REPORT: SPORTS DIRECT MEN’S FAI CUP SEMI-FINAL
SHAMROCK ROVERS 6-1 KERRY FC
History beckoned for Kerry FC as they headed for a defining night in Tallaght, taking on Shamrock Rovers for a place in the FAI Cup final. Excitement swept through the county, as the anticipation was electric, as supporters dreamt of another famous chapter in this extraordinary story.
This Cup adventure has been pure drama from start to finish. A stunning late free-kick against Athlone saved their campaign, followed by a convincing victory over Cobh to claim Munster bragging rights. Then came the unforgettable comeback against Sligo, a night of disbelief and celebration that cemented Kerry’s reputation as the team that simply refuses to surrender.
Now, the newcomers meet Ireland’s most dominant side with everything to gain. Shamrock Rovers stood as towering favourites, chasing another double, but Kerry’s determination and unity have carried them beyond expectation. The stage was set for a battle of belief, courage, and maybe, just maybe, another miracle.
First Half
Under the lights of Tallaght Stadium, the story of Irish football’s newest dreamers continued. Only three years into their existence, Kerry FC arrived in Dublin not as tourists, but as equals, proud semi-finalists in the FAI Cup, facing a Shamrock Rovers side steeped in history and silverware. From the moment they stepped onto the pitch, the travelling Kerry faithful made themselves heard. Decked in green and white, their drums, chants, and flags created an atmosphere that felt more like Tralee than Tallaght. It was passionate, loud, and full of belief, the sound of a county united behind its team.
As the game kicked off, Kerry immediately showed composure beyond their years. Rovers saw most of the ball in the opening minutes, but the visitors were brave and purposeful in possession. Captain Ronan Teahan marshalled the midfield with confidence, while Joe Adams and Daniel Okwute linked up smartly on the counter. In the fourteenth minute, Kerry carved out their first real chance when Okwute’s low-driven cross almost found Robbie Cleary at the near post, only for goalkeeper Edward McGinty to smother the danger.
It was a reminder that Kerry was not content to sit deep and absorb pressure. They were here to play football, their football, built on energy, movement, and confidence. The away crowd responded with a roar, their songs echoing through the stands as the team pressed high and battled for every ball.
But against a side of Shamrock Rovers’ pedigree, opportunities are punished swiftly. In the seventeenth minute, Graham Burke, a man with years of top-flight experience, found space inside the box and struck low beyond Darragh Foley. Five minutes later, Burke struck again to make it 2-0, finishing off a well-worked move that showed the difference in clinical edge between the two sides.
Despite the setback, Kerry refused to retreat. Colin Healy’s men continued to play out from the back, with Oran Crowe and Christopher McQueen distributing calmly under pressure. In midfield, Aladesanusi, who replaced Carl Mujaguzi in the twenty-ninth minute, added bite and energy, breaking up play and helping Kerry gain territory.
The half grew more physical as tempers flared, with Joe Adams and Burke both shown yellow cards after Burke went in for unnecessary afters due to a fantastic tackle from Kerry’s number ten. Burke was very lucky to stay on the pitch as he shoved Adams’ head into the ground. But this was a sign not of frustration, but of fight, Kerry were determined to stand their ground. The travelling supporters, although frustrated, loved it, raising their voices again to back their heroes in yellow.
Rovers pushed for a third before the break, with Dylan Watts firing over before Michael Noonan finally made it 3-0 in stoppage time. It was a cruel blow just before the interval, but as the whistle went, the Kerry players walked off to an emphatic ovation from their supporters. The away end had not stopped singing for a single minute.
At half-time, despite the scoreline, the sense of pride among the Kerry contingent was unmistakable. They were living a dream that, not long ago, would have seemed impossible, an FAI Cup semi-final under the lights of Tallaght Stadium.
