Soccer: Tralee Dynamos stay on course for a domestic treble
Castle Bar League Cup quarter-final.
TRALEE DYNAMOS 2 QPR A 1

An under-strength Tralee Dynamos side were pushed all the way by a game QPR A outfit in this Castle Bar League Cup quarter-final played at Cahermoneen on Sunday.

Dynamos, who are preparing for a Munster Junior Cup meeting with St Michaels of Tipperary, were minus a number of key players including goalkeeper Tim Cotter, centre half Eoin Cassidy and their midfield playmaker Mark Fitzgerald. QPR were also without some key players including Pat McCarthy, John Buckley and Denis Reen.

Dynamos had the aid of the strong wind in the first half and had more of the play than the visitors but created very few chances as Fergus McAuliffe and Tim Lynch defended stoutly at the back.

Both sides created early half chances but much of the play was around the middle as Dynamos were inclined to over hit their passes while QPR found the going difficult against the wind.

Dynamos made the breakthrough in the 25th minute from a set piece when Duggan’s free kick saw QPR in trouble at the back and Adrian McHugh made no mistake rifling home a good goal.

Dynamos forced a number of corners as QPR struggled to keep them at bay and McHugh struck for his second goal from another set piece in the 35th minute.

It looked as if the game was well out of QPR’s reach but the East Kerry side responded well and Danny O’Connor might have got a goal back before the break but he headed inches wide.

The second half saw QPR use the breeze to their advantage and they came more into the game but it was a scrappy affair with very few clear-cut chances with both defences were on top.

Eoin Lawlor almost scored in the 60th minute but O’Rahilly got across to make a good interception while Kevin McCannon had to be alert to deny substitute Arthur Moynihan who was a threat up front for QPR.

In the 75th minute a free kick from Chris Morley saw Dynamos try to play the offside trap but Moynihan stayed on-side and was gifted a free header that saw QPR back in the game at 2-1.

The final minutes were frantic enough though Dynamos were rarely threatened except in the 85th minute when a Fergus McAuliffe corner almost went found the net but drifted wide at the far post, only needing a touch to have forced the game to a replay.

Overall Dynamos did enough to win on a day when they failed to shine while QPR will feel they might have got a second chance but they failed to create enough danger where it mattered most.

Best for QPR were McAuliffe, Aenous O’Leary, Danny O’Connor while Maurice O’Rahilly, Adrian McHugh and Damien Diggins tried hardest for Dynamos.

Tralee Dynamos: R O’Brien, K McCannon, M O’Rahilly, P Daly, D Crotty, B Stack, D Diggins, V Samier, E Duggan, A McHugh, S Ali. Subs: M Lynch for D Crotty, E McGrath for P Daly, D Power for S Ali.

QPR: G O’Sullivan, T Lynch, J McCarthy, F McAuliffe, C Morley, D O’Connor, A O’Leary, MB Murphy, S Lehane, E Lawlor, A Donnelly. Subs: A Moynihan for MB Murphy, Donie O’Connor for S Lehane, MS Murphy for A Donnelly.