REPORT: SSE AIRTRICITY MEN’S FIRST DIVISION
MATCHDAY 11: Kerry FC 0-2 Cobh Ramblers
On Bank Holiday Monday, Kerry FC were back in action as they faced Cobh Ramblers in Mounthawk Park. The quick turnaround from Donegal on Friday night would be a tough challenge, but that is what these Bank Holiday game weeks are all about.
The Rams had a good win at home in foggy conditions on Friday night, as it took a Cian Bargary goal on the hour mark to take all three points in a gruelling battle with UCD AFC. Despite the tough defeat on Friday, Kerry FC could take many positives from the game. Daniel Okwute put in a great shift to silence his critics, scoring a great goal to put the side 2-1 up. More minutes for Ryan Kelliher meant it was evident that his start was coming soon.
Cobh sat in third place in the league table ahead of the game as they chased Bray Wanderers, who were four points ahead of them. For Kerry FC, Friday’s defeat meant they were back down to tenth, but a win over the Rams could jump them to eighth, depending on results around the other grounds on the evening.
The last game between the two sides ended in a draw in St. Colman’s Park, with Kerry FC feeling begrudged after Carl Mujaguzi seemed to be taken down inside the area, but to no avail. It was a high-paced game with both sides happy with the shared points in the end. On a lovely day back in Tralee, it was hoped that the teams could be separated at the end of this one.
FIRST HALF
It was a cagey opening to the game, which Cobh were the better of, and after just nine minutes, the Ramblers would take the lead through Barry Coffey. A cross from the right wing found Coffey free inside the area to head home and put the Rams in the driver’s seat early on.
Just three minutes later, Kerry FC had the perfect opportunity to go back level when a free kick delivered into the near post was headed just wide by Niall Brookwell. It felt as if Kerry could conjure up a few more chances just like this, they would be level again in no time whatsoever.
Cobh were well in control and had a couple more chances to double their lead. First, Jason Abbott’s snapshots went wide of the target, then Tim-Oliver Hiemer cleared a goal-line scramble for a corner, which was cleared again by Tim, who won a free kick from the sequence.
Luka Le Bervet was on defensive duties in the twenty-third minute when Daniel Okwute looked to be through on goal, but a fantastic last-stitch tackle from Le Bervet was enough to steer away the danger.
Daniel Okwute was in on the action once again as he made space to shoot on his left foot outside the area, but dragged slightly and was held with ease by Cobh shot-stopper Timothy Martin.
With six minutes to go before half-time, Cobh would get that second goal, and it came from Barry Coffey once again. A corner was swung in on the right side, and a towering Cian Coleman header was saved brilliantly by Tim-Oliver Hiemer. Unfortunately for the home side, Coffey was there to make sure of the chance and headed in from close range to give Kerry FC an uphill battle going into the second half.
SECOND HALF
Changes were made at half-time, and it was making a difference. Luke Palmer had a shot blocked that went out for a corner, which on another day would have halved the deficit.
Ryan Kelliher got his first taste of the action just after the hour mark when a low, first-timed shot forced a save out of Martin that went out for a corner, which on that occasion unfortunately led to nothing. Five minutes later, a double chance came for Kerry FC as Luke Palmer and Alex Dunne were denied in quick succession.
Jason Abbott had Cobh’s first real chance of the second half when his shot inside the eighteen-yard box dragged just wide of the post, giving Kerry FC a chance to breathe a sigh of relief.
In the seventy-seventh minute, there were massive question marks for Kerry FC as they thought the ball had crossed the line directly from a Joe Adams corner. It was hard to know in real-time, but when we were able to get a closer look, it was evident the ball had indeed crossed the line. Everyone in Mounthawk Park was shocked the referee had not blown his whistle—maybe besides anyone with a Cobh Ramblers crest on their chest—and play continued.
Just two minutes later, Daniel Okwute hit the crossbar from a tough angle. Maybe, had the goal been given beforehand, we might have been watching a level game.
The game went on with a couple more half-chances for both sides, but Cobh were able to see out the win and take all three points back to Cork.
Another tough defeat for Kerry FC, who can put the long week behind them as they go back on the road this coming Friday when they take on Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle Grounds.
KERRY FC TEAM: 1. Tim-Oliver Hiemer, 2. Alex Dunne, 5. Chris McQueen, 18. Samuel Aladesanusi, 3. Sean O’Connell, 28. Niall Brookwell, 7. Sean McGrath (C), 4. Oran Crowe, 11. Daniel Okwute, 21. Luke Palmer, 10. Joe Adams.
SUBS: Mathyas Randriamamy (GK), Kevin Williams, Cian Brosnan, Abel Alabi, Ryan Kelliher, Stevan Stanic-Floody, Carl Mujaguzi, Eemeli Honkola, Robert Keane.
COBH RAMBLERS TEAM: 16. Timothy Martin, 4. Niall O’Keefe, 6. Shane Griffin, 7. Cian Bargary, 8. Barry Coffey (GOAL ‘9, ‘39), 9. Cian Murphy, 12. Nolan Evers, 14. Cian Coleman (C), 23. Shane Griffin, 38. Luka Le Bervet, 39. Jason Abbott.
SUBS: Kian Lane, John O’Donovan, Brendan Frahill, James O’Leary, David Bosnjak, Mikey Carroll, Dale Holland, Samuel Bellis, George Nunn.