Second Half
The second half began with Rovers again on the front foot, and they added a fourth through a Watts penalty five minutes in. Yet, in typical Kerry fashion, the Kingdom responded instantly. Just two minutes later, Daniel Okwute, tireless all evening, was fouled in the box, and referee Paul McLaughlin pointed to the spot. The noise from the away section rose in anticipation as Joe Adams stepped forward. With nerves of steel, he sent McGinty the wrong way to make it 4-1. The Kerry supporters erupted, scarves waving, drums pounding, voices carrying across Tallaght. It was a moment of pure joy, a reminder of how far this young club had come in such a short time.
That goal seemed to energise both players and fans. Suddenly Kerry were pressing higher, moving the ball with swagger, and chasing every second ball. The belief from the stands seeped onto the pitch, a symbiotic energy between players and supporters that lifted the entire side.
Healy introduced fresh legs on the hour mark, bringing on Cian Brosnan and Arran Healy for Cleary and Adams. Both immediately injected enthusiasm and urgency, chasing every lost cause and showing the kind of fearless attitude that has defined Kerry’s rise.
Rovers, to their credit, showed their quality once more through Noonan’s second of the night in the sixty-seventh minute, but the spirit of the visitors never faded. Foley made key saves, McQueen threw himself into blocks, and Okwute continued to torment Rovers’ backline with his pace and directness. The Kerry supporters, undeterred by the scoreline, turned the away end into a carnival of pride, their chants and a version of the Poznan lifting spirits that could be felt back home in the Kingdom.
As the match entered its final quarter, Kerry kept pushing. Sean McGrath replaced Okwute in the seventy-seventh minute and immediately pressed high, while Arran Healy picked up a yellow card for a strong challenge that drew applause from the travelling fans, the kind of wholehearted commitment they had come to expect from their team.
Even as Rovers threatened again, with Watts heading narrowly wide, Kerry continued to show their development. Their structure held firm, their communication was sharp, and their transitions were executed with intent. Every tackle was cheered, every clearance applauded, and every forward pass greeted with chants of encouragement.
In the final moments, Rovers substitute Cian Barrett, formerly on loan to Kerry FC on two separate occasions, added a sixth goal, but by then, the story had already been written. When the final whistle blew, the Kerry players walked over to their supporters, hands clapping, and heads high. The away section erupted once more, their voices filled not with sorrow, but with pride. Many had travelled the length of the country, and they made sure every player knew how much this meant.
While the result will read 6-1, the night belonged to Kerry FC’s people, the players, the staff, and above all, the fans. From the moment they arrived, the Kerry contingent brought colour, noise, and passion rarely seen from such a young club. They sang through every minute, outvoicing the home crowd even in defeat, and celebrated every positive touch, every tackle, every defiant moment.
The energy they generated seemed to fuel the team, especially after Adams’ penalty, a goal that turned the away end into a sea of waving flags and chanting supporters. The bond between the players and fans was clear; when the final whistle blew, many players stood in front of the crowd for minutes, clapping and acknowledging the journey they had shared.
It was more than just football; it was the spirit of a county discovering itself on the national stage.
Shamrock Rovers Team: 1. Edward McGinty, 2. Joshua Honohan, 3. Adam Matthews, 4. Roberto Lopes (C), 6. Daniel Cleary, 7. Dylan Watts (PEN GOAL ‘50), 10. Graham Burke (GOAL ‘17, ‘22), 14. Daniel Mandroiu, 17. Matthew Healy, 27. Cory O’Sullivan, 31. Michael Noonan (GOAL ‘45, ‘67).
Subs: Lee Steacy, Sean Kavanagh, Darragh Nugent, Gary O’Neill, Trevor Clarke, Rory Gaffney, Cian Barrett (GOAL ‘90), Connor Malley, John Mc Govern.
Kerry FC Team: 40. Darragh Foley, 3. Sean O’Connell, 4. Oran Crowe, 5. Christopher McQueen, 6. Carl Mujaguzi, 8. Ronan Teahan (C), 10. Joe Adams (GOAL PEN ‘56), 11. Daniel Okwute, 14. Robert Cleary, 23. Finn Barrett, 28. Niall Brookwell.
Subs: Kyle Clifford, Sean McGrath, Kevin Williams, Cian Brosnan, Samuel Aladesanusi, Daniel O Connor, Luke Palmer, Arran Healy, Luke Doolan.