The Kingdom is making another trip up the M7 this coming Friday night, with Bray Wanderers the host on match night 7 of the 2026 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division.
There is a sense of enthusiasm around the Kingdom from last Friday night’s victory over Finn Harps, Kerry’s first in the league campaign. A well-created goal from open play, plus a huge defensive shift from the Kingdom, backed up by a super clean sheet from the birthday boy Harry Halwax between the sticks, meant the Kingdom faithful went home in high spirits. The victory propelled the side up to 6th in the table and outside the playoff places on goal difference.
But Friday night offers another stiff test for Colin Healy and his players. The Carlisle Grounds have never been a happy hunting ground for Kerry, who are yet to leave county Wicklow with as much as a point in the previous 6 trips to the seaside. But a team with some renewed energy are looking up as opposed to down, and that bit of confidence might well lead to leaving Bray with something to build on.
The hosts, meanwhile, have started the campaign well and sit in 2nd place on the league table. As ever, they are one of the play-off favourites, having narrowly lost out on promotion in the final against Waterford FC last November. Bray’s captain for the last 3 play-off tilts now wears the armband in the opposite dressing room. Kilian Cantwell will be looking to share some of Bray’s secrets in the away dugout this time round.
Head-to-head
Kerry FC Wins – 1 Draws – 1 Bray Wanderers Wins – 10
Did You Know?
Kerry FC scored their first-ever League of Ireland goal in the Carlisle Grounds. Leo Gaxha netted a fine finish in what turned out to be a narrow defeat on Matchday 2 of the 2023 season.
Injury Update
All positive on the injury front for Colin Healy as some of the long-term injury doubts are returning. Cian Bargary played some 20 minutes last Friday night while talisman Ryan Kelliher made his first Matchday 20 since he tore his ACL last April, a welcome sight for Kerry supporters. Daniel Okwute and Matthew Britton have returned to full training this week. Colin Healy serves his final game of 3 on the sideline, while Vince Borden picked up 2 yellows last Friday night; he will have to sit this one out.
‘What they said’
Colin Healy – “Always a tricky encounter, we found it difficult up there last year as well. They are flying at the moment, a good manager and have a lot of young players with a lot of energy, so we know it will be a difficult game. But, the players are in a good place at the moment, they should be looking forward to going up there and putting on a good performance, and hopefully we can go there and get the win.”
Harry Halwax (on his first Kerry clean sheet):
“Before the Wexford game, Chris (Collopy) said in the changing room that he could see it in us, that the win was coming, and we were really hungry for it. Obviously, we’ve had a few draws, but we could all feel that a win was coming. Training has been good, the lads are working really hard, and the camaraderie is really good for a new group. Obviously, getting that result for the fans and myself to get a clean sheet is great. I’m delighted”