REPORT: SSE AIRTRICITY MEN’S FIRST DIVISION
MATCHDAY 14: Kerry FC 1-0 Treaty United
In a big week in the Kingdom, Kerry FC were looking for back-to-back wins in the League of Ireland for just the second time in their short history on Friday night, as they took on Treaty United in Tralee.
Kerry’s 1-0 win over UCD AFC last Friday night in Belfield was possibly the biggest win in the club’s history, mostly because of the enormity of the result. It was the club’s first-ever 1-0 victory, where in times gone by, the Kerry FC faithful would never feel like that would be enough. It was also a performance from Tim-Oliver Hiemer that will go down in Kerry FC folklore, saving two penalties in one game to ensure the three points.
On Monday afternoon, it was announced that former Celtic player and Cork City legend Colin Healy would take the Kingdom reins and was named the new first-team manager. Healy comes with bags of experience, having played at the highest level of football for most of his career and also led Cork City back to the Premier Division just three years ago. It was also announced that all backroom staff, including previous manager Conor McCarthy, would remain in place.
The first test for Healy’s men was a Munster Derby in which they would face Treaty United of Limerick. Treaty were looking for three wins in a row and to further cement their place in the playoff positions. A tough test for Colin Healy’s opening game, and the Mounthawk faithful were fully ready for the fight ahead.
FIRST HALF
The first chance of the game went to Carl Mujaguzi, whose volleyed effort inside the opening five minutes went straight into the hands of Corey Chambers. Kerry were on the front foot from the opening whistle and played some superb football.
Five minutes later, Lee Lynch opened up space for himself in the eighteen-yard box. A few dropped shoulders gave him a great opportunity to score, but Tim-Oliver Hiemer was on hand to keep the score level.
Kerry’s best opportunity came in the fifteenth minute. A great block inside the six-yard box by Eoin Martin denied Daniel Okwute and sent the ball out for a corner. It was evident that Kerry FC were getting closer, and the resulting corner led to the opener for the Kingdom. A great delivery from Oran Crowe found Chris McQueen, who towered over his marker, to thump Kerry into the lead.
Treaty United had one more opportunity before the break, but a dragged shot from Mark Byrne easily trickled into the hands of Tim in the Kerry FC net.
SECOND HALF
A minute into the second forty-five, Mark Byrne missed a sitter for Treaty. Ben Lynch found Byrne free in the box, but his effort went just wide of the left post. Treaty were increasing the pressure at the start of the second half, and the chances were coming thick and fast.
In the sixty-fourth minute, Kerry FC had two penalty calls swiftly waved away by the referee. Both were quite subjective and could have gone either way.
With seventeen minutes to play, yet another great save from Tim-Oliver Hiemer denied Trpimir Vrljicak, and eleven minutes later, Kerry’s shot-stopper came into action once again to deny a one-on-one with Lee Devitt.
Nine minutes were added on at the end of the ninety, which was met by huge groans from the Mounthawk Park faithful. Just a minute into the additional period, Dean Owens hit the crossbar with a header from three yards out.
Kerry needed to hang on as much as possible—and thankfully, they did so superbly. Back-to-back league wins in a single season for the first time in the club’s history, as Kerry FC came away with another 1-0 win. A truly fantastic night, and all roads now lead to next Friday, when the Kingdom take on Wexford FC at home.
KERRY FC TEAM: 1. Tim-Oliver Hiemer, 2. Alex Dunne, 5. Chris McQueen (GOAL ‘17), 4. Oran Crowe. 6. Carl Mujaguzi, 7. Sean McGrath (C), 8. Ronan Teahan, 11. Daniel Okwute, 15. Kevin Williams, 18. Samuel Aladesanusi, 28. Niall Brookwell.
SUBS: Mathyas Randriamamy, Sean O’Connell, Joe Adams, Nathan Gleeson, Eemeli Honkola, Cian Brosnan, Abel Alabi, Finn Barrett, Robert Keane.
TREATY UNITED TEAM: 1. Corey Chamber, 3. Benjamin Lynch, 5. Lee Devitt, 6. Steven Healy, 7. Lee Lynch (C), 11. Mark Byrne, 19. David Tarmey, 20. Evan O’Connor, 27. Robbie Lynch, 33. Eoin Martin, 34. Karl O’Sullivan.
SUBS: Carl Williams, Richkov Boevi, Colin Conroy, Valerii Dolia, Nikodem Kozlowski, Dean Owens, Connor Wilson, Fionn Doherty, Trpimir Vrljicak.
