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By Ivan Hurley
The Kingdom are back in action tomorrow evening in Mounthawk Park as the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division rumbles back into action after a well-deserved summer recess.
Wexford FC are the visitors to Mounthawk Park for Matchday 22 and there is a 19:45 kick-off for this one.
The break was cut short for Kerry FC who were back in action on Monday evening. A Munster Senior Cup Final defeat for McCarthy’s charges will be a tough one to bounce back from, but it almost felt like bonus territory for the Kingdom who reached the final in their first year in the competition.
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No cup on this occasion, but plenty of experience was gained by the players and supporters in Turners Cross.
So it’s a return to league action tomorrow evening and a return home for Kerry FC who have been fruitful of late in Tralee. 3 wins in the last 3 at home for Kerry have seen the kingdom reach 18 points in the league and in a much stronger position than this time last year.
Wins against Finn Harps, Treaty United and Longford Town have given the home crowd plenty to cheer about in recent weeks and Kerry sits 6th on the home form table in the league.
So it’s the South Easterners coming to town on Friday with a point to prove, having left Mounthawk Park last time out with just a point.
A poor run of form has seen the Wexicans winless since Kerry travelled to Ferrycarrig Park on the 17th of May, managing just two draws in that time.
You’d have to go back to April to find Wexford’s last victory on the road. But the ability to eke out results has been key to Wexford’s success in 2024 as they sit just 4 points off the playoff spots with a game in hand.
Four home wins for Kerry FC in 2024 has been a club-record return. In fact, 14 of Kerry’s 18 points to date have been secured in Mounthawk Park. Conor McCarthy and his squad have made the Tralee venue a difficult place to come and secure points.
Conor McCarthy will have to access some members of the panel ahead of this one. We saw Daniel Okwute exit the Munster Senior Cup Final at the interval and his condition is unknown.
Valerii Dolia also remains a doubt following his injury in the warm-up against Longford Town. Kennedy Amechi returned to action with 45 minutes on Monday night.
“No matter what form Wexford are in, they are always a tough team to take on, both at home and away,” said Conor McCarthy. “I’m under no illusions about the challenge we face but we’ve worked hard on the training pitch and if we play to our strengths we have another great chance of a result here.”
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