REPORT: SSE AIRTRICITY MEN’S FIRST DIVISION
MATCHDAY 29: Kerry FC 3-1 Treaty United
Kerry FC were back at home once again on Friday evening as they took on Treaty United in Mounthawk Park, with the home stretch of games in the 2026 First Division season coming thick and fast.
The Kingdom came into this one four points off of Cobh Ramblers and Longford Town in fourth and fifth as the race for the playoff places ramped up with just eight games to go.
Kerry take on a Treaty United side who make the journey down to Tralee after picking up a point at home to Cork City last week in the Markets Field, a result which will surely bolster the team’s morale ahead of the trip to Mounthawk Park.
The last time the two sides met in Mounthawk Park, Ryan Kelliher’s forty-seventh-minute strike cancelled out Cian Curtis’ goal to earn both sides a point. The Kingdom are yet to beat Treaty United this season, so it meant a lot for Kerry FC to pick up the final Munster Derby bragging rights between the two sides to finish off the 2026 campaign.
Once again, in back-to-back weeks, there was a brilliant turnout in Mounthawk Park for what was sure to be a brilliant game of football.
FIRST HALF
Kerry FC made a bright start to the Munster Derby, with both sides looking to impose themselves in the opening stages.
Treaty United created the first opportunity when Steven Healy’s effort was scuffed by Matt Connor, but the Kerry FC goalkeeper did enough to ensure the ball went out for a corner.
Kerry responded with a dangerous delivery from Sean O’Connell in the fourth minute, with Ben Lynch heading the ball behind for a corner. From another set piece three minutes later, O’Connell’s free kick was not fully cleared by Treaty United, allowing Samuel Aladesanusi to get a shot away, although the visitors eventually dealt with the danger.
Kerry continued to threaten, and in the seventeenth minute, a cross from the left by Sean O’Connell found Cian Murphy. The ball was slightly behind Murphy, however, and his header went over the crossbar.
Treaty United tested Connor again in the twentieth minute when Colin Conroy struck from range, but the effort was comfortably caught by the Kerry FC goalkeeper.
At the other end, Cian Bargary found space in front of him and opted to shoot in the twenty-second minute, but Jack Brady was equal to the effort.
Kerry continued to press for an opener and came close again in the thirty-first minute. A long throw from Samuel Aladesanusi was headed on by a Treaty defender and fell into the path of Niall Brookwell at the back post, but his effort went wide.
Ronan Manning was shown a yellow card in the forty-first minute as the derby began to become increasingly competitive.
Then, in the forty-fourth minute, Kerry FC found the breakthrough spectacularly.
Sean McGrath picked up possession in an advanced position, rode through several challenges and unleashed a superb effort into the far corner off his weak foot. It was a wonderful finish from the Kerry FC captain and sent the Kingdom into the break ahead.
SECOND HALF
Kerry FC started the second half on the front foot. In the forty-eighth minute, Robert Keane showed impressive improvisation to get the ball into the area for Cian Murphy, whose header sailed over the crossbar.
Just a minute later, Keane produced another moment of quality, playing Cian Bargary through with an outstanding outside-of-the-boot pass. Bargary was unable to find the target, however.
Treaty United then threatened an equaliser in the fifty-eighth minute when Ben Feeney curled an effort from the right edge of the box against the crossbar.
The visitors did level the contest in the sixty-fifth minute. A free kick was awarded to Treaty United following a challenge involving Sean McGrath and Ronan Manning, with Manning taking responsibility and finding the net to make it 1-1.
Kerry FC responded immediately. Ryan Perez replaced Robert Keane and, just two minutes later, put the Kingdom back in front. Matt Connor’s kick-out was flicked on by Cian Murphy into the path of Perez. The substitute drove forward before finishing at the near post to restore Kerry’s lead.
The game became increasingly intense, with Darren Nwankwo receiving a yellow card in the sixty-ninth minute before being shown a second yellow and sent off in the seventy-first minute.
Sean McGrath was booked in the seventy-second minute, but Kerry continued to control proceedings with the numerical advantage.
In the seventy-seventh minute, Kerry FC added a third. Sean O’Connell swung a corner into the area, and after a scramble the ball was not cleared. It eventually fell to Niall Brookwell, who managed to get the ball over the line to make it 3-1.
Sean McGrath was replaced by Arran Healy shortly afterwards, while Jack Brady was shown a yellow card.
Kerry continued to create opportunities. In the eighty-third minute, Cian Bargary delivered an inviting ball into the area for Arran Healy, whose header was saved by Brady. Bargary then tested the Treaty goalkeeper himself in the eighty-fourth minute, with Brady producing another good save.
Matt Connor was called upon in the eighty-sixth minute and made an excellent close-range save to deny Colm Whelan.
At the other end, Ryan Perez tested Brady from distance in the eighty-seventh minute, but the Treaty goalkeeper got down well to save.
Cian Brosnan replaced Cian Bargary in the ninetieth minute, with four minutes of additional time announced.
Kerry FC saw out the remaining minutes to complete an impressive 3-1 victory and secure a memorable Munster Derby triumph at Mounthawk Park. The Kingdom cut the gap to the play-off places to just 2 points and visit one of the two sides ahead of them next weekend, making the journey to Bishopsgate to face Longford Town
Kerry FC Team: Matthew Connor; Sean O’Connell, Sean McGrath (C) (GOAL ‘44), Cian Murphy, Jonas Häkkinen, Samuel Aladesanusi, Vince Borden, Niall Brookwell (GOAL ‘76), Ewan Lee, Robert Keane, Cian Bargary.
Subs Used: Ryan Perez (GOAL ‘68), Arran Healy, Cian Brosnan
Treaty United Team: Jack Brady (C); Ben Lynch, Steven Healy, Colin Conroy, Ben Feeney, Jason Oyenuga, Brian Cunningham, Darren Nwankwo (RED CARD ‘72), Robbie Lynch, Ronan Manning (GOAL ‘65), Kilian Cantwell.
Subs Used: Billy Regan, Mark Byrne, Mark Murphy, Colm Whelan, Fuhad Kareem.