REPORT: SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division
Matchday 10: Finn Harps 4-2 Kerry FC
On Friday, Kerry FC made the longest trip of the season for the first time as they took on Finn Harps in Ballybofey, County Donegal. Kerry FC were coming into this one in very high spirits after last Friday night’s brilliant performance against Athlone Town in Tralee. Two goals from Luke Palmer and a first of the season for Ryan Kelliher were enough to see them through with three points last time around.
Finn Harps also came into the game in high spirits compared to the opening game of the season, where Kerry FC picked up a win on Matchday One. Harps had only lost once since the seventh of March and looked to further improve their unbeaten run on Friday evening.
A win in Ballybofey would be just Kerry’s second-ever win on grass and their first-ever win in Donegal since the side came into the league in 2023. Kerry FC had drawn twice and lost twice in Donegal, so that win, if it should come on the night, would taste that bit sweeter for the Kingdom.
FIRST HALF
The first fifteen minutes or so were quite poor in quality, mostly due to the poor weather in Donegal on the night. The first real chance came from Daniel Okwute, who had his shot saved by Harps goalkeeper David Aziaya inside the eighteen-yard box.
Four minutes after the first glaring chance of the game, Finn Harps were awarded a penalty after Sean O’Connell took down Dara McGuinness inside the area. Gavin Hodgins stepped up and made sure of his chance to put the home side into the lead.
Harps nearly doubled their lead after twenty-seven minutes when an attempt on goal was blocked and out wide by their own man, giving Kerry FC a lifeline. That lifeline came up trumps when, just two minutes later, Kerry equalised through Sam Aladesanusi. A corner taken by Daniel Okwute met a towering header by Chris McQueen, who gave it into a good area for Sam to tap home from close range.
Six minutes later, Kerry FC turned the game on its head when Daniel Okwute put the visiting side 2-1 up. A one-two between Okwute and Joe Adams created the chance for Okwute, who finished into the bottom-right corner from a tough angle.
Kerry had the chance to double their lead on the stroke of half-time when a Luke Palmer free header went over the crossbar.
SECOND HALF
Kerry FC started the second half brilliantly and had two great chances early on. First, Oran Crowe had a shot blocked that looked goal-bound, and then Sean McGrath tried an audacious chip that went just wide of the post.
Kerry FC wished they had made those chances count, as just two minutes after the opportunities, Harps levelled. Max Hutchinson rose highest from a long throw-in to put the game back on level terms.
With twenty minutes remaining, another penalty was awarded as Abel Alabi was judged to have made a push on the back in the area, and the decision stood despite the appeals.
Niall Brookwell had a great shot from outside the area saved brilliantly as Kerry tried to get themselves back into the game. Those hopes faded as Harps made it 4-2 to put the game to bed through Dara McGuinness.
A tough night for Kerry FC after the long trip. They don’t have too much time to dwell on the result as they have a quick turnaround with a game back in Tralee against Cobh Ramblers on the Bank Holiday Monday at home in Mounthawk Park.
FINN HARPS TEAM: 25. David Aziaya, 20. Michael Place, 6. Joel Bradley-Walsh, 8. Max Hutchinson (Goal ‘56), 9. Dara McGuinness (Goal ‘90), 10. Tony McNamee (C), 11. Gavin McAteer, 12. Josh Cullen, 18. Gavin Hodgins (Goal Pen ‘21, Pen ‘70), 22. David Cawley, 30. Gradi Lomboto
SUBS: Oisin Cooney, Anthony Dodd, Adam McDaid, Patrick Ferry, Gavin Gilmore, Aaron McLaughlin, William Oduwa, Cunningham, J McAteer.
KERRY FC TEAM: 1. Tim-Oliver Hiemer, 15. Kevin Williams, 5. Chris McQueen, 18. Samuel Aladesanusi (Goal ‘29), 3. Sean O’Connell, 28. Niall Brookwell, 7. Sean McGrath (C), 4. Oran Crowe, 11. Daniel Okwute (Goal ‘35), 21. Luke Palmer, 10. Joe Adams
SUBS: Mathyas Randriamamy (GK), Alex Dunne, Cian Brosnan, Abel Alabi, Ryan Kelliher, Stevan Stanic-Floody, Carl Mujaguzi, Eemeli Honkola.
