The games keep on coming thick and fast, and Friday night’s trip to the Munster FA Turner’s Cross Stadium will be the third game in 7 days for Colin Healy’s side. It’s another Munster Derby, two in the space of 4 days, with Kerry heading to the home of the league leaders Cork City for a 7:45pm showdown.
Kerry FC are heading into this one in the best form in the club’s short 3 and a half year history, winning the last 4 games back-to-back in all competitions. Coupled up with a home run of 10 games undefeated, a run that stretched back to the very start of April this year. Away form has improved dramatically, and since the break Kerry have travelled to second-placed Bray Wanderers and 3rd placed UCD and have taken home convincing victories. Cork marks the start of back-to-back away games for the Kingdom, with a first-ever trip to the Showgrounds on the cards next Saturday in the third round of the Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup.
But there is no doubting the enormity of the challenge facing Kerry tomorrow night. Cork have a 20-point advantage over the rest of the field with 10 games to go in the league, a title which they have all but mathematically have their two hands on for an immediate return to the top flight. Back-to-back wins over the bank holiday weekend has put the form book back in their favour, following 3 losses on the trot to UCD away, Longford at home and bowing out of the Cup in extra-time away to Shamrock Rovers. Even with 2 wins over the weekend, Cork have conceded 15 goals in their last 5 games, something Kerry will look to capitalise on.
But there will be belief in this young Kerry side that a result in the MFA Turners Cross Stadium is possible. Given the run of form which has seen Kerry win 21 of a possible 25 points since the summer break, along with the win over Cork City in the reversal of this fixture in Mounthawk Park back in May, while the task at hand might be a difficult one, Kerry will go to Cork with the belief that another positive result is possible.
Head-to-head
Kerry FC Wins – 1 Draws – 0 Cork City Wins – 5
Did You Know?
Kerry claimed their first ever win in this fixture when the teams last met on the May Bank Holiday meeting in Mounthawk Park. Niall Brookwell scored the only goal of the game in what was a historic night for the Kingdom.
Injury Update
It’s as you were for Colin Healy on the injury front. With no suspensions or recent injuries to report, it’s a clean bill of health for the Kingdom. Colin Healy and Arran Healy both missed out on the matchday 20 last Monday in Mounthawk Park. Finn Barrett and Luke Doolan remain absent, while goalscorer on the last visit to Turners Cross, Ryan Kelliher, is sidelined long-term.
‘What they said’
Colin Healy – “We are in a good run of form, there is no doubt. We had a good weekend, but now it’s all about carrying that momentum with us into Friday night’s game. It’s going to be tough; there is no doubting that. They are top of the league with some really good players. But there is real belief amongst our players at the moment, and we just focus on ourselves. Once the final whistle went on Monday night, work towards Friday night’s game began. I’m looking forward to seeing a big Kerry support up there again, they travelled really well the last time we played in Cork, it’s fantastic to see.”