Skrzypczak goal decides Tralee derby

MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP FIRST ROUND

Tralee Dynamos 1 Tralee Celtic 0

THIS Tralee derby had extra appeal with three former Dynamos players James Sugrue, Anthony Murphy and John Farragher playing for Celtic in this game.

While Tralee Dynamos won the game Tralee Celtic will be left wondering just why they did not at least take it to extra-time having squandered some gilt-edged scoring chances in the concluding stages of the game.

However, great credit is due to the Dynamos defence, superbly marshalled by Jonathan Burrows, and when the pressure was on they defended deep and narrow, aiming to stifle their opponents with a combination of positional discipline and robust challenges. Dynamos can also thank their goalkeeper Gary Sugrue who made a few great saves at vital stages of the game.

Dynamos started the brighter and they created a good chance in the eighth minute when Przemyslaw Skrzypczak crossed perfectly for Skibinski Marek but his headed effort went over the top.

Then Celtic hit with a great counter attack with Billy Stack and Fiachra Dunne combining to set up a chance for John Farragher but he was denied by a great save by Dynamos goalie Gary Sugrue. Celtic came on the attack again after this and of a rasper for a shot from outside the box by James Sugrue went narrowly wide.

Dynamos went ahead in the 18th minute with a nicely crafted goal. It began out on the left wing with Simon Lorne and Shane Lowth linking up and when a cross came into the box it was not properly dealt with by the Celtic defence and Przemyslaw Skrzypczak ran on to the loose ball just outside the box and drilled it low to the bottom corner of the net.

Fiachra Dunne then had a chance for Celtic but he shot wide while John Farragher was denied by a superb save by Gary Sugrue diving low to push the ball around the post.

Dynamos had a chance just before the break when a free kick fell invitingly for Skibinski Marek but his effort on goal went over the top.

Celtic began to dominate the game in the second half but everything was breaking down in the final third of the pitch with the Dynamos rearguard well on top.

Celtic made a change early in the second half with Fergal Moynihan replacing James Sugrue.

Dynamos should have doubled their lead nine minutes into the second half when Shane Lowth played in Skibinski Marek with only the keeper to beat but he pulled his shot wide.

Dynamos got two free kicks just outside the box but both of them were wasted by Shane Lowth unable to get the ball past the defensive wall.

Celtic came all out in search of an equaliser in the concluding stages of the game but they just could not break down the Dynamos defence who were excellent.

Sean Moloney looked certain to score for Celtic in the 89th minute but he was denied by a brilliant save by Sugrue.

Celtic missed a real sitter two minutes into added time when Dynamos keeper Gary Sugrue miss-kicked his goal kick and it was gift wrapped for Stevie O’Mahoney with the wide open goals in front of him and he pulled his shot left and wide from 6 yards.

Dynamos now progress to meet Fenit Samphires in the quarter final.

TRALEE DYNAMOS: Gary Sugrue, Tony Duggan, Jonathan Burrows. Theo Diggins, Skibinski Marek, Oliver Coffey, Jetmir Ademat, Simon Lorne (Alejandro Fernandaz, 66 mins), Shane Lowth, Ivan Kolarevic, Przemyslaw Skrzypczak.

TRALEE CELTIC: Wayne Duggan, Sean Moloney, Stevie O’Mahoney, Derek O’Connor, Alan O’Donoghue, Greg Horan, Billy Stack (Jordan Murphy, 77 mins), James Sugrue (Fergal Moynihan, 52 mins), Fiachra Dunne, John Farragher, Anthony Murphy.

REFEREE: Ray Matthews FOOTNOTE

THE kick off for this game was 10 minutes late due to the referee taking issue with Tralee Dynamos whose players did not all have the same colour socks and they had to go and rectify the situation. Ray Matthews was going by the letter of the rulebook but one wonders was the 10-minute delay necessary.

Perhaps the sensible thing to do would have been to caution the club to rectify it next time out or risk a fine. There should be room for common sense and flexibility by those in charge of games, which wasn’t exercised in this instance.