Ivan Hurley previews tomorrow night’s game at Mounthawk Park between Kerry FC and Wexford FC…
Ivan Hurley previews tomorrow night’s game at Mounthawk Park between Kerry FC and Wexford FC…As the midway point ticks closer, the Kingdom return home to Mounthawk Park this week with the visit of Wexford to the Kingdom on matchday 16 of the 2026 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division campaign.
Kerry defeated Munster Rivals Cork City by a goal to nil last time out in Mounthawk Park, and will want to build on home momentum against a side who have managed to win on all but two trips to Tralee in the club’s six previous meetings in the county capital.
A late defeat away to Finn Harps last Friday night meant it was a long spin home for the Kingdom, but what better than a home game to bounce back into form with three games left until the mid-season week break.
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Although Wexford are flying high in third place in the league, they have suffered back-to-back defeats in the double match week last week, suffering a 1-0 defeat in the Markets Field against Treaty before losing at home to Longford Town last Friday night in Ferrycarrig Park.
A win for the visitors could be vital in the play-off race, all while potentially closing the gap to title favourites Cork City to just 5 points by the end of the night.
For the Kingdom, Colin Healy’s side enter a crucial run of 3 games before the summer break, with Bray coming to Tralee next week before a trip to Cobh Ramblers to round out the first half of the season. With all 3 sides in and around the play-off places, wins for Kerry could put the Kingdom in a very good position to capitalise on the second half of the campaign.
Three of the previous six meetings between the sides in Mounthawk Park have ended in 1-1 draws. In fact, there have been at least two goals scored in each of the 13 meetings between the sides, with only three occasions where one side hasn’t produced a goal in the fixture.
Colin Healy still has some injury concerns to tend to ahead of tomorrow night’s visit of Bray Wanderers to Mounthawk Park.
Harry Halwax and Finn Barrett remain sidelined with issues. Jonas Hakkinen needed stitches in Finn Park last Friday night. He is being assessed this week, while Daniel Okwute and Kieran Cooney have returned to on-field training this week.
Kerry will be without the services of Cian Bargary and Cian Murphy due to suspensions.
Colin Healy said; “The fans were absolutely incredible last Monday, they really gave everyone the lift they needed on the pitch to get over the line, especially when we went down to 10 men. I can’t stress enough the importance of having them behind us for the 90+ minutes in Mounthawk Park. We need them again this Friday and every Friday, to be nice and loud and to show their support. They had a banner ‘Together as One’ last week. I couldn’t find better words to describe the connection between the players and the supporters. Let’s go again this Friday with a big crowd!”
