F.AI. FORD SENIOR CUP 3RD ROUND
TRALEE DYNAMOS 2 SALTHILL DEVON 1
Padraig Harnett, Tralee Dynamos Media Officer reports,
“Only 16 teams can with this year’s FAI Cup and we are one of them,” said an ecstatic Dynamos fan after this superb win and he is right – even if it takes a little getting used to. Since the draw was made for this round of the Cup the excitement was building and the appearance of the Monday Night Soccer television cameras in the town only heightened expectations.
Dynamos went into the game without the suspended Jonathon Burrows, who had picked up four bookings in the A Championship and Eddie Duggan who was serving a second game in the continuing ‘It wasn’t me Ref’ saga!
Remember that James Sugrue was sent off in the Bohs game but the ref put down Eddie’s name and subsequently he got banned for a second game
The game kicked off in bright sunshine, on an immaculate pitch, but with a cross wind. The first action of the game saw Dynamos keeper Wayne Guthrie having to be alert to beat Shane Brown to a long ball and the keeper picked up a knock for his troubles but he was soon back on his feet.
Dynamos were winning the early battles and in the sixth minute Sugrue set up David O’Leary whose cross hit the outside of the post.
The opening goal came four minutes later to give the home side the perfect start. A David O’Leary cross was headed behind by Ger Cheevers. James Sugure stood over the corner and while the Salthill Devon side were expecting a high cross, Sugrue kept it low. It evaded the whole defence and found its way to Brian Fitzgerald who was unmarked in the centre of the goal, the ball bounced up perfectly for him to head home the opening goal.
His run to the sideline to celebrate showed he was suffering no ill effects of the knee problem that he was carrying into the game!
Salthill were rocked and at this stage and were being restricted to trying long balls over the top to the impressive Mikey Gilmore but he was being well marshalled by the Dynamos rear-guard.
O’Leary and Kerins were getting some room at the other end and putting in good ball but Salthill keeper Marty Mannion was in great form, dealing comfortably with the arial threat.
In the 25th minute Chris Kerins went on a good run but his pass to O’Leary went astray while in the very next minute Kerins himself went very close to making it 2-0. Cassidy set him up and his spin and shot beat the keeper but just went the wrong side of the post.
Salthill Devon were at their most dangerous from set pieces, which were all from training ground routines but never really worked on the day while captain James Whelan was also a threat with his long throws.
Guthrie punched away a number of these while Charley Burke was well over with his shot after a good move involving Garoid O’Leidhinn and Mickey Quirke. Shortly after this O’Leidhinn was injured in an accidental clash and was replaced at the start of the second half by Ronan Forde.
Dynamos ended the half on the attack with Brian Fitzgerald heading over a Sugrue cross in the last minute of the first period and so the home side went in 1-0 to the good.
As with the first half Dynamos started the brighter and David O’Leary shot over from a Chris Kerins pass while Jamie McIntyre, who had a great day in the middle of the field, was also off target.
In the 5th minute it looked like the crucial second goal had come. Guthrie launched a long kick-out. Kerins controlled it and beat two defenders before shooting low. It looked like the ball was heading for the far corner but the keeper made a fantastic save just getting his fingertips to it and in doing so also pushed it away from Cassidy who was sliding in at the far post for a corner that was cleared to safety.
Five minutes later and Mannion was again called into action. Guthrie’s long throw found Sugure in space in the middle of the field. He knocked the ball over the last defender and chased it but the keeper was lightening quick off his line to clear the ball to safety.
It was beginning to feel that the second goal would never come and Salthill Devon took heart from this and began to create a few chances. Gilmore set up Browne but he shot over as did Quirke a few minutes later while Guthrie held a Cheevers shot from long distance.
Dynamos found it hard to get out of their half but Cassidy did re-leave the pressure and had another chance but again Mannion was equal to it.
In the 23rd minute the equaliser did come. A long ball over the top of the Dynamos defence from Whelan looked be of no danger with the off side line holding firm – or so the Dynamos defenders thought. Gilmore looked towards Stuart Templeman on the line to see a flag go up but it didn’t, to the astonishment of the home side and many of the fans, and he made no mistake to level up the game.
