Kerry remain firmly in the hunt to qualify for the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division play-offs.
A 2-1 win at Finn Harps has moved the Kingdom level on points with 5th placed Longford. The sides also have the same goal difference of plus 2, but Longford are ahead in the table due to goals scored. 7th placed Athlone are also on 48 points, with a plus 1 goal difference.
4th placed Cobh are a point better off than the trio.
Last night, Cobh won 4-1 at Bray, Longford drew 3 all at Wexford and Athlone beat Cork 2-1.
Report by David Moriarty:
Kerry FC had their penultimate away fixture of the regular season on Friday evening as they made the eight hundred and twenty kilometre round trip to Donegal to take on Finn Harps in Ballybofey.
Heading into the game, the Kingdom sat just one point outside of the playoff places and with other playoff hopefuls playing each other on the evening, it was the perfect opportunity to get into the promised land with just two games to go.
The last trip up to Finn Park for Kerry FC ended in heartbreak with a ninety fifth minute Max Hutchinson winner for the hosts after a dominant display from Kerry FC, which just lacked the finishing touch.
Last time out between the two sides, Kerry FC picked up a 2-1 victory in Mouthawk Park with first-half goals from Sean McGrath and Cian Bargary helping the lads pick up all three points in front of the home faithful.
A brilliant support made the long trip up to Donegal, like always, and they hoped that they could help their side get one step closer to the illustrious playoff spots.
FIRST HALF
Finn Harps made the perfect start, taking the lead in the third minute when Bernardo Monteiro found the net to put the hosts 1-0 ahead.
The opening exchanges were scrappy, with neither side creating much despite the early goal. In the sixteenth minute, Matthew Connor produced a great save to deny Aaron McLaughlin and prevent Finn Harps from extending their advantage.
The hosts were awarded a penalty in the twentieth minute, allowing them to double their lead. However, Matthew Connor had other ideas, keeping out Monteiro’s spot-kick in the twenty-second minute with an excellent save.
Kerry FC began to find opportunities of their own. In the twenty-fifth minute, Ryan Perez sent a great low cross into the area which nearly found Cian Brosnan, but he was unable to get to the ball.
Sean O’Connell’s corner in the thirty-first minute picked out Cian Murphy, although Corey Sheridan was able to claim the header with ease. Kerry FC captain Sean McGrath was shown a yellow card in the thirty-fifth minute.
Matthew Connor was called upon again in the thirty-sixth minute, making another exceptional save to keep out a deflected effort from the hosts.
Kerry FC continued to threaten from set pieces, with Niall Brookwell getting on the end of another Sean O’Connell corner in the forty-second minute, but his effort was directed wide.
Two minutes of added time were signalled at the end of the opening 45 minutes, with Ryan Perez receiving a yellow card before the interval.
Finn Harps went into the break with their 1-0 advantage intact, but Kerry FC had remained within touching distance thanks in no small part to Matthew Connor’s excellent performance.
At half-time, Cian Bargary replaced Ryan Perez as Kerry FC looked to find a way back into the game.
SECOND HALF
Kerry FC began the second half positively. In the forty-eighth minute, Cian Bargary delivered an inviting ball into the area, but Sheridan was able to gather it.
Bernardo Monteiro was shown a yellow card in the fifty-fifth minute, while Finn Harps threatened again in the sixtieth minute when a dangerous cross flashed across the face of goal before being cleared by Kerry FC.
Colin Healy’s side continued to push for an equaliser and made another change in the sixty-seventh minute, with Robert Keane replacing Cian Brosnan.
The pressure finally paid off in the seventy-second minute. A corner was floated into the Finn Harps area, and a scramble followed. Jonas Häkkinen headed the ball back into a dangerous area, and with the hosts unable to deal with the situation, Samuel Aladesanusi was on hand to produce an audacious acrobatic effort and bring Kerry FC level at 1-1.
The comeback was completed just seven minutes later. In the seventy-ninth minute, a good move from Kerry FC saw Sean McGrath brilliantly cut the ball back to Cian Bargary, who made no mistake, volleying into an empty net to send the travelling support into celebration.
Kerry FC now had their noses in front, and the visitors defended their advantage as Finn Harps searched for a response.
With the game entering its final stages, Arran Healy replaced Sean McGrath in the eighty-ninth minute. Four minutes of added time were signalled at the end of the ninety, but Kerry FC held firm.
The final whistle confirmed a remarkable turnaround for Colin Healy’s side, with Kerry FC securing a 2-1 victory and all three points from a hugely important encounter in the push for the playoff places.
Samuel Aladesanusi and Cian Bargary’s second-half goals turned the game on its head, while Matthew Connor’s first-half heroics, including his penalty save, proved crucial in keeping Kerry FC within reach of the hosts.
The victory was celebrated by the vocal travelling support who made the journey to Ballybofey, with the three points heading back to the Kingdom.
Finn Harps Team: Corey Sheridan; Oran Brogan, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Bernardo Monteiro (GOAL ‘3), Max Hutchinson, Tony McNamee (C), Darragh Coyle, Ciaron Harkin, Finn McKenlay, Aaron McLaughlin, James McAteer.
Subs Used: Max Hutchinson, Bridel Bosakani, Guilherme Priosti.
Kerry FC Team: Matthew Connor; Sean O’Connell, Sean McGrath (C), Cian Murphy, Jonas Häkkinen, Cian Brosnan, Samuel Aladesanusi (GOAL ‘72), Ryan Perez, Vince Borden, Niall Brookwell, Ewan Lee.
Subs Used: Arran Healy, Robert Keane, Cian Bargary (GOAL ‘79).
Bohemians have kept their title hopes alive in the Premier Division of the SSE Airtricity League.
Ross Tierney and Colm Whelan were on target for Alan Reynold’s side as they picked up a 2-1 victory against Dundalk at Oriel Park.
The win has seen Bohs move level on points with their title rivals Shamrock Rovers and Saint Pat’s at the top of the table.
Kerry FC games today:
MU15 – Home to Wexford FC – 2.00
WU17 – Away to Wexford FC – 3.00
MU20 – Away to Treaty United – 4.00
