar Cup to the captain of the Dynamos side Maurice O Rahilly.

John O Regan secretary of the Kerry District league commended both sides for providing a good sporting game.John Delaney C.E.O. and Packie Bonner Technical Director of the F.A.I. were also loud in their praise for both sides and complimented the Kerry District League for the marvellous facilities they have in place at Mounthawk Park.

Dynamos: Derek O Shea, Adrian Quirke, Maurice O Rahilly, Eoin Cassidy, Darren Crotty, Kevin Mc Cannon, James Sugrue, David Conway, Jamie Mc Intyre Damian Diggins and James Wall. Subs, Damian Quirke for Jamie Mc Intyre, Theo Diggins, for Eoin Cassidy, (injured) Adrian Mc Hugh for Damian Diggins, Jason Fitzgerald, Billy Stack, Wayne Conway, Michael Lynch, Eddie Duggan, Mikil Szorosky, Robert Birdsall.

Spa Road, Packie Griffin, Paul O Donovan, Jonathan Loughnane, David Cunningham, Joe Duggan, Anthong Morrison, Mark Greensmyth,  Peter Coffey, Shane Mike Kennedy, Fitzgerald, Danny Feehan and John Quirke.

Subs Patrick Moriarty for David Cunningham, Mike Duggan for Paul O Donovan.  P J Horan, Tommy Naughton, and Ed Byrne.

Referee, Kevin O' Regan, Assistants: Tom Templeman and James Healy.