REPORT: SSE AIRTRICITY MEN’S FIRST DIVISION ROUND 33
Kerry FC 1–1 Treaty United
Kerry FC were back at home for the penultimate time this season when they took on Treaty United for their last Munster Derby of the 2025 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division season. Kerry FC came into this one off the back of two games last weekend, where they lost to UCD on Friday and drew away to Athlone Town on Monday.
It wasn’t all bad for the Kingdom as Monday’s draw meant that Kerry FC would secure their highest league finish in their three-year existence come the end of the season.
For Treaty United, despite going without a win since the eleventh of July, they have managed to win two of their last three games, helping with that last push to secure a playoff spot by the end of the season. Before the game, they sat three points ahead of Wexford FC, so a win for the team from Garryowen would be crucial on the night.
Kerry FC are just eight days away from the biggest game in their history when they travel to Tallaght to take on Shamrock Rovers in the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup Semi Final, so a good performance in Tralee was needed before the big tie next Sunday.
First Half
The match between Kerry FC and Treaty United kicked off in Tralee with an energetic atmosphere inside Mounthawk Park. Both teams started with intent, seeking an early breakthrough, but it was Kerry who fashioned the opening opportunities.
Within three minutes, Robbie Cleary found himself in a promising position after a poor clearance from the Treaty defence. He struck at goal, but Corey Chambers reacted quickly to smother the effort, preventing the home side from grabbing an early advantage. Barely a minute later, Kerry went close again. Finn Barrett latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box and attempted a half-volley. However, his strike lacked the necessary accuracy and sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Treaty United, though pressed early, managed to settle and looked to grow into the game. In the fourteenth minute, Ewan Lee produced a superb piece of defending down the right, tracking back to dispossess Colin Conroy, who had been shaping to cross in a dangerous area. That intervention preserved Kerry’s clean sheet at a stage when Treaty threatened to test goalkeeper Darragh Foley.
The opening stages were physical, and it was no surprise to see the referee dip into his pocket twice before the half-hour mark. Chris McQueen was cautioned in the eighteenth minute for a late challenge, followed by Treaty’s Richkov Boevi in the twenty-second minute, both bookings serving as a reminder that discipline would be key in such a finely balanced contest.
An enforced substitution came in the 29th minute for Kerry when Daniel O’Connor was withdrawn due to injury, with Kevin Williams sent on in his place. The change slightly disrupted the Kingdom’s rhythm, though they continued to work the ball through midfield patiently.
The best chance of the half for Treaty arrived in the thirty-eighth minute. Lee Devitt produced a moment of quality, cutting inside and picking out Patrick Ferry with an inch-perfect pass. Ferry had time and space, but his finish lacked composure as he blasted over the bar when he should have at least hit the target. Kerry supporters breathed a sigh of relief, knowing how close they had come to falling behind.
Kerry, meanwhile, maintained their attacking intent. In the forty-second minute, Arran Healy was booked, adding to the home side’s disciplinary tally. Just before the interval, Kerry threatened again when Oran Crowe picked up the ball outside the box and let fly with a powerful shot. The strike carried plenty of venom but trickled narrowly wide of the post, drawing gasps from the home crowd.
Two minutes of added time were signalled at the end of the first half, but neither side could break the deadlock. The whistle confirmed a goalless opening forty-five minutes, with Kerry arguably shading the better chances, though Treaty had spurned the clearest opportunity through Ferry.
At half-time, Colin Healy made his first change for Kerry, bringing on Carl Mujaguzi in place of the cautioned Arran Healy. The switch appeared designed both to freshen the midfield and to avoid the risk of a second yellow card derailing the team.
Second Half
The second half began in a cagey manner. Both sides seemed reluctant to overcommit, aware of how significant the opening goal could prove in such a tightly fought contest. The first ten minutes after the restart produced little in terms of clear chances, with Kerry’s defensive organisation matched by Treaty’s resilience.
In the sixty-first minute, Kerry created an opening when Cian Brosnan whipped in a teasing cross from the left. The delivery carried real menace but frustratingly failed to find a teammate in the box. Just two minutes later, Finn Barrett attempted something similar, sending in another dangerous ball across the face of the goal. Once again, no one in green and white managed to connect, and the chance fizzled away.
