TRALEE DYNAMOS 1 CORK CITY 0

Padraig Harnett - Tralee Dynamos Media Officer.

Dynamos conquer Cork City and reach the summit:

Having lost to the same opposition in our second game of the season Dynamos knew that they would get nothing easy from the visit of City and so it proved. However a moment of magic in the 80^th minute by Peter McCarthy proved to be the difference but more about that later.

Dynamos started with Eoin Fitzgerald in mid-field, with David Hayes still in Australia , but found it hard to get into the game. Indeed for most of the first half they were on the back foot. The very impressive Brian Murphy was causing problems from set pieces with Keith O’Sullivan and Paul Deery also dangerous up from for the Cork men. O’Sullivan had two early chances, coming nearest to breaking the deadline in the 11th minute when he pulled his shot just wide following a good run.

Murphy put in another great cross in the 15^th minute which Brian Fitzgerald did very well to get a head on while Alan O’Connor also shot wide, following a good pass from Shane Duggan.

On the attacking front Eddie Duggan almost put in a perfect ball over the top for Eoin Cassidy but Ian Turner just got his head on the ball while Brian Fitzgerald, who had gone forward for a corner out-jumped the keeper but couldn’t direct his header on target.

As the half wore on Dynamos did start to control matters with Peter McCarthy, James Sugrue and Eoin Cassidy all combining well but were unable to get the final pass that would see them opening up the Cork City defence.

A Sugrue corner fell to Jonathan Burrows in the 35^th minute but he shot over while City were always dangerous at the other end, especially through Liam Collins who was doing well in mid-field and Rory Morrison who had a number of half chances.

As the first period ended Sugure and Jamie McIntyre played a neat one-two and when the ball was crossed Cassidy knocked is down to the in-rushing Burrows who unfortunately pulled his shot and so it remained 0-0 at the break.

Dynamos were forced into a change at half time when James Sugrue’s groin problem was found to be too severe and he was forced off to be replaced by Stephen O’Mahony and he made an immediate impact. He set up McIntyre inside the first minute but the shot was cleared and as was the case throughout the game, when a play broke down the opposition were quick on the break. Stephen Mulcahy almost found Deasy but once again Brian Fitzgerald, who had another superb game, was in the right place at the right time.

Cork City again got on top for as period with Liam Collins, Deasy and Ina Turner all trying their luck but none of them troubled Guthrie in the Dynamos goal, who in truth had an easy day handling most of the crosses and shots that got trough to him quite easily.  

Dynamos made another change, bringing on Wayne Conway and started to control the game. Things got a little heated with both sides questioning referee Kevin O’Regan’s decisions and he denied Dynamos what looked like a certain penalty when Cork City keeper Kieran McEnry took down Peter McCarthy.

He also awarded a ‘soft’ free to Cork City , in a dangerous position but while Shane Duggan’s low free-kick got around the wall it went just wide.

At this point both sides would probably have settled for a draw but with ten minutes to go came that ‘magic moment’.

Cork City won a free kick just outside the Dynamos box and they pushed everyone forward. In fact they pushed all ten outfield players up for the free kick but Alan O’Connor hadn’t read the script and when he played the ball out wide Stephen O’Mahony intercepted. He looked up and picked out Peter McCarthy who was standing all on his own on the half way line. McCarthy, with Eoin Cassidy in support,  now ran unchallenged all the way to the edge of the City box where he then slipped the ball under the out rushing McEnry. It was a great finish and to be fair to McCarthy he a lot to do when he got the ball but Cork City will have nightmares over the concession of such a goal.

Dynamos confidently played out the rest of the game and never looked like conceding an equaliser and four minutes into injury time the final whistle blew prompting great celebrations on the field and from the good sized crowd.

Dynamos now sit proudly at the top of the table (Dynamos 21 points from 10 played, Bray on 21 from 11, Cork City on 19 from 10 played and Bohs on 19 points from 11 played) and are well on course to achieving their first objective – finishing in the top three and earning a play-off against the top non league side in group two. This looked likely to be Salthill Devon so wouldn’t that set up a mouth-watering clash with the winner meeting the bottom side in the First Division for a place in that division next season. Of course before that there is the little matter of an away trip to Bray Wanderers in the FAI Ford Cup.

Dynamos – Wayne Guthrie, Jonathan Burrows, Darren Crotty, Brian Fitzgerald, Maurice O’Rahilly, Eoin Fitzgerald, James Sugrue, Jamie McIntyre, Eoin Cassidy, Peter McCarthy, Eiddie Duggan. Subs: Stephen O’Mahony on for Sugrue and Wayne Conway on for Eddie Duggan also David O’Leary, Peter McCarthy and Robert Birdsall.

Cork City: Kieran McEnry, Ian Turner, Brian Murphy, Gavin Walsh, Stephen Maloney, Alan O’Connor, Liam Collins, Shane Duggan, Rory Morrissey, Paul Deasy, Keith O’Sullivan. Subs used – Rob Waters, Eoin Forde and Stephen McCarthy plus Donal Lynch and Wesley Tong.

Many thanks again to the supporters today. Much appreciated by all the club.

Next match: Last 16 of the F.A.I. Ford Senior Cup away to Bray Wanderers Friday 14th at 7.45 Carlisle Grounds,Bray