Kerry FC are up to 6th in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division and just 2 points outside the play-off places.
It’s after a 2-1 win over Longford.
Words by David Moriarty
On Friday evening, Kerry FC were back at home in Mounthawk Park when they took on Longford Town in Tralee. The Kingdom looked to be in very high spirits going into the game, winning two on the bounce after last week’s massive win in Belfield, after taking all three points home from their trip to the Capital when they took on UCD AFC.
It meant heading into the match with Longford Town, Kerry FC were just four points off the playoff places, with certain results around the grounds meaning they could have finished the night just one point off Wexford in 5th place.
Longford Town started the evening ahead of Kerry FC by just three points, so a win in the Kingdom’s favour could make a huge difference in the race for promotion. Longford wanted to get back on track after last week’s massive 5-2 loss away to Bray Wanderers, where goalkeeper Kian Moore was sent off after just twenty minutes.
A big home crowd was expected as Kerry FC looked to win three games in-a-row for the first time in their short three and a half year history. And the Mounthawk faithful got what they came for.
FIRST HALF
Kerry FC got proceedings underway in Mounthawk Park, looking to impose themselves early, but the opening exchanges developed into a cautious and competitive contest with both sides trying to settle into possession and gain control in midfield.
There was little to separate the teams in the early stages and, despite plenty of energy from both sides, neither goalkeeper was significantly tested as defences remained on top.
Kerry began to show more attacking intent as the half progressed. In the twentieth minute, an intricate passage of play involving Vince Borden and Cian Brosnan opened up space for Daniel Okwute. Daniel drove forward and opted to test his luck from outside the area, but his effort failed to trouble CJ Odum.
Just two minutes later, Kerry threatened once again when Vince Borden connected sweetly with a half-volley from distance. The strike looked promising as it travelled towards the goal, but it drifted narrowly wide of the target.
The home side continued to push forward and nearly found a breakthrough in the thirtieth minute. Following a foul on Daniel Okwute in a dangerous area, Cian Brosnan stepped up to deliver a powerful free kick which forced Odum into an impressive save, the Longford goalkeeper tipping the effort over the crossbar.
Kerry remained the more threatening side for the remainder of the half, and Brosnan came close again in the fortieth minute. Receiving possession just inside the penalty area, he created enough room for himself before sending a low effort that narrowly passed the left-hand post.
With one minute added at the end of the opening period, neither side could find the finishing touch, and the teams went into the break level after a hard-fought but scoreless first half.
SECOND HALF
Kerry resumed with positive intent after the restart and almost immediately looked dangerous. In the forty-eighth minute, Daniel Okwute stepped forward confidently and struck a powerful effort from long range, but Odum gathered comfortably.
Longford created an opportunity of their own in the fifty-second minute when Pharrell Manuel laid the ball back into the path of Andy Paraschiv, whose strike sailed over the crossbar.
Kerry responded immediately, and Vince Borden again looked threatening as he tried his luck from distance, but his effort also travelled over the bar.
The visitors enjoyed a stronger spell midway through the second period, and Dean Williams came close in the fifty-seventh minute when a dangerous effort flashed narrowly past the post.
Colin Healy looked to freshen things up shortly afterwards, introducing Luke Palmer in place of Cian Brosnan in the fifty-eighth minute before Cian Bargary replaced Ryan Perez in the sixty-sixth minute.
Longford again threatened in the sixty-eighth minute when Williams found himself arriving at the back post, but he could not make the necessary connection, and the chance drifted harmlessly wide.
Kerry came agonisingly close to taking the lead in the seventy-fourth minute through Daniel Okwute. He unleashed a superb strike from distance, which crashed off the inside of the left post, somehow staying out in what looked certain to be the opening goal.
The home side continued pressing and, one minute later, substitute Cian Bargary delivered an inviting ball across the area which was intercepted by Odum before any Kerry FC attackers could apply the finishing touch.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the eightieth minute. Bargary again played a crucial role, producing an excellent delivery into the penalty area which found Cian Murphy making a run towards the near post. Murphy supplied the decisive touch to send Mounthawk Park into celebration and hand Kerry a deserved lead.
Longford responded quickly however, and restored parity just two minutes later. Following a scramble outside the area, the ball fell kindly to Andy Paraschiv, who produced an excellent finish into the bottom-right corner.
Kerry refused to let the setback affect them and regained the lead dramatically in the eighty-seventh minute. Sean O’Connell delivered an excellent corner into the area, and Vince Borden rose highest, directing a header goalwards as the ball bundled over the line to restore the Kingdom advantage.
With the clock winding down, Colin Healy turned to his bench and introduced Colin Healy for his debut in place of Daniel Okwute in the eighty-eighth minute as Kerry looked to see out the closing moments.
The final whistle soon followed, and Kerry FC celebrated a hard-earned victory as goals from Cian Murphy and Vince Borden secured a memorable 2-1 win and all three points in Mounthawk Park.
It meant that Kerry FC won their third game in a row for the first time in their short history and were only just one point from the playoff places. They now have to play back-to-back away games before welcoming Shelbourne in the FAI Cup, in what is a big month ahead for the Kingdom.
Kerry FC Team: Matthew Connor; Sean O’Connell, Cian Murphy (GOAL ‘80), Daniel Okwute, Jonas Häkkinen, Cian Brosnan, Samuel Aladesanusi, Ryan Perez, Vince Borden (GOAL ‘87), Niall Brookwell (C), Ewan Lee.
Subs Used: Colin Healy, Luke Palmer, Cian Bargary.
Longford Town Team: CJ Odum; Osaze Irhue, Taylor McCarthy, Jamie Egan (C), Pharrell Manuel, Sean Moore, Sultan Adenekan, Andy Paraschiv (GOAL ‘83), Jake Hough, Dean Williams, Darragh Murtagh.
Subs Used: Stefan Ugbesia, Cole Omorehiomwan, Mark Canavan
Photos by Konrad Pytlowski
Shamrock Rovers extended their lead at the summit of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division with a 3-1 win over Galway United.
10-man Bohemians moved up to second with a 2-0 win over St Pat's.
Waterford reversed a two goal deficit to beat Dundalk 3-2,
And Derry City beat Drogheda United 2-0.
There's one game tonight, with Sligo Rovers hosting Shelbourne at quarter-to-8.
