This was the 1st compeditive game of the new season and what a better motivator than a local derby match against our neighbours Tralee Dynamos in the 1st Round of the National Cup. The Park lads were coming off a sucessful series of preseason friendlies with Dynamos looking for revenge from a 1/4 K-cup defeat last season.
1st Half
The Park lads were playing into a stiff breeze and made a good positive,composed start to the game creating a few half chances for the front men of Mervyn & Sean. The centre midfield pairing of colin and junior were battling hard in front of the back four with incisive pasing out wide with Mervyn tireless working both wings and thru the centre as the link man to the No 9 Sean who was making his compeditive debut for the Park. Both wingers Nathan and Liam were working the lines beautifully, tracking back constantly to support the full backs of Darragh and Rhys.
It was a tough affair but the Park lads were creating the better chances and you felt a goal was going to come and 8 mins in Mervyn became the provider with a dinky lob over the dynamos defence into Sean who placed a delicate chip over the keeper to back of the net, 1-0 up and this was the tonic the park needed, now playing with confidence and creating further chances from Nathan and Colin. To be fair to Dynamos they battled hard and were creating chances of their own from the main threat on right wing Sean kennedy, but the park central defence of Cian & Kevin (also making his debut in a Park shirt) and left full back Rhys were equal to the challenge with Darragh providing good cover and all four defended their lines with great authority.
It looked like it was going to be 1-0 to park at half time but mervin had other ideas and 3 mins to half time it took the ball from defence on the right and after a 60yd run fired the ball from right outside the box to beat the keeper with Sean smashing the ball to the back of the net ensuring a 2-0 lead to the Park. 2mins later on the stroke of halftime nathan whipped a pinpoint cross from the right to Liam who had ran into centre who slid the ball across the box to Sean, one on one with the keeper, only outcome was a goal, 3-0 to the Park at the break. A great sporting gesture as Sean
2nd Half
With a 3 goal advantage The Park were brimming with confidence and carried on thru the 2nd half as they had finished the 1st half with a swagger that created a lot of chances but failed to convert.
Dynamos were always a threat from set pieces particularily in the 2 nd half and were close to scoring a couple of times but the park defence were resilient and working hard to clear their lines and with Gavin on top form in goals it was a titanic achievement to keep a clean sheet against the league champions.
Conor came on up front with Greg on the left to add another dimension as the Park tried to close out the game. Defensive changes were made with Tide & Elliot coming into fullback positions to give fresh legs to relieve a tireless display from Rhys/Darragh. Nathan H made his debut coming in to central defence for Cian who had been a rock through out the game.
3- 0 the final score and a deserved win for the Park team who battled hard in all sectors of the pitch and are rewarded with a 2nd round match at home v Abbeyfeale FC.
Team sport has a habit of bringing the best out of lads which can create strong bonding and team spirit and this was to be shown in the dressing room after the game in particular a truly great sporting gesture from Sean Mc who didnt claim his hatrickbut instead insisted that for the 2nd goal the ball was over the line from Mervyn’s shot before he smashed it home.
Thats Team Spirit!!!
Players of Note: Liam, Sean, Colin, Kevin, Cian, Junior, Nathan,Rhys
Man of the Match: Mervyn Shalemba, a fantastic display, gut bursting runs through the middle and wings, battled hard to turn over possession time and time again upfront. With a goal assist and a superb individual strike himself cemented this MOTM performance.
Squad on the Day: Gavin Doody, Cian Purcell, Darragh Moriarty, Kevin Goulding, Rhys Keane, Junior Ankomah, Colin Walsh, Mervyn Shalemba, , Nathan Gleeson, Liam Tobin, Sean McGrath , Nathan Holden,Greg Scanlon, Conor O’ Sullivan, Elliot Lynch, Tide Osinubi
