.
By Ivan Hurley
KERRY FC round out a busy 7-day period with a third game in as many days as we host UCD AFC in Mounthawk Park tomorrow night, with kick-off at 7.45pm.
UCD become the 14th different side to visit Mounthawk Park in both league and cup competitions since the club’s arrival on the scene in 2023.
Kerry come into this one on a relatively poor run of form. Four straight defeats, two at home to Athlone Town and Cork City and two on the road against Bray Wanderers and Longford Town leave Kerry’s eight game unbeaten run feeling like a lifetime ago.
Continued below…
.
A frustrating evening on Monday night away to Longford Town needs to be rectified sooner rather than later.
Conceding two early goals meant Kerry were fighting to salvage a result inside the opening 30 minutes and a similar performance against a side second in the division will see the result go only one way.
But Kerry will be buoyed by a strong performance against Cork City in Mounthawk Park last Friday night, an early penalty the only thing that separated the league leaders from the newcomers seven days ago.
A return to form is very much needed for the Mounthawk faithful and a further string of results could see Kerry move up the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division table.
UCD AFC, who sit second in the table, will look to this game to return to some better form. A surprise defeat on the May Bank Holiday at home to Cobh Ramblers ended the students nine game unbeaten run of results.
The sides have only met on one occasion previously, on a balmy Easter Monday in Belfield. Daniel Okwute’s second-half strike cancelled out Ciaran Behan’s first-half effort and Kerry left the capital with a share of the points.
UCD become the 14th team to make the trip to Mounthawk Park in all competitions against Kerry FC.
Conor McCarthy has reported no fresh injury concerns for the Kerry side ahead of tomorrow night’s game. Andy Spain and Ronan Teahan, who both missed the trip to Longford having limped off against Cork City last Friday will both be assessed ahead of game to see if they can make the match day squad.
Valerii Dolia finally returned from injury and played his first 45 minutes for the club against Longford Town on Monday evening. There are no players on the suspension list for this one.
“Obviously we would love to get a good result on Friday at home,” said Conor McCarthy. “We know UCD are a very good side but we need to put on a big performance and show what we are about.”
“Usually, 9 times out of 10 when we do that we get a positive result and we saw that during the unbeaten run. but it takes a squad effort and a good performance and hopefully, the result can come with that. We don’t fear anyone coming to Mounthawk Park and always fancy our chances at home.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