By the sixty-fifth minute, Kerry boss Colin Healy rang further changes, introducing Sean McGrath and Luke Doolan for Oran Crowe and Robbie Cleary. The double substitution injected fresh energy into the side, with McGrath in particular eager to make an impression. Almost immediately, Kerry began to play with greater urgency.
In the sixty-eighth minute, Ronan Teahan came within inches of breaking the deadlock. Picking up possession outside the area, he unleashed a shot that went past the left-hand post, leaving Chambers rooted to the spot. The home fans groaned in unison, knowing how close their team had come.
Kerry’s pressure continued to mount. Three minutes later, McGrath found space just outside the box and tried his luck. His shot, however, was deflected tamely into the hands of the Treaty goalkeeper Chambers, who gathered with ease. The pattern of the game had shifted, with Kerry increasingly on the front foot.
Treaty sought to respond, and in the seventy-fifth minute, they nearly snatched a goal. A well-worked move culminated in a cross to the back post where Richkov Boevi lurked. Just as it seemed he would apply the finishing touch, Ewan Lee produced a superb last-ditch challenge, bravely blocking the shot to keep the scores level.
Healy made his final attacking change in the seventy-seventh minute, sending on Daniel Okwute for Joe Adams. The introduction of Okwute added further pace to Kerry’s attacking line as the hosts chased what felt like an inevitable opener.
That breakthrough finally arrived in the eighty-third minute, and it was worth the wait. Defender Finn Barrett launched a long ball forward, which Doolan cleverly nodded on. Sean McGrath latched onto it, glided past his marker with a sharp shimmy, and rifled a thunderous shot into the top right corner. The strike drew an eruption of noise from the Kerry faithful, who celebrated wildly as their side took a deserved 1–0 lead.
For a moment, it seemed Kerry was on the verge of securing all three points, but football has a cruel way of twisting narratives late on. As the clock struck ninety minutes, Treaty struck back. Roy Lawlor powered down the left flank and cleverly back-heeled into the path of Ben Lee. Without hesitation, Lee bent a stunning first-time shot into the top corner, matching McGrath’s earlier strike for sheer quality. The equaliser stunned the home support, and the momentum swung back towards the visitors.
With four minutes of added time signalled, Treaty almost completed a dramatic turnaround. Lawlor again found himself in space, this time connecting with a header inside the box. His effort, however, flew narrowly wide, sparing Kerry’s blushes. Moments later, Ben Lee found his name in the referee’s book as the visitors looked to manage the closing stages.
Despite both sides pushing in the dying minutes, the referee’s whistle confirmed a 1–1 draw. Kerry were left ruing the late concession, while Treaty celebrated salvaging a point away from home.
Kerry FC now look forward to their massive Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup Semi Final next Sunday as they travel to Tallaght to take on Premier Division leaders Shamrock Rovers. A game that will be the biggest in the club’s short three-year history.
Kerry FC Team: 40. Darragh Foley, 4. Iran Crowe, 5. Christopher McQueen, 8. Ronan Teahan (C), 10. Joe Adams, 14. Robbie Cleary, 17. Cian Brosnan, 19. Daniel O’Connor, 23. Finn Barrett, 29. Ewan Lee, 35. Arran Healy.
Subs: Matthew Connor, Daniel Okwute, Luke Doolan, Luke Palmer, Kevin Williams, Ryan Perez, Sean O’Connell, Carl Mujaguzi, Sean McGrath (GOAL ‘84).
Treaty United Team: 1. Corey Chambers, 2. Richkov Boevi, 3. Ben Lynch, 5. Lee Devitt, 8. Colin Conroy, 9. Patrick Ferry, 11. Mark Byrne, 20. Evan O’Connor, 25. Mark Walsh (C), 33. Eoin Martin, 34. Karl O’Sullivan.
Subs: Matthew Boylan, Lee Lynch, Nikodem Kozlowski, Connor Wilson, Fionn Doherty, Ben Lee (GOAL ‘90), Roy Lawlor, Robbie Lynch, Mark Murphy.