MATCHDAY 6: Wexford FC 1-2 Kerry FC
This week, Kerry were back on the road for the second of two back-to-back away games in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division. This time, it was a trip to Ferrycarrig Park on Friday evening to take on Wexford FC.
Wexford FC have a great start to the season, conceding just one goal in their opening four games. The South Easterners finished third last season and were unlucky in the playoffs. With a decent start to the 2025 season so far, they will want to go one better and go up to the premier division of Irish football.
Kerry FC came into the game off the back of a tough result last Saturday night when they lost 3-2 to Longford Town in Bishopsgate. The Kingdom seemed to be cruising at halftime, but a great second-half performance saw the home side claim all three points on the night.
On Thursday evening, Kerry FC announced the new signing of Finnish striker Eemeli Honkola as a centre-forward option to replace the injured talisman Ryan Kelliher as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Honkola’s first introduction to League of Ireland football was the trip to Wexford FC when he was named in the matchday 20
FIRST HALF
Kerry FC came out of the traps flying with two goals in the opening four minutes. The first was a goal-of-the-season contender from Joe Adams. A long ball from the back was met by Luke Palmer who shifted the ball wide to Ronan Teahan. Teahan then passed it out to Adams who took the shot on first time outside the area and it curled brilliantly into the top right corner giving Paul Martin in the Wexford FC goal no chance.
The second came from a corner swung into a dangerous area by the scorer of the first goal Joe Adams. The ball scrambled in the area and Chris McQueen was in the right place at the right time to put Kerry FC in the driving seat early on.
Calum Flynn had Wexford’s first noticeable opportunity as the ball came to him on the edge of the box, but he was not able to capitalise on the opportunity.
Oran Crowe added another opportunity for Kerry FC as his shot from outside the eighteen-yard box was hit well but caught with ease by Martin.
Wexford FC had a free kick four minutes before the break in a dangerous area. It was struck well by Mikie Rowe, but Tim-Oliver Hiemer was level to his efforts and made a heroic save to keep the two-goal lead going into halftime.
SECOND HALF
Wexford had most of the ball in the second forty-five and Kerry’s main aim was to defend their box with everything they had. Their first big opportunity was a loose ball going to the edge of the area waiting to be struck into the net but was skied over the crossbar.
The second was a great half-volley effort from Mikie Rowe whose chance also went over the crossbar. Niall Brookwell was close to settling the match once and for all when his glancing header went just wide of the Wexford goal.
With thirteen minutes to play, Wexford got a goal back. A shot inside the box was saved by Tim-Oliver Hiemer but it unfortunately rebounded back to the onrushing Mikie Rowe who took his chance well. The goal from Wexford made the last period of the game more tense than the travelling Kerry supporters would have hoped for.
Pressure was building but a second yellow card for Darragh Levingston took the wind out of Wexford’s sails as they had to battle the remaining few minutes with just ten men.
Kerry dealt with the pressure much more fluidly and in a wet and cold Ferrycarrig Park and the Kingdom came out on top to win just their second-ever away league win. A notable fact was that it was their first-ever time winning on a grass surface. A truly deserved win for the Kingdom as they put themselves fifth and into the promotion spots.
Focus now shifts to next Friday night as they take on a struggling UCD AFC side in Mounthawk Park.
WEXFORD FC TEAM: 20. Paul Martin, 3. James Crawford, 4. Josh Lyons, 5. Robert McCourt (C), 6. Dean Larkin, 7. Mikie Rowe (Goal ‘77), 8. Darragh Levingston (Red Card ‘88), 9. Henry Cromack, 13. Calum Flynn, 15. Kaylem Harnett, 19. Ryan Kelly.
SUBS: Alex Moody, Patrick Doyle, Darragh Dunne, Mark Imiren, Conor Levingston, Filip Wasilewski, Oscar Ramsey, Ryan Butler, Ryan Scanlon.
KERRY FC TEAM: 1. Tim Oliver-Hiemer, 2. Alex Dunne, 5. Chris McQueen (Goal ‘4), 3. Sean O’Connell, 28. Niall Brookwell, 4. Oran Crowe, 7. Sean McGrath (C), 8. Ronan Teahan, 11. Daniel Okwute, 21. Luke Palmer, 10. Joe Adams (Goal ‘2).
SUBS: Mathyas Randriamamy, Carl Mujaguzi, Kevin Williams, Cian Brosnan, Finn Barrett, Robert Keane, Oran Horgan, Samuel Aladesanusi, Eemeli Honkola.
