Kerry FC are into the ¼ finals of the Sports Direct FAI Cup.
A 2-0 victory over Cobh means they go into the draw for the last 8 at 12.30 on Tuesday.
Kerry manager Colin Healy Kerry FC 2 Cobh Ramblers 0
Match report by David Moriarty and photographs below by Luke O'Mahony
Kerry FC were back in Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup action on Friday evening as they took on Cobh Ramblers in Mounthawk Park in the third round of the competition.
Cobh came into the game on a hugely impressive run of form, losing just one game since the twenty-seventh of June. They progressed to this round of the cup thanks to a 2-0 win away to Crumlin side Bangor Celtic with goals from Sam Bellis and Matthew Whelan.
Kerry FC’s route to the third round was one of the highlights of the second round weekend as a Joe Adams free kick late in stoppage time brought them to extra time, where Kennedy Amechi would get the winner.
The cup weekend came at a good time for Kerry FC as they needed a distraction from last week’s loss to Finn Harps in Tralee, and it was hoped it would be a good one. The sun was out, and the Rose of Tralee International Festival was in full swing; all that was needed to cap off a great weekend was a place in the Quarter Final draw
FIRST HALF
The game got off to a lightning-quick start when, inside the first minute, Cian Brosnan dispossessed John O’Donovan just outside the area. O’Donovan then took down Brosnan, giving referee Aaron O’Dowd no choice but to give a straight red card. Brosnan took the given free kick, which was a bullet, but unfortunately went wide of Timothy Martin’s goal.
Kerry FC knew then they would have an advantage on the away side, but also needed to take that advantage; thankfully, they did so in the ninth minute of the game. A cross into the area was headed away by Shane Griffin and came back to Cian Brosnan, who hit a left-foot volley straight into the back of the net, being nothing short of a Cian Brosnan special.
A couple of minutes later, Ronan Teahan was in a great position to double the lead in no time, but the chance was also in a very tough angle, meaning his proceeding shot could only find the side netting. Kerry started very lively, and Cobh looked to be on the ropes since going down to ten men inside just the first minute.
Cobh Ramblers had their first opportunity of the game after fifteen minutes when Barry Coffey had the ball in the back of the net, but he was ruled to be offside, which was a close call but the right one from the fourth official.
Just after the half-hour mark, Ronan Teahan had a curled effort from inside the area go wide, nearly getting that second goal that they deserved in the game. Chris McQueen got on the end of a Sean O’Connell free kick seven minutes later, but the glancing header went just wide of the right-hand post.
Kerry FC headed into the second half in a comfortable position, but knew that in the second half, they would need to take advantage of the missed chances if they were to put the game to bed.
SECOND HALF
Nine minutes into the second half, Matthew Connor was called into action when he made a truly outstanding save to deny Cobh centre forward Cian Murphy from an equaliser. The cross came from the right and Murphy rose highest to but O’Connor made sure that Kerry FC protected their lead. Just five minutes later, Harvey Cribb had a glorious chance at the back post, but he didn’t a good enough connection on the opportunity, and he squandered the opportunity
They would live to regret that as just three minutes later, Kerry FC had the chance to go two up when Iestyn Hughes took down Joe Adams in the area. A needless foul, which Joe Adams would then step up with a slight stutter and stick the penalty away to put the home side in a very comfortable position.
Cobh’s chances of making anything of the game diminished massively just before stoppage time when Shane Griffin was penalised with a second yellow card, meaning Cobh would finish the game with just nine men. Kerry FC were in dreamland, and the overall performance warranted the win because from minute one to ninety-six, they were nothing short of pure class.
The full-time whistle sounded, and Kerry FC added their name to the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup Quarter Final draw for the first time in their short history. All eyes will now be on the draw on Tuesday afternoon to see who the next team is on this brilliant Kerry FC cup run.
Kerry FC Team: 16. Matthew Connor, 3. Sean O'Connell, 4. Oran Crowe, 5. Christopher McQueen, 6. Carl Mujaguzi, 8. Ronan Teahan, 14. Robert Cleary, 15. Kevin Williams, 17. Cian Brosnan (GOAL ‘9), 18. Samuel Aladesanusi, 28. Niall Brookwell.
Subs: Darragh Foley, Joe Adams (GOAL PEN ‘63), Oran Horgan, Kennedy Amechi, Abel Alabi, Luke Doolan, Ryan Perez, Finn Barrett, Sean McGrath.
Cobh Ramblers Team: 16. Timothy Martin, 3. John O’Donovan, 4. Niall O’Keefe, 6. Shane Griffin (C), 7. Cian Bargary, 8. Barry Coffey, 9. Cian Murphy, 14. Cian Coleman, 18. Jonas Häkkinen, 23. Shane Griffin, Harvey Cribb.
Subs: Oisin Barry, Lestyn Hughes, Brendan Frahill, Rhys Gourdie, Dylan McGlade, Luka Le Bervet, Jason Abbott, Samuel Bellis, Mathew Whelan.
