Greyhound Bar KO Cup Final
Two in bag for Dynamos – now for the League as they win on the road.
Tralee Dynamos 2 Spa Road 1
By Murt Murphy at Mounthawk Park
There was never any doubt about who was going to win Greyhound Bar Cup Final between top premier side and one time aristocrats of Kerry soccer Tralee Dynamos, and division one side Spa Road, also from Tralee who was massive underdogs on a big night for Kerry soccer at Mounthawk Park.
The experience and class of Tralee Dynamos proved too much for a gallant Spa Road side who gained many admirers in defeat, including FAI CEO John Delaney and former Republic great Packie Bonner. The game was not helped by a constant deluge of rain that never relented throughout, but credit to both sides for the sporting nature of the contest and proof of that was that excellent referee Kevin O’Regan had only to brandish one yellow card.
There was an air of inevitability about the result from an early stage as Dynamos dominated from the very outset with Spa Road being kept on the back foot and in truth most of the opening half was all one way traffic.However despite their dominance, Dynamos just could not finish off some sweeping moves and as the half progressed, Spa Road still felt that they were capable of causing an upset, if they could catch Dynamos on the break.
However Dynamos were rock solid at the back where Eoin Cassidy and Maurice O’Rahilly were imperious in the air and on the deck while Adrian Quirke gave a flawless display at right back and must have been a contender for man of the match, while Darren Crotty was keen to impress against his former club.
Dynamos pulled the strings at midfield where James Sugrue and Jamie McIntyre caused Spa Road problems on the flanks while David Conway was winning good ball in the centre. James Wall and Damien Diggins were lively up front, but Jonathon Loughnane, Paul O’Donovan and Joe Duggan were defiant under sustained pressure.
However Spa Road can thank their veteran keeper Packie Griffin who made a series of super saves all through and it would certainly have been a heavier defeat but for Griffins heroics. The game started with Dynamos attacking at every opportunity but it was Spa Road that had the first chance when Jonathan Loughane’s free kick from the right hand side of the box, was punched clear by Derek O’Shea diving to his right. However it was a rare attack as Dynamos spent most of the half in Spa Road territory but despite creating numerous chances, they just failed to make the breakthrough.
Chances included James Wall shooting straight at the keeper in the 18th minute, and then two minutes later, Darren Crotty’s free kick was met by Eoin Cassidy and when the ball dropped to his feet, he poked it wide from four yards.Then another Dynamos chance saw Adrian Quirke shoot from thirty yards and when keeper Griffin spilled it, McIntyre drove the lose ball into to the side netting.Spa Road then have a chance in the 28th minute when John Quirke corner was met by Mark Greensmyth whose shot was touched away by keeper and a defender combined.
Dynamos were now playing the ball about in neat triangles and Spa Road were doing well to hold out though the Premier side were wasting good possession with over elaboration.Then in first half injury time Dynamos made the breakthrough and predictably it came from a corner, as Spa Road were finding it difficult to deal with the aerial threat of Cassidy and O’Rahilly. Sugrue whipped the ball across and Cassidy rose highest to head home.
The second half was a major disappointment as Dynamos with wind and rain continued to dominate but a combination of poor finishing and some superb goalkeeping from Packie Griffin kept them out until the 77th minute when James Wall with a cross field ball found young Damien Quirke in space and his low cross was clinically finished to the net, by Adrian McHugh who made the game safe, and in the progress finally won the only honour in the game that had eluded in his long and distinguished career.
Spa Road to their credit never gave up and were rewarded in the 90th minute when Loughnane drilled a free beyond O’Shea, but it was too little- too late.
Tralee Dynamos:Derek O’Shea, Adrian Quirke, Darren Crotty, Eoin Cassidy, Maurice O’Rahilly, James Sugrue, David Conway, Kevin McCannon, Jamie McIntyre, Damien Diggins, James Wall. Subs Damien Quirke for Jamie McIntyre, Adrian McHugh for Damian Diggins, Theo Diggins for Eoin Cassidy
Spa Road: Packie Griffin, Paul O’Donovan, Joe Duggan, Jonathon Loughnane, David Cunningham, Anthony Morrison, Mark Greensmyth, Peter Coffey, Shane Flynn, John Quirke, Danny Feehan Subs: Mike Duggan for Paul O’Donovan, Patrick Moriarty for D Cunningham, M Kennedy for Danny Feehan
Referee: Kevin O’Regan Assistants: Tom Templeman and Brian Healy