Tralee Dynamos edge out The Park in Munster Junior Cup derby

MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND

THE big Tralee derby between arch rivals Tralee Dynamos and The Park was the star attraction at Cahermoneen on Saturday evening and it lived up to its billing and after a fascinating showdown it was Tralee Dynamos that took the spoils in a very entertaining game played in true cup spirit.

It was a difficult game to handle for referee Adrian Quirke as no quarter was asked or given with both sides totally committed to the cause.

It was a game that produced a litany of yellow cards, one red card, a penalty miss as well as a few other penalty claims.

It was a Dynamos side that had a good few players in the twilight of their playing careers while The Park were blooding some of their young players and a few of them performed very well.

The game started almost half hour late and if it had to go to extra time the game would not be finished.

Dynamos settled quickest into the game with James Sugrue ruling the roost at midfield and provided the launch pad for most of their attacks.

Dynamos had an early chance but John Farragher pulled his shot wide.

However they went ahead in the sixth minute with an excellently executed goal.

Some slick passing at midfield unsettled the Park defence and Jamie McIntyre used his strength to win the ball and after making ground he delivered a superb through ball to Danny Roche in full flight. He controlled it beautifully and applied a clinical finish from close in.

Gradually The Park began to put a number of attacks together with Ryan Downey prominent in the middle of the park they looked very dangerous going forward and on the break.

They got a great chance to equalise in the 23rd minute when they were awarded a penalty kick after Mark Fitzgerald took down Adam O Rourke inside the box.

O’Rourke hit the spot kick low for the bottom corner but Dynamos keeper Josh O’Reilly dived full length to his left and made a terrific save.

The Park had a strong claim for a penalty shortly afterwards but this time it was not given.

Then a foul on John Fitzgerald by Eamon Sheehy gave Dynamos a free kick on the verge of the box.

It was hit sweetly by James Sugrue but The Park goalie Tommy Moriarty got down low to make a fine save.

The Park made a change for the second half with Sean Ryan replacing Eamon Sheehy.

The sub was in the thick of the action quickly and he had a decent chance but he fired over the top.

Now The Park were turning the screw but they were unable to unhinge the Dynamos defence which was well marshalled by Mark Fitzgerald and Jonathan Burrows.

Dynamos could have doubled their lead in the 59th minute when James Sugrue put John Farragher through on goals but his shot was parried by The Park goalie and he put the rebound into the side netting.

The Park had a good chance to equalise in the 63rd minute when Sean Ryan set up James Duggan but he was denied by a good save by Josh O Reilly in the Dynamos goals.

Down the other end Dynamos forced a corner kick which was floated in by James Sugrue and Mark Fitzgerald headed wide.

The Park’s chances of getting back into the game took a major setback in the 76th minute when James Duggan received a red card for a rash tackle on Mark Fitzgerald.

Five minutes later Dynamos got the breakthrough they had been threatening when Danny Roche made his trademark run down the left wing and as he cut in and linked up with Jamie McIntyre and from inside the box he rifled a low shot to the bottom corner of the net.

To their credit The Park kept trying to get an equaliser but it never looked like coming and Dynamos progress to the next round of the competition with a home tie against Killarney Athletic. TRALEE DYNAMOS: Josh O’Reilly, Aaron Dewey, Jonathan Burrows, Mark Fitzgerald, Oliver Coffey, John Fitzgerald, James Sugrue, Theo Diggins, Jamie McIntyre, John Farragher (Edward Duggan 81), Danny Roche. THE PARK: Tommy Moriarty, Gavin Wadding (Thomas Leen 53 mins), Adam Ward, Martin Bowler (Donagh O’Brien 67 mins), Simon Kedzierski, Ryan Downey, Darcy O’Sullivan, Adam O’Rourke, Fergal Maunsell, Eamon Sheehy (Sean Ryan 46 mins), James Duggan. REFEREE: Adrian Quirke