REPORT: SSE AIRTRICITY MEN’S FIRST DIVISION
MATCHDAY 24: Kerry FC 4-0 Athlone Town
On Friday evening, Kerry FC were back at home for the 3rd game in a row as they took on Athlone Town for the second time in as many weeks. It was the first of a busy weekend for Kerry FC as they were heading to Limerick on Monday for their final visit to the Markets Field and to Treaty United this season, so they hoped they could get a good start to the bank holiday weekend with the game against Athlone Town.
Kerry FC have had a tough few weeks to say the least, with five losses in a row in the league, their last victory was in that FAI Cup fixture against Athlone Town, so the Kingdom will likely fancy their chances of putting that poor streak to an end.
With the transfer window shut, Kerry FC made three additions to their squad in the final week. Matthew O’Connor, Ewan Lee and Luke Doolan all signed on the dotted line on Tuesday as Colin Healy finished up the month happy with the squad he has for the remainder of the season.
For Athlone Town, their women’s team may be sky high, but the same cannot be said for the men. Not a single win since the beginning of May and bottom of the First Division. Ian Ryan’s luck is bound to change at some stage, and he hoped that Friday evening was the perfect time to do so.
First Half
Kerry FC had a penalty shout after just nine minutes as Lee Duggan seemed to have taken down Daniel Okwute inside the area. Despite a huge shout from the Mounthawk Park faithful, referee Alan Patchell waved play on.
Athlone’s first effort came after fifteen minutes when a free kick on the left side of the pitch was whipped into Stanislav Hulidov, who was free inside the box, but he headed wide from a definite goalscoring opportunity.
Just two minutes later, a great through pass from Oran Crowe found Daniel Okwute, but although it went by Duggan, his effort hit the post and came back out to Robbie Cleary, whose effort was blocked. It was, overall, a very bright start from Kerry FC.
The bright start from Kerry FC would be rewarded in the twenty-seventh minute when a superb pass through the channel from Robbie Cleary found Ronan Teahan in a great position. Ronan took the shot, and although Lee Duggan seemed to get enough on it, the ball made its way into the back of the net.
Just four minutes later, Kerry FC would go a goal further ahead as a Sean O’Connell corner kick on the right side went all the way in, putting the Kingdom in dreamland.
Ten minutes later, Kerry FC would cap off an unbelievable first-half performance with a third goal scored and orchestrated by Robbie Cleary. He picked up the ball on the right wing and drove forward with it, a few silky step overs later and a great finish, Kerry were three to the good with Cleary getting a goal he fully deserved for his first half performance.
Kerry FC were unbelievable in the first forty-five minutes without really coming out of first gear. The home crowd hoped for more of the same in the second period.
Second Half
The first opportunity of the second half went to the away side and to Billy Gilmore. He opened up space for himself inside the box, and from the angle we were at, it looked like it had gone in, but instead hit the side netting.
Kerry FC added a fourth just after the hour mark as Carl Mujaguzi hit a rocket from outside the area into the bottom left corner. It was a great play from Kerry FC, who kept the ball for a long period of possession, and it eventually came to Mujaguzi, who was met by the “shoot” shouts, which he delivered with some emphasis.
From then on in Kerry FC remained in total control. Their next big shot came from Cian Brosnan with five minutes left of the ninety; he had a bit of space for himself and struck it well, but it went safely into the hands of Lee Duggan.
Kerry FC would see out the five minutes of added time to pick up their first league win since the twentieth of June and their biggest winning margin in their short history. Special mentions go to new signings Matt Connor, who kept a clean sheet on his debut, and to Ewan Lee, who, in his first-ever League of Ireland appearance, was solid across the 90 minutes. They have very little time to celebrate, however, as they now face the task of Treaty United on Monday evening in Limerick.
KERRY FC TEAM: 16. Matthew Connor, 3. Sean O’Connell (GOAL ‘31), 4. Oran Crowe, 5. Christopher McQueen, 6. Carl Mujaguzi (GOAL ‘63), 8. Ronan Teahan (C) (GOAL ‘27), 11. Daniel Okwute, 14. Robert Cleary (GOAL ‘41), 15. Kevin Williams, 18. Samuel Aladesanusi, 29. Ewan Lee.
SUBS: 40 Darragh Foley, 7. Sean McGrath, 10. Joseph Adams, 12. Kennedy Amechi, 17. Cian Brosnan, 20. Abel Alabi, 23 Finn Barrett, 35. Arran Healy, 36. Ryan Perez.
ATHLONE TOWN TEAM: 99. Lee Duggan, 2. Kelende Abdine Jr Thiam, 3. Kyle O’Connor (C), 6. Jason Folarin Oyenuga, 7. Aderinsola Abdul-Lateef Adewale, 9. Dean Williams, 11. Stanislav Hulidov, 12. Cole Omorehiomwan, 24. Gideon Tetteh, 26. Billy Gilmore, 29. Reece Webb.
SUBS: 13. Andrew Stuart Trainor, 4. Daniel McKenna, 5. Dylan Hand, 10. Eoin Sheehan, 14. Noe Baba, 15. Ben Feeney, 18. Oisin Duffy, 25. William Smith, 32. Adam Lennon.
