Denny Premier B League Final 2013/14

Kerry District League
Sunday 29th June , 2014
Tralee Dynamos 3-0 Athletico Ardfert

By Tommy Naughton

Tralee Dynamos were crowned Denny Premier B League champions on Sunday evening when they overcame the challenge of fellow promotion winners Athletico Ardfert. In truth Tralee Dynamos were much fitter and sharper all over the field and fully deserved their victory.

As early as the fourth minute Tralee Dynamos took an early lead when Aaron Houlihan whipped in an in-swinging cross from the left wing which Danny Roche glanced goalwards into the bottom corner.

It was nearly two nil within minutes when Aaron Houlihan saw his header from a James Sugrue just go over the crossbar. Tralee Dynamos were now well on top all over the field with Athletico Ardfert finding it very hard to keep hold of possession for any long periods. Again Aaron Houlihan was causing loads of trouble on the left wing and his deep cross picked out Eoin Cassidy who knocked the ball down to Danny Roche but his snap shot just missed the near post.

Just after the half hour mark a great run by Jonathan Hannifin was picked out but Eoin Cassidy whose first time shot rolled across the face of the goal and wide. The final chance of the first half saw a great passing move involving Uros Ivkovic, James Sugrue and Eoin Cassidy ended up with Danny Roche whose curling effort from out side the box just missed the far post. The half time whistle went minutes later with Tralee Dynamos knowing they could have been further ahead with the possession and chances they had in the first half.

The second half continued in the same matter as the first finished with Tralee Dynamos forcing the tempo of the game and within minutes Maurice O’Rahilly was out through by Danny Roche but his shot under pressure hit the side netting at the near post. Athletico then had a great chance to level matters after a long ball up field was flicked on by Mairtin Ferris passed the last defender into the past of Brian Moloney who only had the keeper to beat as he entered the penalty area, however he choose to turn back onto his right foot and was crowded out and the chance was gone, from here Tralee Dynamos broke quickly down field where Jonathan Hannafin made no mistake when curling a low effort with his left foot into the far bottom corner to double their lead.

Minutes later Tralee Dynamos Keeper Gary Sugrue and Athletico Ardfert’s Shane Griffin were involved in an altercation which saw both players being shown a straight red card which meant Josh O’Reilly had to be brought on in goals for Tralee Dynamos. Nicky O’Sullivan then produced a great one on one save from Jonathan Hannafin to keep Athletico in the game but it was over as a contest midway through the half when Eoin Cassidy squared the ball to Danny Roche to score his second which the Ardfert players protested heavily that it should have been flagged for offside.

The reminder of the game fizzled away with both sides missing chances as the games tempo faded in the final quarter. Athletico were reduced to nine men in the dying minutes when Martin Deady was shown a straight red for leading with his forearm as he challenge Damien Diggins.

It wasn’t long after this the final whistle went and Tralee Dynamos had picked up another league crown and now look forward to being back in the top flight in Kerry soccer next season.

Referee; Anthony Morrison
Assistant; Stuart Templeman
Assistant; Kevin Cunningham