REPORT: SSE AIRTRICITY MEN’S FIRST DIVISION
MATCHDAY 19: Kerry FC 1-0 Athlone Town
Kerry FC were fully rested after the mid-season break, and they returned to action on Friday night as they took on Athlone Town back at home in Mounthawk Park.
Kerry FC finished the mid-season point with a 2-0 loss away to Cobh Ramblers, while Athlone Town ended the halfway point in similar circumstances, losing three on the bounce. Both sides wanted to start the second half of the season with a bang, and the home support hoped it would be the men in Green.
The last time these two faced off was in Athlone in an entertaining 0-0 draw, with Matthew Connor putting in a stellar performance between the sticks to keep his clean sheet intact. The last time the two faced each other in Mounthawk Park was Matchday Two, where a Cillian Tollett eighty-seventh-minute strike was enough for all three points to head back to the midlands. A draw and a loss so far this season for The Kingdom, so they hoped to get their first win against Athlone on their third time of asking this season.
All tickets on Friday were just a fiver, and with secondary schools finished for the year and just a few exams left to be completed, the weather made it an even better occasion and excuse for the Mounthawk faithful to come down to support their local in droves on Friday evening.
FIRST HALF
The game got underway under clear skies at Mounthawk Park, with Kerry FC looking to build momentum from the opening whistle. Colin Healy’s side settled quickly into the contest and enjoyed some encouraging spells of possession during the early exchanges, although clear-cut opportunities were initially at a premium.
Athlone Town’s first setback arrived in the seventeenth minute when Evan O’Connor became the first player to enter the referee’s notebook following a jersey pull.
Kerry continued to look lively on the ball, moving possession confidently through midfield, but neither side was able to create a significant opening during the opening stages of the contest. A blow arrived for the hosts in the twenty-fourth minute when captain Sean McGrath was forced off through injury with a suspected hamstring problem. Daniel Okwute was introduced in his place and would go on to make a decisive impact on the evening.
Athlone produced their first meaningful effort in the twenty-fifth minute. Patrick Ferry worked space from a tight angle and drove a shot towards goal, but Matthew Connor reacted sharply to make an excellent save and push the ball clear of danger.
Kerry responded positively. In the twenty-ninth minute, Cian Brosnan tried his luck from distance, but his ambitious strike drifted over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Athlone midfielder Brian McManus was shown a yellow card as the visitors attempted to disrupt Kerry’s rhythm.
The home side came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the thirty-third minute. Sean O’Connell delivered an inviting free kick into the penalty area, where Ewan Lee expertly brought the ball down before laying it into the path of Jonas Häkkinen. The defender struck first time from inside the box, only to be denied by a superb save from Athlone goalkeeper Brendan Clarke. It was comfortably the best chance of the half and one that Kerry will have felt should have resulted in a goal.
Athlone’s Callum Cleary received a yellow card a minute later as the intensity of the contest increased. Kerry remained on the front foot, and Sean O’Connell tried another effort in the thirty-fifth minute, striking from well outside the area, but his shot drifted wide of the target.
Two minutes of added time were signalled at the end of the half, but neither side could find the breakthrough before the interval. The teams went into the dressing rooms level after a competitive but scoreless opening forty-five minutes.
SECOND HALF
Kerry emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and were rewarded in the fifty-third minute with the decisive moment of the match.
What appeared to be a lost cause near the byline was transformed into a goal through the determination of Daniel Okwute. Thomas Considine looked set to shepherd the ball out of play, but Okwute refused to give up, dispossessing the Athlone defender before cutting inside and firing a shot on goal. Athlone managed to block the initial effort, but Ryan Perez reacted quickest to the rebound and tapped home from close range to score his first senior goal for Kerry FC, sparking celebrations around Mounthawk Park.
Athlone almost responded immediately in the fifty-sixth minute when substitute Cillian Tollett met a cross with a powerful header. Once again, Matthew Connor came to Kerry’s rescue with a brilliant save to preserve the lead.
As the visitors pushed for an equaliser, Kerry remained organised and disciplined. Robert Keane was introduced for Cian Brosnan in the sixty-fourth minute to provide fresh energy, while Ewan Lee picked up a yellow card four minutes later.
Athlone continued to threaten and came close in the seventy-first minute when Brian McManus unleashed a fine effort from distance. Connor produced another outstanding save, demonstrating why he was one of the standout performers on the night.
Kerry managed the game intelligently during the closing stages. Matthew Britton replaced goal scorer Ryan Perez in the eighty-third minute as the home side looked to see out the victory.
The hosts nearly added a second goal in the eighty-eighth minute. Daniel Okwute produced a brilliant run down the left flank before drilling a dangerous ball across the face of the goal, but no Kerry player was arriving to apply the finishing touch.
Five minutes of additional time were indicated, and Kerry almost sealed the result on the counterattack. Okwute was again at the centre of the action, breaking forward and finding himself through on goal, but Clarke made an important save to keep Athlone’s hopes alive.
Those hopes would ultimately come to nothing as Kerry defended resolutely through the remaining minutes. The final whistle was greeted by loud celebrations from players and supporters alike as Kerry FC secured another valuable victory at Mounthawk Park.
Ryan Perez’s first senior goal for the club proved the difference between the sides, while Matthew Connor’s series of crucial saves ensured Kerry kept a clean sheet. Combined with Daniel Okwute’s influential performance from the bench, it was a night that underlined the character and determination within Colin Healy’s squad as they returned to action with a deserved three points.
The Kingdom are just six points off the playoff places as they must now travel to the capital next Friday night as they take on UCD AFC in Belfield.
Kerry FC Team: Matthew Connor; Sean O’Connell, Sean McGrath(C), Cian Murphy, Jonas Häkkinen, Cian Brosnan, Samuel Aladesanusi, Ryan Perez (GOAL ‘53), Vince Borden, Niall Brookwell, Ewan Lee.
Subs Used: Daniel Okwute, Robert Keane, Matthew Britton
Athlone Town Team: Brendan Clarke (C); Evan O’Connor, Aderinsola Adewale, Aaron Connolly, Patrick Ferry, Brian McManus, Gradi Lomboto, Peter Grogan, Thomas Considine, Callum Cleary, James Crawford.
Subs Used: Cillian Tollett, Robert Lyons, William Smith, Reece Webb.