The table has been wiped clear and with pre-season now well in the rear view mirror, the Kingdom kick off the 2025 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division campaign in front of the Mounthawk Park faithful on Friday night.
With plenty of new faces in the club from the boardroom, dugout and dressing room, anticipation is at fever pitch in Kerry ahead of the new season. New investment just after Christmas has made for plenty of positive talk around the town surrounding the club and with Season Ticket sales at a record high, Kerry enter into the new season on the cusp of a green wave.
Manager Conor McCarthy has had a busy couple of months. A new look back bench behind him includes former Galway United coach Chris Collopy as Assistant Manager, along with former player Cormac Buckley as S&C and experienced goalkeeping coach Michael O’Connor.
Like with every off-season, there has been a large number of players both entering and leaving the gates of the Tralee venue. Holding onto some prized assets like Ryan Kelliher and now captain Sean McGrath were the moves in the window for McCarthy. Plenty of additions have come since in the likes of former Harps goalkeeper Tim-Oliver Hiemer and a returning Kevin Williams who became the first player to re-sign for the Kingdom. A wealth of experience from across the channel has also bolstered the Kingdom’s squad depth ahead of the 2025 season.
Finn Harps will provide formidable opposition on the opening night. As ever, the first game of the season brings with it plenty of unknowns. New signings have landed in the North West, and a new look Finn Harps will be well up for the long journey to the South West and to the Kingdom. For Kerry, it’s a chance to get the season off to the best possible start, and with 3 games in the first 4 in Mounthawk Park, Conor McCarthy will be looking to have points in the board in the early stages of the campaign.
Matchday 1
Kerry FC v Finn Harps – Friday, February 14th – 19:45 Kick Off – Mounthawk Park
Previous Meetings
Kerry FC Wins 1 Draws 4 Finn Harps Wins 3
Did You Know?
The Kingdom have two former Finn Harps men in the squad for the 2025 season. The latest addition being goalkeeper Tim-Oliver Hiemer who made the switch from the North West to the South West for the new season. Kerry winger Daniel Okwute also spent some time in Ballybofey before moving back to Mounthawk Park.
Injury Update
After a lengthy pre-season campaign which began back just as we rang in the new year, Conor McCarthy has a couple of players on the physio benches hoping to be in contention for this one. Niall Brookwell, Joe Adams and Daniel Okwute are doubtful for the season opener, with the lads running some fitness tests earlier this week to see if they can be part of the Matchday squad. Samuel Aladesanusi picked up a knock in training and is out for this one. Luke Palmer will also sit this one out.
What they said?
Conor McCarthy – “Pre Season was good, it was great to get 5 or 6 games under the belt. The boys have gelled well together. We are conscious that we are in a better place going into the new season, which was important. Everyone is coming into the season in a full bill of health, which is a good complaint to have. We take a lot of learnings from last season into 2025 now, both as a management team and for the players. Everyone here is open and willing to improve, which is key. Obviously, we are looking forward to getting going now Friday night and hitting the season at full pelt.”
Sean McGrath – “It’s a huge honour for me (being named captain). I’ve been here for two full seasons, and it’s a pleasure to lead the lads into the season. I don’t think it adds any pressure; maybe it makes you feel like you need to perform every week, but that is important here. It’s an honour to captain my home county.”
