Kerry went down to a narrow defeat in Galway last night in the SSE Airtricity First Division
A Maurice Nugent header after 10 minutes was enough for table toppers Galway United to take a nervy 1-0 win against Kerry FC last night.
Kerry fought to the very end and a Leo Gaxha header after 70 minutes was tipped away by the Galway keeper.
Kerry boss Billy Dennehy
FIRST HALF:
The opening stages of the first half were quite even. So much so it was Kerry who surprisingly took the first chance of the game. A cross into the box directed onto the head of Ryan Kelliher who did not get much power on it and was subsequently gathered easily by Brendan Clarke in the tribesmen sticks.
Kerry were coping very well with the league leaders and did not look out of their depth. Another chance would come for Kerry’s number nine just four minutes later when a pass in from Sean McGrath came to Ryan in space on his left foot. His effort was strong but was parried away once again by Clarke.
All of Kerry’s hard work in the opening ten minutes of the game would go unfairly undone when Galway took the lead. A cross into the box from Regan Donelon appeared to beat Kerry’s offside trap and Maurice Nugent headed home to make it 1-0.
Kerry kept going despite going one behind. And nine minutes after Galway took the lead, Kerry had two huge penalty shouts. The first of which was for a push on Ryan Kelliher who was once again making himself a nuisance in the box and the second a hand ball shout that was waved away without hesitation by Kevin O’Sullivan.
Another chance for Kerry and Ryan Kelliher went begging as his effort from close range went just over the crossbar. By watching the game, you would not think it was 1st v 10th. Kerry had the league leaders metaphorically biting their nails the closer they got to an equaliser.
As the half came to a close, Kerry were put under slight pressure with an effort from Maurice Nugent hitting the bar and a ball swung into the box for a corner cleared off the line. Galway were both unlucky not to go in leading by more at half time and lucky that Kerry were not leading themselves.
SECOND HALF:
The second half started as the first finished. Kerry having a chance. This time it was Sean McGrath who had a shot going over the crossbar from the edge of the box. It was getting heated on the touch line as Galway started to feel the pressure. Both Ollie Horgan and Robert Slevin went into the referee’s book during the exchange.
Kerry kept knocking on the tribesmen door and were very unlucky not to capitalise at least twice. The first started with a free header from Leo Gaxha which was superbly saved by Brendan Clarke and a contender for save of the season at that. The second came from Ryan Kelliher who followed up with a driven shot that went just wide of the left post. With seventeen minutes to go in the game, it only felt like a matter of time before the Kingdom where to equalise.
The attacking from Kerry was only possible due to the well-structured core that the Kingdom had set up from the start. Kevin Williams and Sam Aladesanusi left nothing begging at the back and the likes of Ronan Teahan, Cian Barrett, and Matt Keane put great shifts in at midfield challenging for every loose ball. Sean McGrath ran over every blade of grass possible on the pitch and had nothing left in the tank by the end of the game.
Kennedy Amechi entered the frame and threatened with a shot just outside the box but never troubled the Galway defence. Despite Kerry’s best efforts, Galway managed to scrape the 1-0 win. The travelling side were a couple of better decisions and a few huge chances away from coming out of Eamonn Deacy Park with all three points and must be applauded for a great away performance from players, coaches, and travelling supporters who never stopped driving on the team throughout the ninety minutes. Kerry return to Mount Hawk Park next Friday as they face Treaty United. With the performance that was put in on the night, deliver the same next week and there is nothing to say Kerry FC will not get their first home win of the season.
KERRY FC TEAM: 16. CALLAN SCULLY, 17. NATHAN GLEESON, 15. KEVIN WILLIAMS (C), 18. SAMUEL ALADESANUSI, 22. CIAN BARRETT, 3. SEAN O’CONNELL, 8. MATT KEANE (C), 23. RONAN TEAHEN, 7. SEAN MCGRATH, 10. LEO GAXHA, 9. RYAN KELLIHER
SUBS: RICHIE HEALY, ANDY QUAID, KENNEDY AMECHI, TOGOR SILONG, ALEX AINSCOUGH, SHANE GUTHRIE, GRAHAM O’REILLY, CIAN BROSNAN.
GALWAY UNITED TEAM: 1. BRENDAN CLARKE 2. CONOR O’KEEFE, 3. REGAN DONELON, 4. ROBERT SLEVIN, 6. MAURICE NUGENT (GOAL ‘10), 7. STEPHEN WALSH, 14. RONAN MANNING, 17. VINCENT BORDEN, 22. CONOR MCCORMACK (C), 24. EDWARD MCCARTHY, 10. DAVID HURLEY.
SUBS: ALEX RUTTER, KILLIAN BROUDER, MICHAEL WALSH ROWE, ROBERT MANLEY, FRANCELY LOMBOTO, EVAN O’CONNOR, STEVEN HEALY, OISIN O’REILLY, BRIAN CUNNINGHAM.
Galway remain 13 points clear at the top, as Waterford beat Finn Harps
Cobh Ramblers scored two late goals to win 3-2 away to Athlone.
While Treaty United and Bray finished 1-each.
