Kerry FC's losing streak in the SSE Airtricity First Division stretched to five games after a 2-1 home defeat to UCD last night.
The hosts were given the perfect start when Seanie McGrath scored in the 7th minute after a lovely pass from Steven Healy.
The lead was short-lived with Michael McCullagh punishing a defensive error in the 18th minute to level things for UCD.
The same man was on target in the 30th minute when the Kerry FC defence failed to clear the ball from their own penalty area.
Despite a better second half performance, Kerry FC couldn't find an equaliser.
FIRST HALF
The opening five minutes were mostly made up of UCD possession, but they couldn’t get anywhere near Antonio Tuta’s net with a few long passes going out for goal kicks. The game burst into action however only a couple of minutes later when Sean McGrath put Kerry FC into the lead. A bit of tight passing possession by the right side of the box had Steven Healy in space to pick out the free pass of Sean McGrath who buried the ball into the bottom left corner past Kian Moore in the student's goal. It was a fantastic start for Kerry FC and Sean McGrath once again showed a cool head to finish the ball neatly to the delight of the home support.
Just ten minutes later, UCD got themselves back level through a fantastic strike from Micheal McCullagh. He found space about forty yards from goal and faked a shot getting Steven Healy away from him and then hit a thirty-yard screamer into the right side of the net giving Antonio Tuta no chance.
Just fourteen minutes after the equaliser, McCullagh was on hand again to put UCD ahead. Luke O’Regan was in acres of space down the right-hand side before cutting it back to McCullagh who hit the ball into the ground and directed his shot in off of Tuta’s left-hand post. It was a huge turnaround for UCD after going behind early in the game.
Kerry FC needed to get back into the game fast as they were in real danger of losing by a bigger margin. After the Sean McGrath opening goal, there was very little being created and nothing at all testing for Moore in the opposition’s net.
SECOND HALF
Kerry made a couple of changes with Kennedy Amechi being replaced by Nathan Gleeson before the end of the first half due to a cut to the face and Daire McCarthy was moved into centre-back as Samuel Aladesanusi was replaced by Ronan Teahan.
Five minutes after the restart Sean McGrath had the ball in the back of the net but was ruled to have fouled Eanna Clancey. Clancey made a mistake in an outward pass which led to pressure from McGrath before going to ground which was a soft call some might say from Lucas Keating.
Kerry FC put in a much more spirited effort in the second half and had a chance sail just over the crossbar from McGrath from some distance out. Keating started dishing out yellow cards all around the place with Sean Brennan, Niall Holohan, Micheal McCullagh, Sean O’Connell, Daniel Okwute, Ronan Teahan and Daire McCarthy all going into the book.
Daniel Okwute missed a couple of tough chances inside the opposition’s box to try and level things up. In added time Harry Curtis saw a straight red card for a conversation between himself and Kerry attackers Nathan Gleeson and Victor Udeze. Whatever was said it was right in front of the referee and he did not hesitate in showing the UCD man the red card.
Although Kerry had the extra man for the last few minutes of added time it did not benefit the home side as the game ended in the ninety-sixty minute with UCD coming out 2-1 victors. Kerry will be happy with their second-half performance, but it is now five straight losses for Conor McCarthy’s side who travel to Ferrycarrig Park to take on Wexford FC next Friday.
KERRY FC TEAM: 1. ANTONIO TUTA, 15. KEVIN WILLIAMS, 6. ETHAN KOS, 18. SAMUEL ALADESANUSI, 3. SEAN O’CONNELL, 21. DAIRE MCCARTHY, 14. STEVEN HEALY, 7. SEAN MCGRATH (GOAL ‘6), 12. KENNEDY AMECHI, 9. RYAN KELLIHER (C), 11. DANIEL OKWUTE.
SUBS: AARON O’SULLIVAN, JACK KAVANAGH, RONAN TEAHAN, VALERII DOLIA, NATHAN GLEESON, CIAN BROSNAN, VICTOR UDEZE, GRAHAM O’REILLY, EVISON RRAMANI.
UCD TEAM: 1. KIAN MOORE, 3. ADAM WELLS, EANNA CLANCEY (C), 6. SEAN BRENNAN, 7. MICHAEL MCCULLAGH (GOAL ’17, ’30), 13. DONAL HIGGINS, 18. NIALL HOLOHAN, 26. LUKE O’REGAN, 29. JAKE DOYLE, 30. HUGH PARKER, 31. STEPHEN MOHAN
SUBS: DARA KAVANAGH, ALEX DUNNE, MICHAEL RAGGETT, CIARAN BEHAN, HARRY CURTIS, COLIN BOLTON, DANU KINSELLA BISHOP, ADAM VERDON, ADAM BRENNAN.
Kerry coach James SugrueKerry FC 1 UCD 2
Cork City preserved their eight-point lead at the top of the First Division with a 3-nil win at Cobh Ramblers.
Finn Harps beat Longford Town by 3-goals to 2.
Athlone continued their good form with a 2-1 defeat of Bray Wanderers.
And it finished 2-apiece between Treaty United and Wexford.
Shelbourne’s lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division was cut to a single point last night.
Damien Duff’s side had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Drogheda at Tolka Park.
While a late Michael Duffy goal gave second placed Derry City a 1-nil win at home to Bohemians.
16-year old Mason Melia rescued a point for St. Pat’s away to Shamrock Rovers - 2-2 was the final score in Tallaght.
Waterford are up to fourth after a Maleace Asamoah hat-trick helped them to a 4-1 defeat of Dundalk.
Galway United and Sligo Rovers finished goalless.
Today:
EA Sports LOI Underage Academy
Women U17s; 3.30 Kerry FC at Bray
Men U15s; 2.00 Kerry FC home to CK United
Men U20s; 3.00 Kerry FC at Cobh Ramblers
