Munster Junior Cup:
TRALEE DYNAMOS 5, KILLARNEY CELTIC 0

TRADITIONALLY, meetings between Tralee Dynamos and Killarney Celtic are always hard fought and full blooded affairs but for some reason Sunday’s Munster Junior Cup clash at Cahermoneen was clearly a departure from the norm.

Dynamos, who were coming off two Cup losses, were in a different league than the Killarney side and the gulf in class was apparent from the outset. It was inevitable that Dynamos would win, the only question seemed to be the margin of victory and clearly Celtic manager Mike Lyne has a major job on hand to revitalise his side.

The game was only competitive until Dynamos grabbed the lead goal just before half time and the game was over as a contest within 10 minutes of the restart when Dynamos moved three goals clear and Celtic were reduced to 10 men. Overall a disappointing contest with the issue never in doubt and now Dynamos will be at home in the next round against Cork opponents.

Dynamos had the strong wind advantage in the opening half and attacked from the off but good approach work invariably fell down due to some poor finishing while Celtic’s defence defended stoutly.

In the opening minute Adrian McHugh beat Cha Doherty in the Celtic goal but David Hayes cleared off the line. It was an indication of things to come as Dynamos were on top at midfield with James White and Samier outstanding while Edward Duggan and Billy Stack made good progress but they struggled to put the ball in the net.

A Billy Stack cross in the 23rd minute should have seen Dynamos take the lead but somehow Damien Diggins managed to misshit his shot and Doherty saved. White then saw his powerful shot come back off the bar and McHugh hit the post while Diggins saw another effort take a deflection when bound for the bottom corner.

It was getting frustrating for the home side because despite being the dominant side the goal just would not come as half time approached. However, just when it looked as if Celtic would survive a first-half battering, Dynamos struck in the 40th minute and it was a goal of some quality.

James White spread the play wide to McHugh who collected before back heeling the ball to Ed Duggan who sent in a fine cross into the danger zone for Damien Diggins to beat Cha Doherty and finish to the Celtic net.

It was no more than Dynamos deserved and they retired in a far more positive frame of mind leading 1-0. Celtic, though, must have been satisfied enough considering they had spent most of the half on the back foot and would have the wind in the second half. However, if Celtic harboured such thoughts they were sunk without trace within minutes of the restart as Dynamos continued where they left off, only this time they managed to finish off their good approach work.

A fine move saw Adrian McHugh send Billy Stack through with only keeper Doherty to beat and the keeper decided to take him down as he headed for goal with Edward Duggan scoring from the penalty spot. Minutes later Celtic had Brian Spillane sent off and that ended any remote chance they had of staging some sort of a fight back.

Stack was now at his rampaging best and in the 57th minute Diggins played the dapper winger through. Again Doherty came out but this time he missed his man and Stack chipped a beauty to the roof of the net and at 3-0 it was game, set and match to Dynamos.

The final quarter was notable for the contribution of Dynamos substitute Mikey Lynch who scored a superb header and might have had a hat trick. Dynamos could have reached double figures but they appeared to lose interest but when Billy Stack chipped the keeper Diggins had the simple task of making it 5-0.

Tralee Dynamos: T Cotter, K McCannon, E Cassidy, M O’Rahilly, D Crotty, E Duggan, J White, V Samier, B Stack, A McHugh, D Diggins. Subs: I Maher for D Crotty, M Lynch for J White, L Fawaad for E Duggan.

Killarney Celtic: C Doherty, D Barry, D Hayes, A O’Donoghue, K O’Connor, P McCarthy, B Spillane, J Doyle, G Keane, J McDonagh, S Hayes. Subs: J Falvey for P McCarthy.

Referee: J O’Connor.