REPORT: SSE AIRTRICITY MEN’S FIRST DIVISION
MATCHDAY 5 Wexford FC 1-1 Kerry FC
Kerry FC were on the road for the second week in a row on Friday, visiting Ferrycarrig Park to take on Wexford FC in the South-East. Last week, Kerry FC picked up their second point of the season, denied the three points late on away to Treaty United. A Cian Curtis penalty in the ninetieth minute meant Kerry FC would have to wait at least another week for their first three points.
The first meeting between these two sides last season at Ferrycarrig Park was the Kingdom’s first win of the season, after the Finn Harps game on the opening night was voided. That win came in matchday six, so hopefully the Kingdom could go one week earlier this season.
Colin Healy was to serve the first of his three-match ban from the touchline in Wexford, with Chris Collopy the main man in the dugout on Friday. Eric Koufie and Kieran Cooney made their competitive debuts for the Kingdom after impressive substitute appearances last Friday, hoping to make their mark on a big occasion for the two new signings.
FIRST HALF
The match began at a steady tempo, with both sides settling into possession during the opening exchanges.
In the ninth minute, Wexford defender Dean Larkin became the first player to enter the referee’s notebook after a late challenge, giving Kerry FC an early opportunity to push forward from the resulting free kick.
The opening quarter of an hour saw few clear chances as both teams probed cautiously. In the fourteenth minute, Wexford’s Mikie Rowe tried his luck from distance, but his effort bobbled harmlessly wide of the right-hand post. Five minutes later, Max Murphy attempted another strike from range for the hosts, yet his effort flashed wide as Kerry’s defence remained largely untroubled.
Kerry FC began to find promising attacking positions midway through the half. In the twenty-first minute, a dangerous ball flashed across the six-yard box, finding Ciaran Cooney in space, but he could only send his effort over the crossbar. Just a minute later, Cooney was again involved, linking up with Eric Koufie on the left. Koufie attempted an audacious flick toward goal, but he could not guide it on target.
As the half progressed, the Kingdom continued to threaten without quite finding the breakthrough. Their movement and build-up play carried them into encouraging areas around the Wexford penalty box, though the final touch remained elusive.
With the closing minutes of the half approaching, Kerry won a corner in the fortieth minute. Finn Barrett delivered the set piece into the area, but the Wexford defence reacted quickly to clear the danger.
The hosts came closest to breaking the deadlock shortly before the interval. In the forty-third minute, a powerful strike from distance that appeared destined for the net, but Harry Halwax produced an outstanding save to deny what looked like a certain goal. The Kerry goalkeeper’s reflex stop ensured the sides went into the break level.
After a competitive opening forty-five minutes, the teams headed to the dressing rooms with the score still goalless.
SECOND HALF
Wexford began the second half with renewed attacking intent and nearly took the lead early on. In the forty-seventh minute, substitute Kaylem Harnett found space inside the penalty area, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, Harnett threatened again with a shot from the edge of the area. Halwax reacted quickly, diving to push the ball away for a corner. From the resulting set piece, the Kerry goalkeeper was called into action once more, producing another excellent save from close range to keep the score level.
In the 53rd minute, Kerry FC captain Kilian Cantwell was shown a yellow card for a challenge near his backline as the match grew increasingly competitive.
Chris Collopy made his first tactical change in the 56th minute, replacing Eric Koufie with Luke Palmer, injecting fresh energy into Kerry’s attacking play.
Just a minute later, Kerry almost capitalised on a defensive error. A misplaced back pass from the Wexford defence fell kindly to Cian Murphy, who attempted an ambitious lob over the advancing goalkeeper, but the effort drifted just over the crossbar.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the sixty-first minute, Finn Barrett delivered an excellent ball toward the back post, where Kieran Cooney rose to meet it. The defender launched himself forward and powered a bullet diving header past Paul Martin to give Kerry the lead and score his first goal for the club.
Kerry looked to hold their advantage as Wexford pushed forward in search of an equaliser. In the sixty-eighth minute, Jamie Wynne fired a shot toward the near post, but Halwax once again stood firm, making a comfortable save to protect the visitors’ lead.
However, the hosts found their response in the seventy-second minute. A neat passage of play in midfield allowed Wexford to work the ball into the penalty area, where Jamie Wynne produced a perfectly weighted pass from the left. Mikie Rowe met it first time and struck a low effort past Halwax to bring the sides level.
Kerry immediately looked to respond. In the seventy-third minute, Barrett delivered a corner that sailed narrowly over the crossbar and landed on the roof of the net, denying the visitors a quick reply.
As the match entered its final stages, Collopy turned to his bench again. Sean O’Connell replaced goal scorer Kieran Cooney in the seventy-ninth minute, while Cian Brosnan came on for Sean McGrath in the eighty-fourth minute.
With four minutes of stoppage time added at the end of the ninety, both teams pressed for a late winner, but neither could find the decisive moment.
When the final whistle sounded, the sides had to settle for a point each after a competitive encounter in Ferrycarrig Park. Although it was another lead from Kerry FC that turned into a draw, it was a hugely impressive performance from a side that will only get better. After two weeks on the road, the Kingdom will look forward to being back in their own surroundings next Friday when they take on Finn Harps at Mounthawk Park.
Wexford FC Team: Paul Martin; Max Murphy, Evan Osam, Adam Verdon, Dean Larkin, Mikie Rowe (GOAL ‘72), Zayd Abada, Jamie Wynne, Liam Shuntaro Doyle, Dylan Hand, Jake Doyle.
Subs Used: Calum Flynn, Kaylem Harnett, Ryan Ritchie, Gavin Hodgins, Jack Larkin.
Kerry FC Team: Harry Halwax; Finn Barrett, Kieran Cooney (GOAL ‘61), Kilian Cantwell (C), Sean McGrath, Cian Murphy, Jonas Häkkinen, Eric Koufie, Vince Borden, Niall Brookwell, Ewan Lee.
Subs Used: Sean O’Connell, Cian Brosnan, Luke Palmer.