David Moriarty reports on last night’s clash where Kerry FC travelled to take on Athlone Town…
David Moriarty reports on last night’s clash where Kerry FC travelled to take on Athlone Town…ATHLONE TOWN – KERRY FC
Kerry FC travelled to the Midlands on Friday to take on Athlone Town in County Westmeath, a big game in the playoff push. Kerry FC sat in fifth place going into the game, just a point ahead of the evening’s hosts.
A win for the Kingdom would be huge, with just four games left in the regular season, and a loss could prove costly.
A large support came up from the south-west to get behind the players as they pushed for promotion spots come the end of the season in what was a blustery, damp evening in the centre of the country.
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Kerry FC got the game underway in Athlone Town Stadium, with both sides settling into the contest during a quiet opening period. Neither team was able to create a clear-cut opportunity in the opening stages, as the game remained goalless.
Athlone Town registered the first effort of note in the seventeenth minute when Peter Grogan rose to meet a cross, but his header went safely into the hands of Matt Connor.
Four minutes later, the hosts came close again. Kyle O’Connor sent a dangerous cross into the Kerry FC penalty area, but the ball evaded everyone and struck the right-hand post of Matthew Connor’s goal before, thankfully, being cleared from danger.
Kerry FC found it difficult to establish a foothold in the game as the half progressed and Athlone Town took the lead in the thirty-third minute when Sean Brennan found the net to make it 1-0.
Kerry FC looked for an immediate response and, in the thirty-fourth minute, Sean O’Connell delivered a free kick from the left towards Colin Healy. The Kerry FC attacker connected with a header, but his effort went over the crossbar.
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The visitors continued to look for a way back into the contest, but Athlone Town held their advantage as the referee brought the opening half to a close after one minute of added time.
Kerry FC went into the interval trailing 1-0, with Luke Palmer replacing Colin Healy at half-time.
Kerry FC started the second half with renewed intent and, in the forty-seventh minute, Sean O’Connell had an opportunity from a free kick in a central position from some distance. His effort was on target, but Brendan Clarke made the save to keep Athlone Town in front.
Jonas Häkkinen was shown a yellow card in the forty-ninth minute before Matt Connor was called upon to make two brilliant saves in quick succession in the fiftieth minute, denying the hosts and keeping Kerry FC within touching distance.
Athlone Town continued to threaten, with Gradi Lomboto heading wide at the back post in the sixty-fifth minute.
A minute later, Kerry FC created one of their best openings of the match. Sean O’Connell produced a brilliant piece of skill to work his way into a good area inside the box before playing the ball across the six-yard box. However, neither Cian Murphy nor Ewan Lee could get the important touch to turn the opportunity into an equaliser.
Athlone Town doubled their advantage in the sixty-eighth minute when Callum Cleary scored to make it 2-0.
Kerry FC responded with a double substitution in the seventy-first minute, as Cian Brosnan and Rob Keane replaced Sean McGrath and Vince Borden.
Cian Murphy then tried his luck from the edge of the box in the seventy-sixth minute, but his effort rose over the crossbar. Ryan Perez was shown a yellow card a minute later as Kerry FC continued to battle for a route back into the game.
Sean O’Connell sent a cross towards the Athlone Town penalty area in the eighty-fifth minute, but it was slightly too high and went wide of the mark.
Athlone Town continued to threaten late on, with Gradi Lomboto forcing Matt Connor into another save in the eighty-ninth minute.
The hosts added a third goal in the ninetieth minute when Patrick Ferry found the net, putting the result beyond doubt.
Kerry FC continued to compete until the final whistle, but Athlone Town held on to secure a 3-0 victory.
Kerry FC will now look to regroup and prepare for their next fixture, as they play their penultimate home game of the season next Friday night against Wexford FC, with 12 points still on offer in the hunt for an end-of-season playoff place.
Athlone Town Team: Brendan Clarke (C); Kyle O’Connor, Dylan Connolly, Brian McManus, Sean Brennan (GOAL ‘33), Gradi Lomboto, Peter Grogan, William Smith, Callum Cleary (GOAL ‘69), James Crawford, Jonathan Kehir.
Subs Used: Patrick Ferry (GOAL ‘91), Robert Lyons.
Kerry FC Team: Matthew Connor; Sean O’Connell, Sean McGrath (C), Cian Murphy, Jonas Häkkinen, Samuel Aladesanusi, Ryan Perez, Vince Borden, Ewan Lee, Arran Healy, Colin Healy.
Subs Used: Cian Brosnan, Luke Palmer, Rob Keane.
