REPORT: SSE AIRTRICITY MEN’S FIRST DIVISION ROUND 29
Dundalk FC 3-3 Kerry FC
Kerry FC were on the road for the first Friday night in six weeks as they made the long trip to Louth to play Dundalk FC for the final time this season.
Kerry FC came into this one on a high, having won last week’s game against Longford Town at Mounthawk Park, making it two wins from two, along with the fantastic Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup victory against Cobh Ramblers.
For the league leaders, Dundalk FC, they return to Louth following their emphatic 7-0 win over Treaty United in Limerick, which saw a hat-trick from League of Ireland veteran Daryl Horgan.
For Colin Healy’s men, Youth academy graduate Ryan Perez made his first senior start today and what a test it would be for the young man.
A small crowd made their way up from the Kingdom, hoping the team on the pitch would have something for them to cheer about on the way back from County Louth.
First Half
The game began with Dundalk enjoying their customary early possession, but Kerry, disciplined in their defensive shape, settled quickly. In the seventeenth minute, Gbemi Arubi carved out the first real chance for the home side, forcing a corner that Kerry scrambled clear after a nervy moment for goalkeeper Matthew Connor when the ball flew over his head. Moments later, Dundalk thought they had taken the lead when the ball ended up in the net, only for referee Lucas Keating to whistle for a free-out to relieve the pressure.
Then, twenty-two minutes in, came the moment that set the crazy tone for the evening. Joe Adams, alert in midfield, found Ronan Teahan with a clever pass. Teahan’s first touch was immaculate, his balance impeccable, and his finish exquisite. The midfielder drove at the Dundalk defence, skipped past a challenge, and struck low into the near post and past a couple of Dundalk defenders to give Kerry a stunning 1-0 lead ever so slightly against the run of play.
The goal visibly rattled Dundalk, though Vincent Leonard nearly restored the goal disadvantage five minutes later with a curling effort that went narrowly wide. Kerry, however, were not content to sit deep. Robbie Cleary’s acrobatic attempt from a Teahan cross just before the half-hour mark drew a somewhat comfortable save from Enda Minogue, a reminder that the Kingdom were intent on asking their own questions.
Still, Dundalk’s pressure inevitably mounted. Connor, who would go on to play a crucial role throughout, denied Arubi with a strong stop on thirty-four minutes in. But the Kerry goalkeeper’s involvement soon turned more dramatic. On the thirty-ninth minute mark, the referee pointed to the spot after Connor took out Arubi in the box. Booked for the incident, he could do nothing as the experienced Daryl Horgan calmly converted the penalty to level the score at 1-1, although Connor was not far off.
If Kerry’s travelling support feared a collapse, they need not have worried. Within sixty seconds of the restart, Kerry were ahead once more. A superb delivery into the box from Ewan Lee found Robbie Cleary, who rose highest and powered a header into the net to restore the Kingdom’s advantage. The sheer audacity of Kerry’s response left the home crowd stunned, and as the half-time whistle blew with the visitors 2-1 ahead, the belief among the away fans was palpable.
Second Half
Whatever was said in the Dundalk dressing room at the interval had an immediate effect. Within seconds of the restart, captain Daryl Horgan struck again, latching onto a loose ball in the six-yard box and driving a low shot beyond Connor to make it 2-2.
But Kerry’s character shone through yet again. Straight from the ensuing kick-off, Teahan picked up possession in midfield, strode forward with purpose, and unleashed a swerving strike from distance that dipped viciously into the net. It was a goal worthy of any stage, and it restored Kerry’s lead at 3-2, sparking wild celebrations on the sideline and in the away end. It could be argued that Enda Minogue could have done better, but the swerve on the shot proved to be too much to handle.
Unfortunately for Kerry, the breathless nature of the game continued to favour Dundalk’s firepower. On the fiftieth minute mark, substitute Keith Ward found space in the box and drilled home the equaliser for 3-3. Three goals in just five minutes left both sets of supporters scarcely able to catch their breath.
The frenetic pace eased slightly thereafter, but Kerry FC continued to pose a threat on the break. Manager Colin Healy introduced Cian Brosnan for Ryan Perez to add fresh legs, while Arran Healy replaced Oran Crowe midway through the half as Kerry rotated to keep up with Dundalk’s relentless tempo.
The hosts gradually began to dominate possession, but Kerry’s defensive shape and Connor’s reliability in goal kept them at bay. The goalkeeper got down sharply to deny Horgan as the hour on the stopwatch loomed, while Norman Garbett and Dean Ebbe both spurned golden chances in the final fifteen minutes. Connor also showed bravery to claim a dangerous header from Conor O’Keefe with thirteen minutes to go, and when Ebbe fired wide from inside the area with just ten minutes left, the sense grew that Kerry FC might just cling on.
As the minutes ticked down, Luke Palmer was introduced for Cleary to add energy up top, and though Dundalk threw everything forward, Kerry defended valiantly. The fourth official signalled five minutes of added time, but the Kingdom’s backline held firm through wave after wave of attacks. When the final whistle sounded, Kerry’s players collapsed to the astroturf in exhaustion but also pride, having earned a famous point against the league leaders.
There was a real sense of joy that this was the first time in the three years of the club’s short existence that they managed to get a point off the league leaders, but also a sense of disappointment that they led three times and could not hold out for all three points—a real piece of progression in itself.
With Kerry FC now just six points off the playoff places, it’s really starting to feel around the club like this season could be a special one, especially with so many important games ahead in both leagues and cup competitions. Kerry FC now look ahead once again to hosting Cobh Ramblers in Mounthawk Park next Friday in what is a huge game with huge implications for the rest
Dundalk FC Team: 1. Enda Minogue, 4. Mayowa Animasahun, 6. Aodh Dervin, 7. Daryl Horgan (C) (GOAL PEN ‘41, ‘47), 11. Gbemi Arubi, 12. Luke Mulligan, 15. Vincent Leonard, 16. Eoin Kenny, 23. Andy Paraschiv, 27. Declan McDaid, 31. John Ross Wilson.
Subs: Peter Cherrie, Conor O’Keefe, Harry Groome, Dean Ebbe, Norman Garbett, Keith Ward (GOAL ‘52), Sean Spaight, Trevor Joseph Molloy Murray, Rohan Vaughan.
Kerry FC Team: 16. Matthew Connor, 3. Sean O’Connell, 4. Oran Crowe, 5. Christopher Mcqueen, 6. Carl Mujaguzi, 8. Ronan Teahan (GOAL ‘23, ‘48), 10. Joe Adams, 14. Robert Cleary (GOAL ‘42), 28. Niall Brookwell (C), 29. Ewan Lee, 36. Ryan Perez.
Subs: Darragh Foley, Samuel Aladesanusi, Arran Healy, Cian Brosnan, Luke Doolan, Finn Barrett, Sean McGrath, Luke Palmer.