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By Ivan Hurley
KERRY FC make the short journey to the Markets Field in Limerick this Friday to take on Treaty United in Matchday 10 of the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division, with a kick-off time of 7.45pm.
The season has passed its quarter mark following the conclusion of Matchday 9, with the Kingdom in a strong position heading into the second meeting of the sides in the league in 2024.
On the first occasion where the sides met, Kerry went down by a goal to nil in Mounthawk Park. Ryan Kelliher’s missed spot kick in injury time was the last time this side has faltered, with Kerry FC going unbeaten in the seven games since that night in Tralee.
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In fact, the first of the seven unbeaten games was an impressive 4-1 win against Treaty in Mounthawk just 4 days later to book the Kingdom’s place in a final for the first time in the club’s history.
McCarthy’s group continues to write new chapters in the history books over the last number of weeks.
A seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions, six unbeaten in the league is a record in itself for the club.
And to top it off, a convincing victory on Matchday 9 against Longford Town in the club’s 50th competitive game gave Kerry a very first league victory at home to the delight of the home fans.
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With man-of-the-match contenders from one to eleven, the squad morale has never been higher.
Our hosts on Friday night Treaty United are on a mixed run of form. Having started in impressive form with three straight wins, the Limerick-based side were flying high at the top of the division.
But three straight defeats to Finn Harps, Athlone Town and Wexford FC have the Treaty men sitting 4th overall and just three points ahead of Kerry on the table.
A very much in-form Kerry FC side are sure to challenge Treaty for the three points in the Markets Field, despite a poor record from the venue last term.
Kerry FC landed their first home win in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division last time out in their 50th competitive fixture.
Kerry FC and Treaty United have shared several players in the last year. Matt Keane and Martin Coughlan both made the switch from Limerick to Tralee in 2023 while current captain Andy Spain signed from Treaty United during the winter transfer window
Speaking earlier this week, First Team Head Coach Conor McCarthy was happy to report no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game on Friday night. Valerii Dolia is the only man who remains out long-term. Jack Kavanagh is close to a comeback to the matchday 20 but this game might come too soon. Nathan Gleeson remains out of action while the likes of Daire McCarthy and Steven Healy are both back to full fitness.
“It’s going to be a really tough game up there,” said Conor McCarthy. “What Treaty have created up there makes it a very hard place to go to. Every team will tell you that no matter what level they are at, whether it be the Premier Division teams that go there or the First Division sides, everyone finds it hard. So we know exactly what we are going into. They have huge support and we need to be bang at it from the first to the ninety-fifth or sixth minute like we have been for the last number of games. Every week is a bigger challenge but one we are looking forward to”
Ryan Kelliher said; “I’m really looking forward to the game. The last time we played them was obviously a massive disappointment for me especially. But to be totally honest it made me hungrier to try and make up for it. I was fairly disappointed after the game but I’ve gotten 2 goals since then. We know they aren’t in the greatest of form for the last few games so I think it is a massive chance to get 3 points up there and I hope we will.”
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