TRALEE Dynamos maintained their unbeaten run with a hard-earned victory over a brave AC Athletic outfit in section B of the Premier Division, in a game played in ideal conditions at Cahermoneen.

Dynamos, who have only dropped two points in the league this season, were expecting to win this game despite AC Athletic's determination and hunger for success but the league leaders had to fight all the way to repel the challenge of the Abbeydorney- Causeway outfit.

Indeed, AC Athletic had a goal disallowed – a strike that went all the way from a goal kick taken by AC's Ian Maunsell – as they were deemed to have had too many players on the pitch. Dynamos themselves had lots of possession and should have had the game in safe keeping long before the end but AC battled all the way. John Fitzgerald and his brother Eamonn, along with Pat Spillane and the dangerous John Mike Dooley, tried very hard and goalkeeper Maunsell kept Dynamos out with some fine saves.

Dynamos were strong at the back with Damien Murphy and Maurice O'Rahilly in fine form while at midfield, Billy Kerins and Dave Staunton battled hard with Kevin Lucey outstanding on the left flank though he was sent off lat in the game.

Dynamos, of course, were missing their ace marksman Adrian McHugh but, overall, this was typical seasonal fare and Dynamos deserved the win. The Tralee side began well and were on top for the first fifteen minutes but failed to create clear-cut goaling chances. Then, in the 15th minute, a free kick by David Leahy saw John Fitzgerald head powerfully goalwards and it took a fine save from Dynamos Donnacha Galvin to prevent AC taking a shock lead.

Indeed, AC were dangerous from corner kicks and in the 20th minute Shane Harty was just over with a header from a corner after he was left unattended by a Dynamos' defence that seemed to be sleeping.

Dynamos broke in the 21st minute with Michael Kerins feeding Roland Rogers and, when he sent over his cross, Edward Duggan just failed to get a touch and Darren Young turned the ball behind for a corner.

Dynamos' pressure eventually paid dividends when they scored in the 25th minute following a well-taken corner by Kevin Lucey which was headed home by Damien Murphy who had come up from his centre-back position for the set piece.

Dynamos took over for the next fifteen minutes and should really have put AC to the sword but Mark Walsh, John Fitzgerald and Shane Harty battled hard for the losers.

In the 28th minute, Darren Crotty put Kevin Lucey through and his cross was headed over by Billy Kerins. Dynamos wasted another chance in the 30th minute after good work by Rogers and Lucey saw Dave Staunton shoot inches wide.

In the 35th minute a Lucey corner saw keeper Maunsell having to flick over his crossbar as Lucey's effort almost went all the way. AC counter-attacked in the 38th minute and good work by David Leahy saw John Mike Dooley hit inches over. Then in the 40th minute a corner by AC saw David Leahy float it in and, when it broke loose in the box, Eamonn Fitzgerald poked home the equaliser. AC almost took the lead before halftime saw a long ball out of defence find the dangerous John Mike Dooley and his effort was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Galvin.

The sides retired on level terms at the break and it was all to play for in the second half. Early in the second half, David Leahy saw his free kick being well saved by Donnacha Galvin. Then in the 48th minute Lucey went on a fine run from the halfway line and his cross was headed against the post by Maurice O'Rahilly.

Dynamos struck for what proved to be the winning goal in the 50th minute when Michael Kerins crossed the ball with his left leg which is a rarity for Michael but Edward Duggan was on hand to head home.

Galvin had to be alert to deny AC three minutes later when he tipped over a corner. AC tried hard to get the equaliser and in the 55th minute good work by Eamonn Fitzgerald saw David Leahy's effort saved by Donnacha Galvin and a free kick minutes later by Pat Spillane saw his effort being saved by Derek O'Shea who had just come on for the injured Galvin for Dynamos. In the 6oth minute, Dynamos should have made the game safe when a superb move involving Kevin Lucey saw Edward Duggan shooting over and at this stage tempers were getting frayed with some rash challenges and a couple of players were booked. Dynamos continued to attack but AC were dangerous on the break and Mark Walsh almost equalised in the 70th minute.

David Staunton was doing good work at midfield and with Lucey tormenting AC down the flanks Dynamos should really have made the game safe but in the 80th minute a good ball from Staunton to Edward Duggan saw a free shot on goal being mistimed. Then, in a frantic finish, Kevin Lucey, who had been taken down on four occasions going through, showed dissent to referee Kerrisk and was shown the red card but, overall, Dynamos just about deserved to gain maximum points and stay firmly on top of the table.

Dynamos: Galvin, Crotty, O'Rahilly, Murphy, M. Kerins, Rogers, B. Kerins, Staunton, Lucey, Duggan, McCrohan (Meehan).

AC Athletic: Maunsell, Young, Walsh, J. Fitzgerald, Dillane, E. Fitzgerald, Harty, Spillane, Carroll, Dooley, Leahy. Referee: T. Kerrisk.