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Ivan Hurley previews Kerry FC’s game against Longford Town on Friday night at Mounthawk Park…
KERRY FC reach the quarter mark of the season when they take on Longford Town tomorrow evening in Mounthawk Park (kick-off 7.45pm, for tickets click here).
With each team playing each other on four occasions throughout the season, Matchday 9 marks the 25% mark of league completion.
Kerry come into tomorrow night’s game in a very impressive run of form. Six games unbeaten in all competitions, with five straight draws in the league over the last five match days.
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A 1-1 draw against the relegated UCD AFC on Monday last was possibly the most impressive of them all, fighting back from a 1-0 deficit at halftime, the kingdom came out with a new lease of life in the second half to eke out an impressive point in Belfield.
It could have been all three but a 92nd-minute goal by Ryan Kelliher was ruled out for offside. But 5 draws in a row for this side puts Kerry in uncharted waters as fans wait with optimism for the opening win of the 2024 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division.
Longford Town on the other hand come into the game in somewhat mixed form. Three defeats against UCD, Cork City and Finn Harps mean the Midlanders have lost all three home games so far this campaign.
Longford’s three league points have come from draws on the road against local rivals Athlone, Bray Wanderers and Cobh Ramblers.
Although they have picked up points in their three away games to date, Longford have lost the lead in all three games and even squandered a 0-3 halftime lead in Lissywollen.
Longford sit bottom of the league on three points with the same goal difference as Kerry having played 2 games less at this stage due to waterlogged pitches.
So this has the makings of a classic in Mounthawk Park as both teams go in search of their first three points in 2024.
Kerry FC are on a club record run of six games unbeaten since the Munster Senior Cup semi-final victory over Treaty United on March 1st.
This includes five straight draws in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division. The current record for consecutive draws in the league is held by Dundalk who recorded 10 straight draws in the 2001 season.
Kerry FC have a fresh bill of health following a busy Easter bank holiday weekend with two matches in 4 days. Valerii Dolia remains out long term. Nathan Gleeson is also unavailable due to an infection.
Jack Kavanagh is still being assessed and monitored and a decision on his inclusion will be made before the game. Samuel Aladesanusi, Ronan Teahan and Daire McCarthy all made it back and played minutes against UCD last time out.
“I don’t think Longford started the season the way they would have liked, but I’m sure they are looking at this fixture and thinking it is a way to kick-start their season as well,” said Conor McCarthy.
“I’m sure it will be a tough game, so we will have to be at 100% and if we can do that hopefully we can turn a draw into a win on Friday night.”
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