By Ivan Hurley
The Kingdom return to Mounthawk Park for the first time in just over a month tomorrow night when they host Cobh Ramblers in the Tralee venue.
It’s been three games on the trot away from home so players and supporters are looking forward to a return to the Kingdom as the summer starts creeping into the autumn.
Not only will Kerry be looking for a return home, they will also be looking to a return to the impressive home form the side has held in previous weeks. Kerry are unbeaten in Mounthawk Park since the visit of UCD back on the 10th of May so have become a formidable side in front of the home support.
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Currently 9th in the table, Kerry are 4 clear of Longford at the basement of the table. Tomorrow’s opponents sit just outside the play-off places and 11 points ahead of Kerry on the table.
A win is badly needed for the Kingdom to keep in touch with the sides just in front of them on the table.
And there is plenty to be hopeful for McCarthy’s charges ahead of this one. An impressive 2-0 for Kerry when the sides met last.
That came in the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup away in St Colman’s Park which booked Kerry into the last 16 and a glamour tie against Bohs to come next week.
In fact, barring Kerry FC’s first-ever fixture in the league, Kerry and Cobh have shared the spoils in the two other meetings in Mounthawk Park, with Kerry knocking Cobh out of the Munster Senior Cup in Tralee as well.
This has been the longest gap of home games in the club’s history. Following the Bray game on July 12th, Kerry have played away 3 times in a row so it’s been a month away from Mounthawk Park for the Kingdom
Speaking to the media earlier this week, James Sugrue said former Athlone man Valerii Dolia is nearer to a return than in previous weeks but is still a bit away from a return.
Antonio Tuta has returned to training after an ankle injury and is in contention once again. Ronan Teahan returns from his one-match suspension and is available again for selection
“We are itching to get back playing at home,” said James Sugrue. “It’s been 3 weeks away and that’s a long time to be playing matches away from Mounthawk Park. So we are really looking forward to it, to get all our supporters back in Tralee.”
“We need to put on a good show for them because look, we are in a good place at the moment, the work rate is there and training is going very well. We have fellas pushing for positions all over the pitch. So ya, really looking forward to the game now.”
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