Matchday 32 Preview – Kerry FC v Bray Wanderers
With only 5 games remaining in the 2024 campaign, the Kingdom make the trip to the Carlisle Grounds tomorrow night to face Bray Wanderers under the seaside lights.
Kerry are coming into the game off the back of the sides largest defeat of the season last time out, going down to Champions Cork City by 4 goals to 1. It’s the first time this year Kerry have conceded 4 goals and the only time this season where conceding more than 3 has ended up in defeat.
So Kerry will be going to Bray in search of a result tomorrow night. With just 2 home games remaining and difficult trips to Wexford and Cobh Ramblers on the horizon, the Kingdom will be in search of some vital points away from home to make sure the season ends on a positive note.
Bray were in action on Tuesday last, with the game against Wexford finishing in a stalemate 0-0 draw in Ferrycarrig Park. The Seagulls currently sit in 4th place but will need some more points on the board to secure a play-off spot. They are level on points with Athlone Town in 5th and just two clear of Finn Harps as the race for the coveted play-off berth gathers pace.|
But this is a game not to be missed. The sides have produced mouthwatering ties throughout 2024, with 13 goals scored in 270 minutes of action between the Kingdom and Bray to date in 2024. Kerry will take some confidence from the last meeting in Mounthawk Park. Although it finished 3-3, Kerry twice took the lead in the game and will be looking for a similar style of performance tomorrow night
Matchday 32: Bray Wanderers v Kerry FC
Carlisle Grounds, Bray
Friday, September 20th – 19:45 Kick Off
Previous Meetings
Bray Wanderers Wins 6 | Draws 1 | Kerry FC Wins 0
Did you know?
The two sides have probably shared one of the greatest spectacles of the season back on the 2nd matchday of the season, the game was delayed due to a severe storm in Mounthawk Park. A heavy snow shower followed by thunder and lightning saw the game delayed by some 30 minutes as the ground staff worked hard to get the pitch cleared. Bray went on to win a tremendous on-field battle by 3 goals to 2.
Injury Update
Speaking to kerryfc.com earlier this week, First Team Head Coach Conor McCarthy confirmed the Kingdom have a full bill of health ahead of the game in the Carlisle Grounds tomorrow night. All those with long term injuries have made a full recovery and all have multiple minutes back in the legs.
‘What They Said’
Goalkeeping Coach Del O’Shea was on media duty this week, here’s what he had to say:
“Look these last 5 games now are huge for us. The boys have set their own targets, which is great to see and we go out to win every game. But look going to Bray is always a tough task. They are a very good sides, a draw and two defeats against them this season probably shows that, although we were 2-0 up at home against them earlier this year, we probably weren’t clinical in that one. We’ve 7 draws on the road this year so we really need to start turning a couple of them into wins to get ourselves up the table.”
