TOLKA ROVERS 3 TRALEE DYNAMOS 0

Media officer Padraig Harnett writes;

Swan on Song as Dynamos Cup dream wilts in Tolka sun:

Tralee Dynamos made their exit from this year’s Ford FAI Cup going down 3-0 to Tolka Rovers in this second round replay.

Dynamos were again forced to make changes from the side that drew 2-2 in Tralee following Maurice O’Rahilly’s knee surgery that will keep him out for two to three weeks.

The game was played in scorching conditions with temperature at kick off over 80 degrees.

Tolka were fast out of the blocks but Kevin McCarthy, who has really settled in to the game at this high level, was equal to anything that came his way in the air.

Beside him the ever reliable Eoin Cassidy set Dynamos on the attack, picking out Chris Kerins. He played in David Conway but he was just off target with his shot.

Rovers responded with a good attack of their own and when Maurice Sheridan put in a dangerous cross Caassidy did well to head it away.

In the seventh minute Dynamos won two free kicks just outside the box but on both occasions nothing came of them.

At the other end, in the 15^th minute the ball fell kindly to Shane Hughes, just outside the Dynamos box, but he was unable to keep his shot down.

Six minutes later and the Tralee side put together a very good passing movement with Joe Hurley, Damien Locke and Chris Kerins all involved. Kerins almost got in behind the Dubliner’s defence but Martin Crawley was fast off his line, getting to the ball first.

The game changed in the 28^th and 30^th when Tolka Rovers scored twice in quick succession. Firstly Adrian Quirke was muscled off the ball by John Mulcahy who pulled the ball back for Derek Swan to shoot low past Derek O’Shea.

Dynamos were still reeling from this set back when Brian Fitzpatrick found lots of room down the right wing and when he swung over his cross the keeper and defence hesitated and Swan made it 2-0.

To be fair Dynamos tried hard to get back into the game and in the 40^th minute a Sugrue free kick found the head of Kerins but his flick went just wide.

David Conway then tried to slide a ball through for Kerins but just over hit the pass.

Tolka responded with the last attack of the half but a Mulcahy volley was bravely cleared by McCarthy.

2-0 at the half and Dynamos knew the next goal was going to be vital. To be fair they came out a much improved side for the second period and started to put Tolka under pressure all over the field.

Eddie Duggan found Kerins with a pin point cross and when he knocked it down to David Conway his shot went just the wrong side of the post.

Next up a Sugrue corner was flicked on by Cassidy to Kerins but his goal-bound header was cleared off the line. 

Dynamos were really on top and Eddie Duggan was next to try his luck but he flashed his shot wide.

In the next attack Hurley played a high ball into the box, Crawley and Fitzpatrick collided and the ball fell to Sugrue but just as he was about to put the ball into the empty net the referee blew his whistle. To be fair both Keeper and defender needed lengthy treatment but the stoppage took the sting out of the Dynamos attack.

In the 60^th minute the game was effectively over. Gavin Quinn floated in a free kick which O’Shea did well to touch over. From the resultant corner the ball came out to Swan and with a drop of his shoulder the son of the famous League of Ireland player of the same name left the defenders behind and slid the ball home to put Tolka Rovers three goals to the good.

Dynamos were really chasing the game now. O’Shea set up their next attack with a long kick-out which McDermott almost headed past his own keeper.

The Dynamos brought on their three subs, Peter McCarthy, Damien Diggins and Jeffery Roche and it was McCarthy who had the greatest impact.

From his first involvement he swivelled on a Cassidy knock-down but couldn’t get enough power in the shot.

The same player then had a shot from distance just wide and was then fouled on the edge of the box. Chris Kerins took the shot but Crawley saved well in the Tolka goal.

Kerins was getting closer all the time and was a constant threat. He again went close following a Theo Diggins pass while in the 80^th minute he was involved in another pivotal moment in the game.

A long ball into the box was headed into the net by Kerins but the referee had spotted a foul on one of the Dynamos players who had contested the high ball and called play back for a penalty.

Kerins took it himself and mindful of last week changed sides and put this one to the keepers left. However Crawley dived full length and with a strong hand pushed the ball onto the crossbar and away.

Dynamos knew the game was up but kept pushing and in the dying moments Sugrue set up Peter McCarthy inside the box but Stephen Costello showed Tolka Rovers spirit by flinging himself at the shot to block it was and with it went Dynamos FAI Cup hopes. Tolka Rovers now go on to face Limerick in the last 32.

What this game did show is that Dynamos have to find a number of players to strengthen their squad but looking at the likes of Damien Locke and Kevin McCarthy who have done very well since stepping up to League of Ireland level the transition is possible for players who want to play at a high level and challenge themselves outsie of the Kerry set-up.

Dynamos next game is their first A Championship League game of the new campaign, away to St Pats before they welcome Galway United to Tralee on June 6^th. At this stage the transfer window will be open so its full steam ahead to match or better last season’s fifth place finish.

Tolka Rovers: Martin Crawley, Brian Fitzpatrick, Stephen Costello, Alan McDermott, Stephen Murtagh, Mark O’Neill, Mark Sheridan, John Mulcahy (Stephen Comerford 60 mins), Derek Swan, Shane Hughes, Gavin Quinn (Alan Bennett 80 mins). Subs not used Rory Guinan, Darragh McGovern, Sean Gorman.

Dynamos: Derek O’Shea, Damien Locke, Eoin Cassidy, Kevin McCarthy, Theo Diggins, David Conway, James Sugrue, Adrian Quirke, Eddie Duggan, Joe Hurley, Chris Kerins. Subs all used: Peter McCarthy, Damien Diggins and Jeffery Roche.  

James Sugrue made his 25th apperance for Tralee Dynamos

Chris Kerins who travelled to the game on his Goldwing 1500..Cathy White hitched a quick lift for photo purposes.