Athletic peg Dynamos back for draw

GREYHOUND BAR CUP

Tralee Dynamos 1 Killarney Athletic 1 DYNAMOS and Athletic will have to do it all again after a 1-1 draw.

In a very tight game all through both defences were rock solid with Shane Guthrie running the show for Dynamos and Shane Doolan for Athletic. Athletic opened with the better chances firstly Cillian Fitzgerald’s shot from just outside the box went the wrong side of the post. Mike Milner had another opportunity, but again was unable to hit the target.

Dynamos responded through Mark Fitzgerald who set up James Sugrue, but his shot went over the bar with a half an hour gone on the clock.

Dynamos broke the deadlock in the 34th minute after a great passage of play.

The build up began inside the bottom right hand corner of the pitch Mark Fitzgerald exchanged passes with James Sugrue who released Jonathan Hannafin down the left touchline.

He ran unopposed until the far side of the 18 yard box where he whipped in a cross to John Farragher who controlled the ball but was brought down inside the box leading to a penalty kick.

James Sugrue took the penalty sending Rafa Barty the wrong way with the ball nestling in the bottom right hand corner. Athletic had the final chance before the break when Jamie Doolan crossed for Danny Healy to head towards goal only for O’Reilly to catch comfortably under the bar.

Athletic opened the second half in determined mode and were rewarded within a couple of minutes of the restart.

Gavin O’Shea was fouled inside the Dynamos half of the pitch on the right hand side.

Shane Doolan floated in beautiful cross that was met by Jeff O’Donoghue and his powerful header went into the top corner of the net giving the Dynamos net-minder no chance.

Athletic pushed on with Mike Milner shooting over the bar reminding Dynamos that they needed to push up a gear if they were to stay in the hunt. They did respond with Mark Fitzgerald lofting in a good ball to Anthony Murphy who cushioned the ball for Theo Diggins and his volley was just over the crossbar.

Diggins was involved again a couple of minutes later setting up John Farragher but he could not keep his shot down.

A James Sugrue corner was headed goal-wards by Mark Fitzgerald where it was helped on its way by Farragher only for Barty to save.

Both sides were reduced to 10 men when an altercation took place over the far side of the pitch after the ball was played forward by Diggins the referee stopped play and red carded both Jamie Doolan and Theo Diggins, despite the protests of innocence from both players.

Athletic keeper Rafa Barty deprived Dynamos a winner when he pulled off a stunning save from a Jamie McIntyre volley that was flying towards the top corner of the net getting a hand on the ball deflecting it off the crossbar and into safety.

Athletic were always a threat and Shane Doolan headed just over a Brian O’Reilly corner as both sides pushed for the win.

Dynamos introduced Kevin Willams and Dara Lowth for John Farragher and Jonathan Hannafin. Both players acquitted themselves very well with Lowth denied by another outstanding Rafa save with his goal bound shot.

At the end of the day a draw was probably a fair outcome.

TRALEE DYNAMOS: Josh O’Reilly, Maurice O’Rahilly, Jonathan Hannafin (Dara Lowth), Joe Weir, Shane Guthrie, James Sugrue, Jamie McIntyre, Mark Fitzgerald, Anthony Murphy, John Farragher (Kevin Willams), Des Benson (Theo Diggins)

KILLARNEY ATHLETIC: Rafa Barty, Cillian Fitzgerald, Brian O’Reilly, Shane Doolan, Jeff O’Donoghue, Danny Healy, Mike Lindsay, Jamie Doolan, Shane Lynch, Gavin O’Shea, Mike Milner, Chris O’Meara, Cillian O’Reagan, Seanie O’Shea, Aidan Mulvanney