Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup Semi Final Shamrock Rovers v Kerry FC
Well, to put it simply, it’s the biggest week in the club’s history as a semi-final meeting with Shamrock Rovers looms large tomorrow evening. The flags and bunting can be seen for miles around Tralee and across the whole county of Kerry, and the Kingdom is eagerly anticipating what should be an epic contest in Tallaght tomorrow evening.
Kerry have adapted a never-say-die attitude in the Cup over the last 3 seasons, and the Kerry faithful will be looking for that once again tomorrow to see if the LOI new boys can cause another big upset and book a spot in the Aviva Stadium showpiece next month
What can you say about the 2025 Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup campaign? There are too many adjectives to list in this short preview. The twists, turns and drama haven’t been far away since the opening night in Round 2 of the competition. Kerry were heading for their earliest exit in our short history, but Joe Adama fired a 30-yard free kick into the top corner in the 97th minute to rescue the Kingdom from the arms of defeat against Athlone Town in a humid Mounthawk Park. Kennedy Amechi netted in Extra Time to ensure Kerry progressed to the 3rd Round.
A Munster Derby ensued in Mounthawk Park, and when John O’Donovan was sent off for Cobh Ramblers in the 2nd minute, it was only a matter of time before Kerry would come out on top. A Cian Brosnan wonder strike and a Joe Adams goal from 12 yards meant Kerry would take the Munster bragging rights and progress to the club’s first-ever quarter-final in the competition.
And who could possibly forget the night of September 12th 2025, a date not many in attendance in Mounthawk Park will ever forget. Outclassed by Sligo Rovers for over 60 minutes, a young Owen Elding had a hat trick to his name, and Sligo were heading for the semi-final draw…. Or so we thought! Cian Brosnan, with a brace along with a Joe Adams penalty, sent shockwaves through the Mounthawk ground and online as Kerry had completed a ‘Trá-LÍstanbul’ and did the unthinkable. With extra time ticking down to a penalty shootout, Daniel Okwute completed the comeback, which has been dubbed by supporters as the ‘Mounthawk Miracle’.
So it’s a first-ever semi-final appearance for the Kingdom tomorrow, and a stern test awaits for the Mounthawk men against Shamrock Rovers. A first-ever appearance on national television has added to an already bubbling atmosphere in the county this week. Someone will have to leave the lights on at home as it seems the majority of the county is heading for the capital, with the clubs’ 4 free supporters buses booked out in record time.
Shamrock Rovers are the top team in the country at the moment. They have both hands firmly on the Premier Division title for 2025 and will be looking to complete a league & cup double in 2025. Defeat on Thursday in Prague could fuel their fire for a performance again this weekend. Kerry know the challenge that lies in wait for them in Tallaght, and it will no doubt be an Everest of a climb for a side at the bottom end of the First Division table. But one thing this team has is belief and a never-say-die attitude. They won’t go down without a fight.
So, while Kerry might come in as underdogs, there is always a chance over 90 minutes in the cup, and fans are dreaming of a final appearance and a magic trip to the Aviva Stadium. A chance to potentially continue to etch some new records into the history books? Don’t miss it!
Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup Semi Final
Shamrock Rovers v Kerry FC – Sunday, October 5th – 6pm Kick Off – Tallaght Stadium
Previous Meetings – All Competitions
Kerry FC Wins N/A Draws N/A Shamrock Rovers Wins N/A
Did You Know?
This is Kerry FC’s first-ever appearance in the semi-final of the Cup, having beaten Sligo Rovers in the club’s first appearance in the quarter-final. It’s the first ever competitive meeting between Kerry FC and Shamrock Rovers. The sides did meet in a pre-season friendly at Roadstone in February this year. In 13 games across the Munster Senior Cup and FAI Cup, Kerry have been drawn at home 11 times, with just the one previous away game in the FAI Cup coming back in 2024 against Cobh. Kerry have played Premier Division opposition on 4 previous occasions, losing 3 but famously beating Sligo Rovers last time out. Cian Barrett is the only man to have shared both the Kerry FC and Shamrock Rovers. He spent two stints on loan in the Kingdom in 2023 and 2024 and could feature for Rovers against some of his former teammates tomorrow. Kerry FC CEO Billy Dennehy previously had a stint with Shamrock Rovers in his playing days, while Rovers man Gary O’Neill hails from Tralee. Plenty of connections in this one! Joe Adams is the only Kerry FC player to score in each of the 3 rounds to date.
Injury Update
Colin Healy reported no new injury concerns ahead of the trip to Tallaght Stadium on Sunday evening. Matt Connor continues to be assessed and could make the trip to Dublin. Ewan Lee will be watching from the stands as he is cup-tied from the opening round, when he played for UCC. Ryan Kelliher & Nathan Gleeson are long-term absentees while Tim-Oliver Hiemer continues his recovery from a broken finger.
What they said?
Colin Healy – “It’s not about me, it’s about the players and what they do. They know that going out on the pitch, and you’ve seen it, especially in the game against Sligo. Ya, we made changes or whatnot, but once the players go on the pitch, yes, we give the instructions, but it’s down to them at the end of the day. Since I’ve come in, ya, we’ve been up and down, but I think they deserve to be in the semi-final, especially in the Cup because they’ve done ever so well. Against Athlone, they never gave up either, got the late goal and saw out a tough game against Cobh. They’ve never put their heads down and never given up; it’s a great attitude to have.”
Sean McGrath – “Look, it’s a massive game for us, heading up to Shamrock Rovers. We’ve obviously played Premier Division opposition previously, but nothing of this magnitude, especially away from home. We are very consistent at the moment. Previously, we have had one good result, and it would go the opposite way around it, but the last 8, 10, 12 games have been really strong. I know we’ve had our losses, but we bounced back strong. It’s great to be able to test ourselves against the best. We know they have some of the best players in the country, but our lads are looking forward to the challenge.”
Ronan Teahan – “Excitement really is the feeling. I think we are all fairly excited for it as a squad. We are going to be playing against some of the best players in the country, and that’s what you want to do as a player. So, ya, we are looking forward to it. I wouldn’t say we are fearful, obviously, nervousness is a part of sport, it wouldn’t be natural not to feel nerves before the game, but I think overall we are just looking forward to getting the game underway.”
