So we reach the halfway mark of the 2025 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division season. With the batteries fully recharged after the mid-season rest week, teams are chomping at the bit to get back in action tomorrow night. For Kerry, it’s our first trip of the season to Lissywollen and marks the end of visiting new grounds for the season as the repeat loop kicks off next weekend.
Kerry FC went off into the sunset of the break on the back of a dominant 2-0 win over Longford Town in Mounthawk Park two weeks ago. Luke Palmer with a lovely finish and the skipper Sean McGrath back on the scoresheet from the penalty spot, meant Colin Healy’s men could enjoy the summer break with Kerry sitting 7th in the table, just 5 points off the play-off places. 3 seasons in, it’s been the best start to a season of any Kerry FC squad to date, and rapid improvements can be seen across the playing squad.
Kerry visit Athlone this Friday, who sit at the basement of the First Division after 17 matches. Plenty of off-field chat around the Midlanders over the last number of weeks, but the appointment of Ian Ryan as manager is a fine statement of intent. Kerry has struggled against teams managed by Ian Ryan; in fact, the Kingdom never scored a point against his Bray Wanderers sides over the last couple of seasons. So Kerry will have to be at their very best to take something home from Lissywollen tomorrow night. Kerry won this fixture reversal on Matchday 9, a 3-0 winning margin was Kerry FC’s biggest league win in the club’s short history.
Matchday 18
Athlone Town AFC v Kerry FC – Friday, June 13th– 19:45 Kick Off – Athlone Town Stadium
Previous Meetings – All Competitions
Kerry FC Wins 3 Draws 2 Athlone Town Wins 4
Did You Know?
Current players who have played with both clubs are Carl Mujaguzi (Kerry FC) and Lee Axworthy (Athlone Town). This fixture has produced the most goals of any match-up for Kerry FC in the First Division, 26 goals have been scored in the 9 previous meetings, nearly averaging 3 goals per match. A team has only drawn a blank in 4 of the 9 previous meetings, so expect some goals!
Injury Update
Ryan Kelliher has been ruled out for a number of months following surgery on an ACL injury which we wish him a speedy recovery from. Luke Palmer took a small knock in the win over Longford and is being assessed. Ronan Teahan is another one with a knock, but has trained this week. Carl Mujaguzi is a doubt for Friday night.
What they said?
Colin Healy – “Listen, Ian is a very good manager, I would have played teams against his Wexford side while I was with Cork. He’s a really good coach and has his teams well set up. When a new manager comes in, you get that kind of reaction from players, don’t you? But, you know, we need to be ready for that. I think our players are in a good place at the moment, and we focus on ourselves. Ya, as coaches, we look at the opposition, but we focus on ourselves too, and once we are right, that is the most important thing. It’s a tough place to go; there is no doubt about that. They have good players, so it will be a tough game; we have to be ready, like all the other games as well. I’m sure our players will go up and put on a performance like they have been over the last few weeks.”
