Match Report – Cobh Ramblers v Kerry FC

SPORTS DIRECT MEN’S FAI CUP: SECOND ROUND

COBH RAMBLERS 0-2 KERRY FC

After a crazy game last week in the league against Bray Wanderers, Kerry FC started their second cup campaign of the season as they took on Cobh Ramblers in the second round of the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup in St. Colman’s Park. Kerry FC have already played Cobh in a cup competition this season as the Kingdom booked their ticket to the last four of the Munster Senior Cup with a win against the Rams back in February.

The last time the two faced each other in St. Colman’s Park, Cobh came out narrow 1-0 winners with a goal from Matthew McKevitt. That game was a tight affair and this game promised to be no different. Cobh came into the fixture in a poor run of form with just one win in their previous four games and hoped a cup win could turn their fortunes around.

For Kerry, it has just been one loss in their previous four with the majority of games being draws. Ryan Kelliher has been in a rich vein of form scoring seven in his last five outings and the Killarney man looked to continue his run on the south coast of the rebel county.

Antonio Tuta and Andy Spain returned to the starting eleven with Cian Brosnan keeping his place after his superb display last week against Bray which he left a mark with an assist for Kelliher’s first goal of his historic hat-trick game. Kerry FC had a strong bench with the likes of Samuel Aladesanusi, Oran Crowe and Daniel Okwute ready to come on when needed.

First Half:
Kerry FC came out of the traps quickly but were nearly caught out after just two minutes when Matthew McKevitt’s free header inside the area went wide of Antonio Tuta’s right-hand post. Despite the early scare, Kerry FC did not panic and just seven minutes after the early chance from the home side they took the lead through Cian Brosnan. Sean McGrath broke away with the ball in an attacking area before leaving it off to Brosnan. He took his time and fired low and hard into the near post leaving Cathal O’Hanlon no chance.

Two minutes after the opener, Cobh were in danger once again as Nolan Evers took down Kevin Williams in the box to give Kerry FC a penalty. O’Hanlon threw out the ball in hospital fashion with Williams getting on the end of it. The Kerry FC right-back took the ball past Evers and Declan Toland had no other choice but to point to the spot. The man in top form Ryan Kelliher stood up to take the spot kick and slotted it with ease into the bottom right corner to make it two penalty goals in two games.

Kerry nearly made it 3-0 to put the game to bed in the twenty-fourth minute when Cian Brosnan tried an audacious bicycle kick on the end of a Sean McGrath cross, but the effort went agonisingly close and unfortunately wide. Kerry went 2-0 up against Bray last week and needed to keep their heads screwed on to avoid a double blow which they suffered in quick succession last Friday night. The half ended a lot less frantically than it started with Kerry FC being comfortable in possession and seeing out the first forty-five two goals to the good.

Second Half:
Just after the restart, Kerry FC were desperate to get the third goal as Cian Brosnan got on the end of Oran Crowe’s cross at the back post but there was not enough power on the header and O’Hanlon caught the ball with some ease. Like Brosnan, Ryan Kelliher was also in the mood to grab another as he took on a long-range shot which was also caught by O’Hanlon.

Daire McCarthy was placed into centre back as a replacement for Andy Spain in the first half who picked up a knock in the warmup and slotted into the position brilliantly showing calmness and personification in a role he is not usually used to. Just after the hour mark things went from bad to worse for Cobh as Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge. A silly tackle to make when the home side was chasing the game and there were no complaints from the accused as he headed back into the dressing room before being shown the red card.

Kerry FC had very few chances for the remainder of the game but had two goals ruled out for offside and Ryan Kelliher and Cian Brosnan were both punished for late runs by the linesman. Both decisions were correct with the second from Brosnan being a lot tighter than the first.

Daniel Okwute then came on and nearly made it three as he created space for himself inside the left side of the box. He struck his shot with power and from a tight angle, but it was deflected out for a corner which eventually came to nothing. Kerry saw out the remainder of the game easily and went out 2-0 winners to put themselves in the hat for the third-round draw which takes place on Tuesday. It was Kerry FC’s only second away win in the club’s history with the first coming over a year ago against Athlone Town.

As Kerry waits to see who they will face in the next round they now look forward to another trip to Cork as they take on Cork City in Turners Cross for the second time this season in the hopes to make it two wins from two against sides in the rebel county.