Dynamos Desire Subdues Saints:

A Championship: Tralee Dynamos 1-0 St Patricks Athletic:

Match Report by Padraig Harnett. - Photographs by Siobon O'Mahoney

Tralee Dynamos got their 2011 A Championship campaign off to the best possible start with a 1-0 win over St Pats in their opening game. One of the outstanding aspects of Dynamos time in the A Championship is their impressive record against Dublin sides and once again a team from the Capital went down to the Tralee boys.

Tralee Dynamos welcomed back Brian Fitzgerald to the starting line-up and his addition was a huge bonus to the side the lost out to Waterford United in the EA Sports Cup last week.

Fitzgerald and Maurice O’Rahilly were immense in the centre of defence and we well supported all over the field, with Daniel Clinton and David Conway also catching the eye. Apart from the win one of the more pleasing aspects for manager Noel White and his back room staff was the performance of the younger players in the side.

St Pats started the brighter and it took a goal saving tackle by Daniel Clinton on Craig O’Callaghan to keep the visitors from going ahead very early on.

However Dynamos started to get on top and Brian Fitzgerald had a header just over from a free kick in the 7th minute. Two minutes later and they should have been in front when Hannafin and Uros Ivkovic combined to set Stephen McCarthy in on goal but he shot tamely and his effort was well saved by Ben Dale in the Pats goal.

Set pieces were going to become vital in this game and both sides were dangerous. From a Pat’s corner Kevin O’Leary put his free header over the bar while at the other end David Conway fizzed in a free kick but no Dynamos player could get on the end of it.

It was from a set piece, a corner in the 37th minute, that Dynamos took the lead. Aaron Houlihan was deadly from most of his set-pieces and he put a brilliant corner into the Pats box. Lurking at the far post was Brian Fitzgerald and he powered a header home.

Pats came right back down the field and Maurice O’Rahilly was grateful to see his clearance go just the right side of the post.

Into the second half and both sides were living off scraps and again it was from corners and free kicks that most of the danger came.

Dynamos forced a succession of corners and Brian Fitzgerald again came close to doubling the lead, again from a Houlihan cross.

Pats began to turn the screw and put the Dynamos rear guard under severe pressure. O’Callaghan set up Kevin O’Leary and his shot had Robert Birdsall beaten but Kevin McCarthy got back and made a great headed block.

A series of corners followed and somehow Dynamos survived. Defenders and keeper managed to always get that vital touch before the Pats players and keep their goal intact.

And so it ended, with Dynamos taking the points on a 1-0 score-line. Scorer Brian Fitzgerald was immense all through the game but all round the pitch Dynamos showed great heart and determination.

There are lots to work on for the management to work on, particularly from set pieces and corners and they probably need a proven goal scorer. James Sugrue still has a few games of his suspension to serve and he will be a big addition when he comes back. Jonathan Burrows and the injured Eddie Duggan would also add extra experience to what mostly a young squad.

However for today it’s all about the win and getting three points on the board from their first game will give Dynamos huge confidence. Maybe those of us, including myself, who were sceptical of Dynamos chances after watching them against Waterford United might have spoken too soon!!

Next up in the A Championship its Limerick at home next Saturday and also around the corner is the huge FAI Ford Cup first round home tie against Youghal.

Dynamos: Robert Birdsall, Aaron Houlihan, Daniel Clinton, Kevin McCarthy, Maurice O’Rahilly, Brian Fitzgerald, David Conway, Uros Ivkovic, Audie Dunlea, Jonathan Hannafin, Stephen McCarthy. Subs: Jamie Barry, Presley Dube, Aston Mugabe, Cillian O’Connor, Shane Carey, Paul White, Damien Locke.

St Pats: Ben Dale, Mark Logan, Eoin Powderly, Brian Nolan, Sean Kelly, Aaron Humphries, Enda Morris (replaced by Sean Doyle), Phil Nolan (replaced by Paul O’Brien), Kevin O’Leary, Craig O’Callaghan, Daniel Whitefield.  Subs not used: Kean Murray, Sean Clarke.


Front LtoR: Aaron Houlihan, David Conway,Uros Ivkovic, Jonathon Hannafin, Audi Dunlea
Back LtoR: Kevin McCarthy, Daniel Clinton, Maurice O'Rahilly,Robert Birdsall ,Brian Fitzgerald, Stephen McCarthy. 
Picture courtesy of Siobhan O'Mahoney


St. Patrick's Athletic


Captains & Match Officals


Tralee Dynamos 2011
Front LtoR: Jonathon Hannafin, Ashton Mugabe, Sean O'Sullivan, Maurice O'Rahilly, Noel White, Kevin McCarthy, Audi Dunelea
Middle: Eddie Duggan, James Sugrue, David Conway, Shane Carey, Aaron Houlihan, Uros Ivkovic, Daniel Clinton, Presley Dube, Theo Diggins, Joby Costello,
Back LtoR: Stephen McCarthy, Damien Locke, Brian Fitzgerald, Paul White, Robert Birdsall, Jamie Barry, Cillian O'Connor
(Missing from picture) - Eoin Csssidy, Jonathon Burrows, Adam Piggott, Brian Murphy
Picture courtesy of Siobhan O'Mahoney