Soccer: Holders knocked out as Dynamos make final

Greyhound Bar KO Cup semi-final
KILLARNEY ATHLETIC 1 TRALEE DYNAMOS 2

CUP holders Killarney Athletic made their exit from this year’s competition when they were beaten by Tralee Dynamos in the first semi-final played at Mounthawk Park on Saturday last. It was a close contest but Tralee Dynamos won because they took advantage of a couple of errors at the back by the holders and in the final analysis this was the main difference between the sides.

Tralee Dynamos were strengthened by the return of Mark Fitzgerald to the centre of the midfield where he had a fine game along with Samier, though this is an area where Athletic have been very strong in recent weeks. It was also an area where Athletic’s Paudie O’Connor came into the game carrying an injury and he was never the force he can be which militated against his sides chances of winning.

In fact Athletic had beaten Dynamos with an injury-time goal in a league meeting recently and this may have lulled the Killarney side into a false sense of security as Dynamos had already qualified for the League semi-finals and probably were not firing on all cylinders. Dynamos dominated the opening exchanges but Killarney Athletic had the first opportunity when Mark Pyne had a shot on goal which keeper Robert Polowczyk saved well.

Dynamos had a good effort from Damien Diggins after an excellent ball from Maurice O’Rahilly but O’Riordan was on hand to save. In the 15th minute Pyne again had a half chance but this time Eoin Cassidy cleared the danger. In fact Cassidy and his partner O’Rahilly were once again rock solid and laid the foundations for this win.

Diggins had the best chance of the opening quarter but he headed over when he should have at least been on target but they took the lead in the 22nd minute when Athletic allowed Samier’s corner to drift all the way to the back post and Cassidy headed powerfully home.

The game was competitive as the play swung from end to end with Killarney Athletic enjoying a good spell just before the break with Conor Spellman through but again the Dynamos keeper saved at his feet. Cassidy had the final chance of the half but his header was narrowly over as the Tralee side retired 1-0 in front at the interval.

Kenneth Clifford came on for John O’Donoghue at half time as Athletic got more involved in the game but Dynamos were still dangerous as Diggins was just inches wide and then McHugh’s effort was also inches wide. In the 64th minute Dynamos had a great chance of increasing their lead but efforts from Fitzgerald, McHugh, Diggins and White were all cleared by Athletic.

In the 70th minute Cassidy had to clear the danger as Athletic threatened to equalise but minutes later Dynamos had taken a two goal lead when Diggins set up McHugh who was allowed plenty of time to finish. Minutes later Dynamos lost Kevin McCannon for verbals to the lineman and this allowed Athletic come back into the game and after Doolin took a corner with 15 minutes to go Eamon Ahern finished to the Tralee net.

This meant a nervous ending for Dynamos but Cassidy, Fitzgerald and O’Rahilly were outstanding. With two minutes to go Athletic had a glorious chance of snatching a second chance when a four-man move saw Denis O’Neill through on the keeper but his chip was just over and Cassidy cleared the danger.

Overall Dynamos deserved to advance to the final where they will meet Lisselton Rovers or Currans but Athletic will regret the fact that they played below par on the night.

Tralee Dynamos: R Polowczyk, K McCannon, P Daly, E Cassidy, M O’Rahilly, J White, I Maher, B Samier, M Fitzgerald, D Diggins, A McHugh. Subs: B Stack for J White, E Duggan for I Maher.
Killarney Athletic: C O’Riordan, S Doolin, B O’Reilly, M O’Sullivan, M Griffin, D Gleeson, C Spellman, P O’Connor, K Cahalane, M Pyne, J O’Donoghue. Subs: K Clifford for J O’Donoghue, E Ahern for M O’Sullivan (inj), D O’Neill for K Cahalane.
Referee: S Templeman