Soccer: McHugh goal enough for wasteful Dynamos

Statoil FAI Junior Cup
TRALEE DYNAMOS 1, NEWCASTLEWEST 0

TRALEE Dynamos put their unbeaten record to the test against Desmond League side Newcastlewest and advanced to the third round of the Statoil FAI Junior Cup on Sunday last at Cahermoneen on the back of a narrow one-nil win.

It was a wasteful Dynamos, however, who scored early on but despite creating numerous chances they failed to put away a limited Newcastlewest side but a side who gained in confidence as the game went on.

Dynamos were a much stronger side than the Limerick side and deserved to win by a wider margin but whether it is nerves or what, the Tralee side have been struggling in these FAI and Munster Junior Cup games. Last season Lisselton Rovers dumped them out early and they lost to Village from Cork in the Munster Junior having drawn away from home.

When Dynamos face Munster Senior League side Tramore in the Munster Senior Cup they will be able to test the waters again but they have been guilty of failing to put sides away after enjoying territorial advantage. They must develop a ruthless streak if they are to harbour any ambitions of having a protracted run in an outside competition.

As often happens, Newcastlewest threw caution to the wind in the final 20 minutes and were unlucky not to equalise as Dynamos continued to miss the target on the break. Though there was little doubt that the winners where a classier side Newcastlewest were always in the hunt as long as they remained just a goal adrift.

The opening period saw the home side dominate proceedings as the visitors seemed overawed by their opponents and giving them too much respect meant they were on the back foot for the first 20 minutes.

Maurice O’Rahilly was unlucky with a header in the fifth minute from a Duggan cross but shortly afterwards Dynamos took the lead.

It came in the eight minute when Damien Diggins skipped past John Hartnett before crossing for Adrian McHugh to volley powerfully to the roof of the Newcastle West net. This should have signalled an avalanche of Dynamos goals as they were completely on top at midfield and Maurice O’Rahilly and Mark Fitzgerald were rock solid at the back.

However, McHugh who shot wide and O’Rahilly had a shot blocked by Murphy while in the 20th minute Duggan’s effort was just inches over the top.

Newcastlewest finally settled with Anthony O’Connell and Paul Madigan winning some ball while Noel Murphy and Keith Power battled hard at the centre of their defence. They had a half chance when Mark Fitzgerald conceded a free kick and Madigan floated a free beyond the wall but O’Shea held the ball well. Still, it was all Dynamos again as Newcastlewest battled hard but created few clear chances.

The second half began much like the first with the Tralee side in control but again their finishing was off target and the longer Dynamos went without getting the insurance goal, the more confident Newcastle seemed to get.

The visitors pushed men forward and their best opportunity came on the hour when O’Connell fed full back Doherty and he went by the Dynamos cover but shot straight at O’Shea when he might have done better. Then in the 67th minute Newcastle almost equalised when Noel Murphy took advantage of a Crotty mistake but his thunderous shot came back off the crossbar.

This was Newcastlewest’s best period but invariably as they went in search of the equaliser they left gaps at the back with Dynamos often having the extra man on the counter attack and four minutes from time Dynamos should have wrapped it up when Mickey Lynch availed of a defensive error but he froze in front of goal and Hartnett cleared the danger.

The game petered out with Dynamos deserving their win but their failure to post a bigger total will surely count against them if repeated in future rounds.

Tralee Dynamos: D O’Shea, O Cassidy, M Fitzgerald, M O’Rahilly, D Crotty, B Stack, V Samier, D Diggins, T Hennessy, E Duggan, A McHugh. Subs: R Rogers for A McHugh, Maher for E Duggan, M Lynch for B Stack.

Newcastle West: G Hartnett, M Doherty, Hartnett, N Murphy, K Power, T McDougual, P Madigan, A O’Connell, T Butler, K O’Shea, S Doherty. Sub: David O’Connor for T Butler.

Referee: J O’Connor