REPORT: SSE AIRTRICITY MEN’S FIRST DIVISION
MATCHDAY 1: KERRY FC 2-0 FINN HARPS
Kerry FC were back under the lights of Mounthawk Park on Friday night as they hosted Finn Harps in the first game of the 2025 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division season. It had been one hundred and nineteen days since the last league game, and the excitement was bigger than ever in the near four months away!
Kerry FC has added twelve players to its senior squad, and the atmosphere around the club has been lifted immensely in the off-season. One of the new arrivals is a familiar face: Kevin Williams, who became the first player to return to the club after leaving in August.
Finn Harps finished just five points off the playoff places last season, and with new arrivals such as Joel Thompson and Dara McGuinness, the Donegal side will want to go a step further in the 2025 season.
Kerry FC broke their season ticket sales record for the 2025 season, and the feel around football in the Kingdom is getting bigger and bigger by the year. The crowd inside Mounthawk Park did not disappoint on the night, and the atmosphere was electric from the first minute.
FIRST HALF
The game started slowly, and very little happened in the opening stages, with both teams readjusting to the new season. Finn Harps had the better of the possession in the first ten to fifteen minutes but did not create much with said possession. New man Joe Adams was in the thick of the action early on and made the supporters in attendance aware of what he was all about.
The first glimmer of an opportunity for Kerry FC came in the sixteenth minute when Adams picked a pass from the left side of the box, which was just ahead of Ryan Kelliher. Kelliher picked up the ball and tried to force something from the situation, but it was dealt with quite easily by Harps.
Eight minutes later, Kerry took the lead through Joe Adams with a goal on his league debut for the club. Nathan Gleeson drilled a low cross into the area, which was superbly flicked on by Ronan Teahan into the path of Adams, who tucked away the opportunity in emphatic fashion.
At this point, it was evident Adams was in the mood. He was on free-kick duty just six minutes after the opener on the edge of the box, which he delivered with power and pace testing Oisin Cooney, but the Finn Harps keeper saved the effort and kept the Kerry FC pressure at bay.
The defensive partnership of Chris McQueen and Abel Alabi were rock solid in the opening forty-five and sent the message that it would take something special to catch them out in the remainder of the game.
SECOND HALF
Kerry FC were caught out by a back pass eight minutes after the restart, but Harps could not capitalise on the error, and a sigh of relief could be heard from the home crowd.
A fantastic piece of attacking football led to a pass from Ryan Kelliher to Daniel Okwute, which he struck just wide of the right post. Kerry FC’s number eleven was making his presence felt after coming on as a halftime substitute.
Okwute was pushing for his goal as another effort of his was struck high and over the crossbar. Kerry FC were pressing Harps highly at this point, and it only felt like a matter of time before they got their second goal, which they did just two minutes later.
A set piece was delivered into the area, and after a small scramble from Harps to try and clear the ball, it fell to Niall Brookwell, who smashed his shot into the roof of the net, giving Kerry FC breathing space.
Things seemed to be going too well at this point, but Joe Adams was sent off with a straight red card. His tackle on Michael Place was enough for Oliver Moran to send Adams for an early shower.
For much of the remainder of the second half, Finn Harps did not put the extra man advantage to use as they struggled to create anything to make Kerry FC worry for the final stages. Kerry remained professional in their defence and even managed to create anything a couple more chances of their own. After an additional six minutes was added, the full-time whistle sounded, and Kerry picked up a win on the opening day for the first time on their third time of asking.
A truly professional win from Conor McCarthy’s side. They now set their focus on St. Coleman’s Park as they face Cobh Ramblers next Friday evening.
KERRY FC TEAM: 1. Tim Oliver-Hiemer, 2. Alex Dunne, 5. Chris McQueen, 20. Abel Alabi, 3. Sean O’Connell, 28. Niall Brookwell (GOAL ‘66), 8. Ronan Teahan, 7. Sean McGrath (C), 13. Nathan Gleeson, 9. Ryan Kelliher, 10. Joe Adams (GOAL ‘24)(RED CARD ‘69).
SUBS: Connal Doran, Oran Crowe, Daniel Okwute, Kennedy Amechi, Kevin Williams, Cian Brosnan, Finn Barrett, Theo Farquharson, Steven Stanic-Floody.
FINN HARPS TEAM: 1. Oisin Cooney, 4. Conor Tourish, 7. Anthony Dodd, 8. Max Hutchinson, 9. Dara McGuinness, 10. Tony McNamee (C), 20. Michael Place, 21. Joel Thompson, 22. David Cawley, 23. Gavin Gilmore, 77. Patrick Ferry.
SUBS: David Chukwuemeka Aziaya, 31. Shane O’Gara, Kevin Jordan, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Josh Cullen, Gavin Hodgins, Max Johnston, Gradi Lomboto, William Olamipo Oduwa.
