Kerry draw with Bray ; academy sides play today

Kerry FC came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Bray in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division.

Matthew Britton equalised for the Kingdom in the 92nd minute.

Words by David Moriarty

FIRST HALF

Bray Wanderers began brightly and threatened early through Ifunanyachi Achara. In the eighth minute, the forward struck the crossbar from inside the area after finding space on the edge of the Kerry box. The visitors continued to apply pressure and, in the eighteenth minute, Achara flashed a dangerous low ball across the six-yard box, but Matthew Connor reacted well to gather.

The opening stages were fiercely contested, with both sides battling hard in midfield and chances limited. Kerry gradually began to push further forward, approaching the half-hour mark, although clear-cut opportunities remained difficult to create against a disciplined Bray defence.

In the twenty-fourth minute, Achara was shown a yellow card following a late challenge. Moments later, Bray thought they had taken the lead when the ball found the net, but the effort was ruled out after a foul was awarded on Niall Brookwell in the build-up.

Sean McGrath entered the referee’s notebook in the thirtieth minute as the intensity of the contest continued to rise. Kerry defended resolutely for much of the first half, with Samuel Aladesanusi producing several important interventions at the back.

Bray eventually found the breakthrough in the thirty-ninth minute. Dean O’Shea delivered an inviting cross from the left wing, and Daniel Ring rose highest in the penalty area to direct his header into the bottom left corner beyond Matthew Connor.

The visitors nearly doubled their advantage before the break when another dangerous attack broke inside the Kerry penalty area, but Samuel Aladesanusi produced a crucial last-ditch clearance to keep the deficit at one. Kerry went into half-time trailing 1-0 despite a determined defensive effort.

SECOND HALF

At the interval, Colin Healy made his first change as Cian Brosnan replaced Sean McGrath in an attempt to inject more attacking momentum into the side.

Kerry emerged with greater urgency after the restart and almost equalised in the forty-seventh minute. Ryan Kelliher met a delivery into the box with a powerful header, but Bray captain James Corcoran was well-positioned to make the save.

Bray continued to carry a threat on the counterattack and came close again in the fifty-third minute when a goal-line scramble ended with Tyreik Sammy striking the post. Two minutes later, Matt Britton replaced Ryan Perez as Kerry searched for a way back into the contest.

The visitors extended their lead in the fifty-seventh minute through Kyle Tucker. After exchanging a series of quick one-two passes on the edge of the area, Tucker drove a low effort towards goal, which slipped through the hands of Matthew Connor and into the bottom left corner to make it 2-0. In the aftermath of the move, Vince Borden received a yellow card, while Bray midfielder Declan Osagie was also cautioned shortly afterwards.

Kerry refused to let their heads drop and were rewarded in spectacular fashion in the sixty-sixth minute. A cross from Cian Brosnan was only partially cleared by the Bray defence and fell kindly to Matt Britton on the edge of the area. The substitute struck a superb half-volley which flew into the bottom right corner, igniting the home crowd and reducing the deficit to a single goal.

Bray were forced to spend the remainder of the game with ten men as Declan Osagie was shown a second yellow card for an altercation after the goal, making it even harder for his team to keep the lead with just over twenty minutes remaining.

The goal transformed the momentum of the game. Kerry dominated possession and territory for much of the closing stages, with Bray increasingly forced onto the defensive.

Eric Koufie replaced Vince Borden in the seventy-second minute, while Robert Keane later came on for Ewan Lee as Kerry pushed relentlessly for an equaliser.

Niall Brookwell and Ryan Kelliher both received yellow cards during a tense final quarter, the latter following an accidental clash of heads which frustrated the home support.

Five minutes of additional time were signalled at the end of the ninety, and Kerry produced a dramatic late leveller. Kilian Cantwell delivered a dangerous cross from the right, which Ryan Kelliher attempted to control inside the box. The ball broke perfectly for Matt Britton, who reacted instantly to smash home from close range and send Mounthawk Park into celebration.

Kerry nearly snatched a remarkable winner with the final attack of the game. A flowing counterattack involving Cian Brosnan and Eric Koufie ended with Britton cutting inside and firing towards the bottom right corner in search of a hat-trick, but Corcoran produced an important save before the referee blew for full-time.

After a difficult first half, Kerry FC showed tremendous character and determination to rescue a point, with Matt Britton’s late double ensuring Colin Healy’s side earned a deserved draw in Mounthawk Park. That now extends Kerry FC’s home record to five games unbeaten as they make the trip to St. Colman’s Park next Friday to take on Cobh Ramblers before the summer break.

Kerry FC Team: Matthew Connor; Sean O’Connell, Kilian Cantwell (C), Sean McGrath, Ryan Kelliher, Cian Murphy, Samuel Aladesanusi, Ryan Perez, Vince Borden, Niall Brookwell, Ewan Lee.

Subs Used: Matthew Britton (GOAL ‘66, ‘90), Robert Keane, Cian Brosnan, Eric Koufie.

Bray Wanderers Team: James Corcoran (C); Jamie Duggan, John Sesay, Daniel Ring (GOAL ‘40), Richard Ferizaj, Ifunanyachi Achara, Declan Osagie, Kyle Tucker (GOAL ‘58), Ben McCormack, Tyreik Sammy, Dean O’Shea.

Subs Used: Benjamin Fagbemi, Conor Knight, Billy O’Neill, Jamie Ryan.

First Division leaders Cork City hammered Athlone Town 3-nil at Lissywollen.

Wexford enjoyed a 2-1 home win over UCD.

Finn Harps and Longford Town drew 2-all.

Cobh Ramblers won 2-1 at Treaty United.

Shamrock Rovers lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League’s Premier Division is down to two-points.

The Hoops have lost 2-1 to Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium – where Carl McHugh scored to injury time for Sligo.

But second-place Saint Pat’s also dropped points, drawing nil-nil at Derry City.

Bohemians picked up a 4-2 win over Galway United and they remain in third.

Sean Boyd’s late winner gave Shelbourne a long-awaited home victory, as they edged out Waterford 2-1 at Tolka Park.

And it finished 1-all in the Louth derby between Drogheda United and Dundalk.

Kerry FC academy games today:
Both at 2