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By Ivan Hurley
WITH the drama of a big cup win now behind the Kingdom, it’s time to put the focus back onto the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division this coming Friday evening.
Cork City FC are the opponents this week in the famous Turners Cross stadium on Leeside at 7.45pm. Kerry come into the game in some good league form which has been backed up with a cup win away from home against league rivals Cobh Ramblers last time out.
Four wins in the last 9 with two draws has seen Kerry surpass the 20-point mark in the league, 10 better off than all of last season combined. However, the challenge of the runaway league leaders will be no easy task for McCarthy’s charges on Friday night.
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Cork has a near-perfect record in the league this season, the only blemish on their card was a narrow 1-0 defeat on the road in Athlone Town.
Nine wins and 3 draws have made Turners Cross a fortress for our hosts on Friday night and look set to return to the Men’s Premier Division at the first time of asking.
But McCarthy has plenty to be positive about ahead of the trip to Leeside on Friday. Kerry were competitive on the league’s opening night against Cork.
Despite going down by two goals to nil, the Kingdom put in a good shift and had several chances throughout the game. The meeting of the sides in Mounthawk Park on Matchday 12 was closer again. An early penalty for City was the only thing between the sides on a night where Kerry had multiple chances to grab an equaliser.
So, take the chances when they come, defend well and do what Kerry have been doing over the last 8 or 10 games and this one will be more than just a formality for the run-away league leaders
Kerry’s sole signing of the summer transfer window has come from our Cork neighbours. Oran Crowe signed for the Kingdom from Cork City just a couple of weeks ago and has made two appearances in the Kerry green to date
Speaking to the media earlier this week, First Team Head Coach Conor McCarthy issued no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Turners Cross on Friday night. Valerii Dolia continues to be out long term.
Antonio Tuta and Andy Spain picked up knocks during the cup win away in Cobh last time out and will be assessed. Kennedy Amechi and Conor McCarthy himself will serve their final game bans on Friday before returning to the pitch and sidelines respectively.
“Cork is another good test for us,” said Conor McCarthy. “These games really tell you where you are at. Obviously, as the table suggests, they are a better team than us and probably have a lot more resources or whatnot.
But we will go there to win like every other game this year. We’ve seen that in our two meetings to date that we can be very competitive against them. Especially in the game in Mounthawk Park, a penalty is all that separated the sides on the night. It was a game we could, and probably should have taken something out of. That gives the boys confidence and they are looking forward to the game. It’s a busy period at the moment but the lads are up for it.”
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