Tralee played their first of three very difficult
games in the top section of the J2 league on Sunday. The visitors on the day
were Cork aristocrats Dolphin who are one of the favourites to win the overall
competition. Tralee knew they had to up their
gears substantially from the previous week’s poor performance and I’m glad to
say they did just that.
From the off Dolphin
attacked with verve and intent and only for some excellent scramble defence they
were unlucky not to get an early score. But after this initially foray Tralee
composed themselves and went about using the severe elements to their
advantage, Liston pinned Dolphin into their own corner and once there the
Tralee pack were not letting them get out easily. After a sustained period of
pressure in the Dolphin half Tralee cut loose out wide and great handling by
Scott and Kerins created space for the try machine that is Brendan O’Mahony to
skin his man on the outside and touch down in the corner, Kerins failed with
the difficult conversion but Tralee had the all important lead. Indeed Tralee
had the superior possession and territory for the remainder of the half in
which the pack were immense to a man; unfortunately Tralee were dealt a double
blow when both Liston and Mike McCarthy were both injured within minutes of
each other, luckily for Tralee both Hurley and Dean who came on are no bad
replacements and both went on to have huge performances. The half ended with
Kerins slotting a wonderful penalty giving Tralee a slender but precious lead.
The second half was a
looser affair and Dolphin threw everything at Tralee but they could not find a way through and indeed never looked like doing so.
Tralee were in fact unlucky not to add to their try tally after Ger Mcnamara
went on a blistering run form his on half only to be hauled down at the last
minute. Mike Deane also went close with a powerful run down the right wing,
Tralee did finally get some reward for their adventure after they were awarded
a penalty for a leg trip on Laide, again Kerins slotted a fine penalty into a
gale force wind to push Tralee’s lead out to 11. The remainder of the game was
a tough physical affair with outstanding shifts put in by Coffey, Lyons, Morris
and Bryan O’Mahony and all of the forwards who really are the ones to be
credited with today’s win.
Tralee now make the long trip to Skibereen Sunday
next knowing that momentum must be maintained. But for today all of the squad
and coaches can be happy a good days work.
Team – Andy Sheehy,
Mike McCarthy, Simon Coffey, Mike Lyons, Morris O’Mahony, Nigel Daly, Bryan
O’Mahony, Liam Poff, Joe McCarthy, Terence Liston, Barry Laide, Evan Scott,
Brendan O’Mahony, Gordon Kerins, Ger Mcnamara.
Subs used – Jason
McCannon, Dean Summerhayes, Sean Hurley, Mike Deane.
