The season reaches its final round of games this weekend, with 9 of the 36 long SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division games beginning for the Kingdom on Friday with a home tie against UCD AFC.
Kerry welcome the students to Mounthawk for the first of 5 remaining home games in the final block of 9 fixtures. Despite two disappointing away defeats against Cork in the league and Sligo in the Cup, Colin Healy’s side will be looking to start the run-in with another win in front of the Kerry faithful in Tralee.
And Kerry have every right to have confidence on their return home, with an impressive unbeaten run stretching back to early April, the last time Kerry tasted defeat in Tralee in 10 matches now. It’s one of the strongest home records in the division, and with 5 games to go at Mounthawk, Kerry will be hoping to make the most of being at home. Kerry sit just two points off the playoff places heading into the final 9, so every point from here until the end of the season could prove vital to where the sides finish come the end of matchday 36. Kerry will also take confidence from their win the reversal of this fixture back in June, when Cian Brosnan scored the only goal in a 0-1 victory for the Kingdom in Belfield.
But UCD come to Mounthawk Park looking to cement their place in the playoff places as well, and the race is tighter than ever for the 4 coveted positions at the end of the season. The students are level on points with Bray Wanderers and sit 20 points behind the runaway league leaders Cork City. But they have an 8-point cushion in the race for the playoff places, but with 27 points on offer, the students will be coming to Tralee with all eyes on bringing the 3 points back up the M7. It’s Kerry (35) who sit just outside the playoff places by 2 points from Longford (37) and Cobh Ramblers (37) while Wexford (34), Athlone (31) and Treay United (29) are all ready to pounce in the final 9 games of the season.
Nothing will be won or lost tomorrow night, but there is a real feel that 8 teams have a serious chance of reaching the 4 playoff places this term, it’s all eyes on the First Division table for the next 9 weeks.
Head-to-head
Kerry FC Wins – 2 Draws – 2 UCD AFC Wins – 7
Did You Know?
UCD and Kerry FC have shared only 2 players since the Kingdom’s introduction to the League of Ireland. That being Ethan Kos in 2024 and Alex Dunne in 2025.
Injury Update
Daniel Okwute limped off after just 6 minutes in last Saturday’s Cup defeat away to Sligo Rovers. He will be assessed but is likely to miss out this week. Finn Barrett and Luke Doolan remain sidelined, while Ryan Kelliher will be absent long term. Cian Murphy will also miss this one with suspension.
‘What they said’
Colin Healy – “The home form has been outstanding, the support we have and the noise that they make. It’s a hard place to come and play, and between the players and the supporters, they’ve done that. Hopefully we can keep that going tomorrow night. It’s 5 home games we’ve got in the last round, so, listen, we will keep pushing for the supporters, and hopefully we can keep getting better and better and put more points on the board.”