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Ivan Hurley previews Kerry FC’s game against Longford Town this Thursday night at Mounthawk Park…
As the league ticks past the 20-match mark, the summer break which will arrive after the full-time whistle tomorrow night is one that will be most welcome by most as a well-earned rest comes in terms of a Friday off next week.
Kerry come into this game off the back of two straight home wins in the league for the first time in the club’s history. Convincing wins over Finn Harps and Treaty United in recent weeks in Mounthawk Park has made the Tralee venue a tough spot to come and play football.
That was also the case when Longford last came to the Kerry capital. Kerry ran out comfortable winners over the Bishopsgate side, scoring 3 goals in the process and Antonio Tuta’s net staying empty for the 90 minutes.
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That was Kerry’s first-ever home win in the League of Ireland and since then the floodgates have opened.
But an impressive run of home form in recent times hasn’t been backed up on the road for Kerry. 2 defeats in 7 days in both Cobh and UCD have been difficult to swallow for Conor McCarthy’s charges, especially in the narrow manner of those said defeats.
But Thursday night could be seen as a clean slate for the Kerry contingent. Win and the summer break could be a lot more comfortable given the mere 2 points between the basement sides in the league.
Tomorrow’s visitors Longford Town sit on the base of the table and are winless in 5 and are yet to pick up 3 points on the road this season
This is the first time in the club’s history that Kerry FC will play on a Thursday night. Due to the big Euro 2024 kick-off on Friday, all League of Ireland games this week are on Thursday night.
Kerry has previously played a friendly on a Wednesday night, so Tuesday football is the final hurdle to navigate to a Kerry FC game appearing on all 7 days of a week! – Yep, we were that stuck to fill this section!
A couple of injury worries for tomorrow night’s game. Kennedy Amechi who limped off after scoring the first goal against Treaty last time out in Mounthawk Park remains a doubt. Daniel Okwute has picked up 10 yellows so is suspended for this one.
“We are at home, you are expected to win at home and that’s our mindset too,” said James Sugrue. “Our home form has been very good which is a good positive. Longford coming down is obviously tough but we go out to win every game to be honest.”
“We have the break but back-to-back home games now in the league on either side of that and 6 points is the target. I could see the hurt in the boy’s faces after the UCD and I’ve told them to bring that hurt with them on Thursday and show it on the pitch.”
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