Denny Ladies League Final Replay; Tralee Dynamos 1-3 Inter Kenmare

Denny Ladies League Final Replay
Wednesday 15th July 2015
Tralee Dynamos 1-3 Inter Kenmare , AET.

By Tommy Naughton
(Pictures Copyright to KDL & T.Naughton and cannot be used anywhere else without permission) .

Inter Kenmare Fc were crowned Denny Ladies League Champions after they overcame the Challenge from Tralee Dynamos in Extra Time in the League Final Replay. The two sides had already drawn 2-2 , 3-3 and 4-4 in their three previous meetings this season so it was no surprise that the game was tied at 1-1 at the end of normal time.

After a very nervy start by both sides the deadlock was broken as early as the tenth minute when a corner from Inter Kenmare’s Katie O’Shea was forced home in a crowded penalty area by Michelle O’Sullivan. Tralee Dynamos reaction was excellent and within minutes of conceding they nearly were level when Natasha O’Sullivan picked the ball up on the half way line before driving at the Kenmare defence but saw her well struck shot saved by Nora Mai O’Brien. Nora Mai again had to be alert moments later to deny Paula O Regan’s over head kick finding the net from a Megan Power O’Brien corner.
The game was now moving quickly from end to end , Indre Agajeva saw her shot saved by Nora Mai O’Brien who quickly picked out Caroline McCarthy , McCarthy first touch was sublime as she put Laura O’Sullivan through on goal only for Elaine Williams to deny her diving bravely at her feet.
Just after the half hour mark Natasha O Sullivan crossed from the right wing towards Megan Power O’Brien who had pealed of her marker but saw her glancing header just miss the far post going wide. Caroline McCarthy nearly doubled Inter Kenmare’s lead when she was quickest to react to some hesitation in the Dynamos defence but again Elaine Williams did well saving at full stretch. The first half ended with Inter Kenmare ahead with Inter Kenmare’s Geraldine Cahalane and Tralee Dynamos Natasha O’Sullivan having a great individual battle in a very lively opening forty five minutes.
Tralee Dynamos came out in the second half in a very attacking mode and Nora Mai O’Brien had to save twice in the opening five minutes firstly saving bravely at the feet of Natasha O’Sullivan and then deny Megan O’Brien’s curling effort. Megan Power O’Brien finally beat the Inter Kenmare keeper in the 53rd minute when she won the race between the two outside the penalty area but her effort rolled the wrong side of the post for a goal kick. Inter Kenmare were now playing on the counter attack as Dynamos went in search of the equaliser and from a Dynamos corner Kenmare broke quickly when Geraldine Cahalane picked out Caroline McCarthy who cut in from the right wing but saw here effort hit the side netting. With twenty five minutes left they game was levelled and it came from another corner. Megan Power O’Brien delivered it to the near post where Kim o Halloran flicked goal wards beating the keeper but Linda O’Connor was alert to head the ball from the line before Natasha O’Sullivan drove the rebound home.
The game was now their for the taking and Natasha O’Sullivan went close again with a volley from outside the penalty area. Both teams were now getting nervy as we entered the final quarter of the game , Indre Agajeva picked out Natasha O’Sullivan who knocked the ball into the path of Megan Power O’Brien but again saw her shot saved by Nora Mai O’Brien. The keeper quickly delivered the ball to Karina O’Connor who picked out Caroline McCarthy whose attempted lob was just wide of the far post. The final chance in normal time fell to Caroline McCarthy but her goal bound effort was blocked by the outstanding Nicky Sheehy in the Tralee Dynamos defence.
Into extra time the game went and in the final minute of the first period Inter Kenmare nearly retook the lead , when Karina O’Connor got in behind the Dynamos defence and beat the keeper from a tight angle only to see the ball hit the bottom of the far post . The second period of extra time was looking like it would take us to penalties however with only seven minutes remaining Inter Kenmare took the lead. Linda O’Connor took control of the ball on the half way line before passing to Michelle O’Sullivan whose delightful chip sent Laura O’Sullivan through with only the keeper to beat where she made no mistake. The final action of a thrilling league final saw the goal of the night when Michelle O’Sullivan scored from a fantastic stuck free kick from near thirty five yards out the found the top corner where any keeper would have had problems in trying to keep it out.
Kerry District League Secretary John O’Regan presented the new Ladies League Cup to the Inter Kenmare Captain Karina O’Connor. He also thank the two clubs for their continued commitment to the Ladies League through out the season.

Inter Kenmare ; Nora Mai O’Brien, Geraldine Cahalane, Caroline Taylor, Caroline McCarthy, Majella O’Sullivan, Laura O’Sullivan, Linda O’Connor, Karina O’Connor, Michelle O’Sullivan, Katie O’Shea ,Betty Cremin. Subs ; Linda Twomey for Betty Cremin (93 mins), Aoife Browne for Linda O’Connor (105 mins).

Tralee Dynamos ; Elaine Baily , Nicky Sheehy, Orla Cannon, Karina Slattery, Indre Agajeva, Norma O Connor, Kim O’Halloran, Breda Slattery, Natasha O’Brien, Megan Power O’Brien, Paula O’Regan. Subs ; Denise Minnock for Breda Slattery ( 70 mins) .

Referee ;
Kevin Cunningham .