REPORT: Kerry FC Playoff Ambitions Back On Track After Win Over Wexford

David Moriarty reports on last night’s game at Mounthawk Park where Kerry FC faced Wexford FC…

KERRY FC 1-0 WEXFORD FC

Kerry FC were back at home on Friday night for the penultimate home fixture and the fourth-last game of the regular season, hosting Wexford FC in Mouthawk Park.

Kerry FC came into the game needing three points to keep up the pace in the race for the promotion playoffs. Just five points separate fourth and eighth in the league table, and with four games to go, every point was crucial.

Kerry FC started brightly in front of the home support and created the first clear opportunity in the tenth minute. A superb through pass from Sean McGrath released Ryan Perez, who attempted to finish past the onrushing Paul Martin. The Wexford goalkeeper, however, read the danger well and made the save.

The Kingdom continued to look dangerous, and in the eighteenth minute Vince Borden delivered an excellent ball into the area which found Cian Brosnan.

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Brosnan controlled well before getting his shot away, but Martin was equal to the effort and smothered the danger.

Wexford threatened on the counter, and in the twenty-first minute Jonas Häkkinen produced a brilliant tackle to deny Jamie Wynne, who had found himself through on goal.

Kerry FC were enjoying the better of the chances, and in the twenty-third minute another good move ended with the ball falling to Vince Borden. He aimed from distance, but his effort flew over the crossbar.

Wexford responded in the twenty-sixth minute when Ryan Ritchie found an opening outside the area, but Matthew Connor was alert and made an excellent save to deny him.

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Both sides continued to contest the game strongly as the half progressed. In the forty-first minute, the Kingdom had created the better opportunities without finding the breakthrough.

Wexford captain Mikie Rowe was shown a yellow card in the forty-second minute as the visitors looked to contain Kerry FC.

Despite the pressure and chances at both ends, neither side could break the deadlock before the interval, with the teams going into half-time level at 0-0.

Wexford had the first opportunity after the restart, as Jake Doyle fired over the crossbar in the forty-eighth minute.

Kerry FC quickly resumed their attacking pressure. In the forty-ninth minute, another superb delivery from Vince Borden found Cian Brosnan at the back post. Brosnan got his head to the ball, but Kian Dignam was on hand to clear.

The Kingdom continued to push, and in the fifty-fifth minute Sean O’Connell played a brilliant pass through the channel to Sean McGrath. The Kerry FC captain delivered the ball across first time, finding Cian Brosnan, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Martin.

Two minutes later, Kerry FC came within inches of taking the lead. Cian Brosnan sent a dangerous ball in from the right and found Cian Murphy, with Martin completely missing the cross. Murphy’s effort, however, went just wide as Kerry FC continued to get closer.

In the sixty-second minute, Ryan Perez delivered another dangerous cross into the area. It found Cian Brosnan, but he could not keep his header down.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the sixty-seventh minute, and it was a moment of real quality. Brilliant work from Cian Brosnan on the right created space for Sean McGrath on the edge of the box.

The Kerry captain took his chance superbly, firing a powerful effort into the top-right corner to send Mounthawk Park into celebration.

Robert Keane replaced Ryan Perez in the sixty-eighth minute as Kerry FC looked to protect their advantage. Cian Brosnan was booked in the seventy-second minute before Luke Palmer came on for Brosnan in the seventy-eighth minute.

Wexford continued to search for an equaliser, but Matthew Connor was once again there when needed. In the eightieth minute, the Kerry FC goalkeeper produced another excellent save to deny Jake Doyle from outside the area.

The visitors’ task became even more difficult in the eighty-fifth minute when Kaylem Harnett was shown a red card, reducing Wexford to ten men.

Luke Palmer was booked in the eighty-seventh minute, and three minutes of additional time were signalled at the end of the ninety minutes.

Kerry FC held firm to secure a valuable three points, with Sean McGrath’s outstanding strike separating the sides.

A captain’s goal, a determined defensive performance and several crucial saves from Matthew Connor ensured that Kerry FC returned to winning ways at Mounthawk Park.

Now lies ahead another tough battle as Kerry FC travel to Donegal next Friday to take on Finn Harps in Ballybofey as the race for the all-important playoff places heats up.

Kerry FC Team: Matthew Connor; Sean O’Connell, Sean McGrath (C) (GOAL ‘67), Cian Murphy, Jonas Häkkinen, Cian Brosnan, Samuel Aladesanusi, Ryan Perez, Vince Borden, Niall Brookwell, Ewan Lee.

Subs Used: Robert Keane, Luke Palmer.

Wexford FC Team: Paul Martin; Max Murphy, Robert McCourt, Rhys Bartley, Mikie Rowe (C), Kaylem Harnett (RED CARD ‘86), Jamie Wynne, Ryan Ritchie,  Gideon Tetteh, Kian Dignam, Jake Doyle.

Subs Used: Zak O’Sullivan