Dynamos could have crumbled at this stage but they showed great heart. Speaking to the Salthill manager Emlyn Long after the game he said that their inability to hold the lead at this crucial stage of the game was instrumental in their loss.
It took Dynamos less than three minutes to go back in front. Darren Crotty found Peter McCarthy who had come on as a sub for David O’Leary shortly before this.
McCarthy’s effort was blocked away for a corner which James Sugrue floated in. The ball was cleared back out to him and this time he was spot on finding the head of Maurice O’Rahilly who out jumped the centre half to head home a goal as vital as he has ever scored.
Dynamos were not going to let the lead slip a second time and in the next few minutes both Cassidy and McCarthy went close.
Adrian McHugh came on with ten minutes to go for Eoin Cassidy who had ran himself into the ground. McHugh’s fresh legs were a vital outlet for Dynamos as they tried to see out the game. Salthill Devon did force two late late corners but after what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was only four minutes of extra time, the final whistle blew sparking a pitch invasion of delirious Dynamos fans as thoughts of the next round, the last 16 of the FAI Cup became a reality.
Dynamos first team coach Jason Fitzgerald was in seventh heaven after the game but was quick to heap all the praise on the players saying, “Their work-rate, heart and willingness to go through a wall for each other was wonderful to see and they have reaped the rewards of all their hard work”.
James Sugrue was named Ford Man of the
Match and was presented with a special trophy by League of
Speaking to Sugrue he said that the team did it for Duggan and Burrows. “We are a fiercely united squad and we felt bad for the two lads who couldn’t play. We gave it everything to make sure they will be involved in the next round of the Cup”.
This was a superb display of skill, heart, determination and hard work and all the players used did a great job. However the displays of Fitzgerald, Quirke, Sugrue and Kerins were top drawer and instrumental in the win.
There is no date for the next round draw but the Last 16 games will be played on the weekend ending August 16th so there is loads of time to ponder who will be next up.
Dynamos: Wayne Guthrie, Theo Diggins, Darren Crotty, Brian Fitzgerald, Maurice O’Rahilly, Adrian Quirke, James Sugrue, Jamie McIntyre, Eoin Cassidy, Chris Kerins and David O’Leary. Subs: Peter McCarthy, Adrian McHugh, Eoin Fitzgerald and Ivan Maher.
Salthill Devon: Marty Mannion, Ronan Larkin, Gearoid O’Leidhinn, Sean Murphy, Paul Fitzpatrick, Mickey Quirke, Ger Cheevers, James Whelan, Mikey Gilmore, Charley Burke, Shane Brown. Subs used – Garry Dolan and Ronan Forde.
The final word must go to Tralee Dynamos Chairman Ger Moloney who said, with a tear in his eyes - “Don’t tell my wife this but this is one of the proudest days of my life”.
Is there a better way to sum it up? From the players, management, officials and loyal fans who came out in good numbers to witness this historic occasion it was a day to remember – all played out in front of the television cameras. And to follow a place in the hat with the 15 others who can win this season’s FAI Ford Cup – bring them on!!
Many thanks to Fran Gavin F.A.I., M.N.S. (Monday night soccer), Kingdom Boys Under 14's, Kerry's Kennedy Cup Squad, Residents of Casements Avenue, Eamon O'Donoghue (MNS), The Sugrue Family.
Our Match Sponors Spa Lighting, Matts Family Butcher, Fergus Foley, Patrick Daly Solictors, Joe Flynn Signs, Sean Og's Bar, Ford, Greyhound Bar, Gerald Bailey & Co Solicitors, Castle Bar, Viva Burg, Turners Bar, Manzor Accountants, Kerry Blinds, Re-charge cartridges, Murphy Ramsay Walsh Solicitors, The Coin Off Licence, Ger Carmody Auctioneer, Gavin Broderick Solicitors, The Design Suite, Liston & Co. Solicitors, Kerry Link, The Ballymac Bar, Wadding Family Butcher, Bernard "Pop" Lynch Carpentry, St. Brendan's Park F.C., Kerry District League, Scanlon Floor & Decor, Komandor, Errea, The Brandon Hotel, Kerry Auto Pre Test, Castleisland Computer Centre.
Thank you for a special Cup weekend.