The season reaches its quarter mark on Monday afternoon as the Kingdom return to the Munster FA Turners Cross Stadium for the first time since 2024 with a first clash of the season against Cork City.
It wasn’t such a ‘good’ Friday for the Kingdom in Mounthawk Park, going down by 2 goals to 1 against Cobh Ramblers. Cian Bargary netted his first goal for Kerry on Friday, a welcome boost of confidence for the former Cork City man. That defeat was the Kingdom’s 2-1 reversal in 7 days, so they will be looking to end the first quarter of the season on a positive note.
Cork City, meanwhile, are living up to their title favourites tag and are leading the league by 6 points. They are unbeaten in their 8 games, winning 6 and drawing 2, the latest coming as a stalemate against Finn Harps in Ballybofey just 2 nights ago.
There is always an air of excitement when Kerry and Cork meet in any sport, and with a sold-out supporters bus heading to Leeside on Monday, there will be no shortage of noise from the away end in Turners Cross.
Head-to-head
Kerry FC Wins – 0 Draws – 0 Cork City Wins – 4
Did You Know?
This will just be Kerry FC’s 3rd trip to Turners Cross and their first since 2024. In fact, all trips to the famous Cork venue have been in 2024, twice in the league and once for a Munster Senior Cup Final in June of the same year. It’s always a fan favourite away day for the Kerry faithful.
Injury Update
Colin Healy has a couple of injury concerns ahead of the bank holiday Monday trip to the Rebel county. Kieran Cooney and Finn Barrett will continue to be monitored over the weekend after knocks ruled them out of Friday night’s defeat to Cobh. Daniel Okwute will be out for a number of weeks. Cian Bargary now has 180 minutes under his belt, while Ryan Kelliher played 45 minutes in his return to play on Friday.
‘What they said’
Chris Collopy, following Friday night’s defeat – “Ah, look, it’s going to be a tough game regardless of their result tonight (Friday). Obviously, they have a long journey home, but most importantly, we need to get ourselves right. We will reflect on our defeat very quickly and shift our focus to Monday’s game then. Recovery needs to be right to head to Cork fresh on Monday and ready to go by putting tonight’s (Friday) game to bed.”