Kerry have moved into the play-off places in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division.
Sean McGrath got the only goal in the victory over Wexford.
Kerry FC v Wexford FC. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry FC v Wexford FC. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry FC v Wexford FC. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry FC v Wexford FC. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry FC v Wexford FC. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry FC v Wexford FC. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry SportThe win takes the Kingdom into 5th place and onto 45 points, one behind 4th placed Cobh.
Kerry are ahead of Athlone on goal difference and a point better off than Longford, who host Cork tonight.
Kerry FC report David Moriarty
Kerry FC were back at home on Friday night for the penultimate home fixture and the fourth-last game of the regular season, hosting Wexford FC in Mouthawk Park.
Kerry FC came into the game needing three points to keep up the pace in the race for the promotion playoffs. Just five points separate fourth and eighth in the league table, and with four games to go, every point was crucial.
Kerry FC had not lost to Wexford FC so far this season; a win at home and two draws on the road made up three of the four results so far in the campaign. A late equaliser last time out between the two in Ferrycarrig Park from Jake Doyle snatched all three points off the Kingdom as they went back to Tralee with just one.
The visitors Wexford FC have won just two of their previous six games, but a 3-1 win last week over promotion hopefuls Cobh Ramblers gave them massive belief going into the last stretch of the season.
The Kingdom are without a win in the last two, making Friday’s fixture all the more important as they look to secure a promotion playoff spot for the first time in their short four-year history. A huge crowd came to MHP to get behind the players in what could be a season-defining game.
FIRST HALF
Kerry FC started brightly in front of the home support and created the first clear opportunity in the tenth minute. A superb through pass from Sean McGrath released Ryan Perez, who attempted to finish past the onrushing Paul Martin. The Wexford goalkeeper, however, read the danger well and made the save.
The Kingdom continued to look dangerous, and in the eighteenth minute Vince Borden delivered an excellent ball into the area which found Cian Brosnan. Brosnan controlled well before getting his shot away, but Martin was equal to the effort and smothered the danger.
Wexford threatened on the counter, and in the twenty-first minute Jonas Häkkinen produced a brilliant tackle to deny Jamie Wynne, who had found himself through on goal.
Kerry FC were enjoying the better of the chances, and in the twenty-third minute another good move ended with the ball falling to Vince Borden. He aimed from distance, but his effort flew over the crossbar.
Wexford responded in the twenty-sixth minute when Ryan Ritchie found an opening outside the area, but Matthew Connor was alert and made an excellent save to deny him.
Both sides continued to contest the game strongly as the half progressed. In the forty-first minute, the Kingdom had created the better opportunities without finding the breakthrough. Wexford captain Mikie Rowe was shown a yellow card in the forty-second minute as the visitors looked to contain Kerry FC.
Despite the pressure and chances at both ends, neither side could break the deadlock before the interval, with the teams going into half-time level at 0-0.
SECOND HALF
Wexford had the first opportunity after the restart, as Jake Doyle fired over the crossbar in the forty-eighth minute.
Kerry FC quickly resumed their attacking pressure. In the forty-ninth minute, another superb delivery from Vince Borden found Cian Brosnan at the back post. Brosnan got his head to the ball, but Kian Dignam was on hand to clear.
The Kingdom continued to push, and in the fifty-fifth minute Sean O’Connell played a brilliant pass through the channel to Sean McGrath. The Kerry FC captain delivered the ball across first time, finding Cian Brosnan, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Martin.
Two minutes later, Kerry FC came within inches of taking the lead. Cian Brosnan sent a dangerous ball in from the right and found Cian Murphy, with Martin completely missing the cross. Murphy’s effort, however, went just wide as Kerry FC continued to get closer.
In the sixty-second minute, Ryan Perez delivered another dangerous cross into the area. It found Cian Brosnan, but he could not keep his header down.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the sixty-seventh minute, and it was a moment of real quality. Brilliant work from Cian Brosnan on the right created space for Sean McGrath on the edge of the box. The Kerry captain took his chance superbly, firing a powerful effort into the top-right corner to send Mounthawk Park into celebration.
Robert Keane replaced Ryan Perez in the sixty-eighth minute as Kerry FC looked to protect their advantage. Cian Brosnan was booked in the seventy-second minute before Luke Palmer came on for Brosnan in the seventy-eighth minute.
Wexford continued to search for an equaliser, but Matthew Connor was once again there when needed. In the eightieth minute, the Kerry FC goalkeeper produced another excellent save to deny Jake Doyle from outside the area.
The visitors’ task became even more difficult in the eighty-fifth minute when Kaylem Harnett was shown a red card, reducing Wexford to ten men.
Luke Palmer was booked in the eighty-seventh minute, and three minutes of additional time were signalled at the end of the ninety minutes.
Kerry FC held firm to secure a valuable three points, with Sean McGrath’s outstanding strike separating the sides.
A captain’s goal, a determined defensive performance and several crucial saves from Matthew Connor ensured that Kerry FC returned to winning ways at Mounthawk Park. Now lies ahead another tough battle as Kerry FC travel to Donegal next Friday to take on Finn Harps in Ballybofey as the race for the all-important playoff places heats up.
Kerry FC Team: Matthew Connor; Sean O’Connell, Sean McGrath (C) (GOAL ‘67), Cian Murphy, Jonas Häkkinen, Cian Brosnan, Samuel Aladesanusi, Ryan Perez, Vince Borden, Niall Brookwell, Ewan Lee.
Subs Used: Robert Keane, Luke Palmer.
Wexford FC Team: Paul Martin; Max Murphy, Robert McCourt, Rhys Bartley, Mikie Rowe (C), Kaylem Harnett (RED CARD ‘86), Jamie Wynne, Ryan Ritchie, Gideon Tetteh, Kian Dignam, Jake Doyle.
Subs Used: Zak O’Sullivan
Kerry FC games today:
WU17 – Home to Cobh Ramblers – 2
MU15 – Away to Cobh Ramblers – 3
MU20 – Away to Wexford FC – 3
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Galway United and Shelbourne have drawn for the fourth time this season, as it finished 1-all at Eamonn Deacy Park last night.
Mipo Odubeko’s second-half strike earned a share of the spoils for Shels, after Galway United went in front just before the break from a Jimmy Keohane goal from the penalty spot.
The draw keeps both teams in the running for a top-four finish in the Premier Division of the SSE Airtricity League.
