Dynamos relish Kerry soccer’s ‘biggest game’
It may be known as the FAI Ford Cup third round these days but tonight’s visit of Salthill Devon to Cahermoneen represents the furthest a Kerry club has ever managed in domestic football’s Blue Riband (kick off 6.30pm). It also represents a decent chance of advancing even further.
Both sides are riding high in their respective sections of the Newstalk League of Ireland A Championship so if the laws of football can be deemed worthy of standing up to scrutiny, home advantage must count for something.
“We were a bit disappointed that we didn’t draw one of the top clubs,” admits club chairman Ger Moloney. “But we have an opposition playing at the same level as ourselves so at least we have a chance of getting something out of it. I think that’s more important to be honest. Our chances against one of the top sides would be nil. And then we could get a very attractive draw in the last 16, which would be great. But we’re only looking as far as (tonight) and we’ll take it from there.”
Their pioneering spirit brings a certain amount of responsibility but Moloney is conscious of the need to show the emerging Kerry District League in its best light.
“It’s the biggest game in the club’s history and probably in the county too,” he notes. “We’re representing the county. Everyone in the county has wished us well, as they did with the League of Ireland ‘A’ Championship. This is the next step. If these things go right we can keep pushing up through the leagues. That’s going to take time but that’s what we plan to do.”
Climbing up the ladder to senior football would be apt for a county in which the sport is booming.
“According to the soccer board in Kerry, it’s the biggest sport in the county as regards participation,” says Moloney. “They reckon they have over 1,500 guys playing soccer. I don’t know. But we have always been a soccer club and none of our players play football, they play soccer and soccer only. Now, I have nothing against GAA, I’ll be shouting for Kerry against Cork!”
Coach Jason Fitzgerald will take charge tonight with manager David Staunton away organising his UEFA ‘A’ Licence in coaching. And Fitzgerald has little in the way of injury concerns with David O’Leary coming back from injury. However, they are coming off an untimely free weekend which has disrupted preparations slightly after they were due to play Shamrock Rovers’ reserves last Saturday in Tallaght only for a rain-sodden pitch to cause a postponement.
“It has worked against us, definitely,” admits the Dynamos coach. “We were going up there in good spirits and were playing well so the break won’t suit us at all, but there’s nothing we can do about it, the weather played its part and that was it.
“We know a lot about (Salthill Devon), they’re top of the table and they’re flying but we’re not doing too badly ourselves. A few of the papers down here are suggesting this could be the start of a bit of a rivalry. But no, they’re a great club and I was even keeping tabs on them before the draw was made. It’s as hard a draw as you can get without getting a team from the Premier or the First Division.
“This is the biggest game in our history. Everyone at the club is very excited and there’s a lot of work behind the scenes. (RTÉ Two’s) Monday Night Soccer are coming down to film training and the match. It’s fantastic for the club, fantastic for Kerry soccer.”
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