REPORT: CLUB ORANGE MEN’S FAI CUP THIRD ROUND
Sligo Rovers 4-0 Kerry FC
On Saturday night Kerry FC played just their third ever away tie in the FAI Cup as they took on Premier Division side Sligo Rovers in The Showgrounds.
It was the third game in a row where Kerry FC took on Premier Division opposition in the cup. A loss in the semi-final away to Shamrock Rovers last year, a dramatic win in the previous round over Shelbourne FC on penalties and a revisit of last year’s quarter-final took centre stage on Saturday evening.
The Miracle of Mouthawk headed to the north-west and to The Showgrounds. Sligo Rovers were up 3-0 before an unbelievable late comeback from The Kingdom saw them come out victorious back in September last year. Going to the home of the opposition would mean only one thing in the minds of those from Sligo. Revenge.
Kerry FC’s run of superb form came to a halt last Friday in Turners Cross, whereas Sligo Rovers are at the foot of the Premier Division, having won only one game since the twenty-second of May, which was the last round of the cup against Jonesboro.
A superb crowd travelled from the south-west to support the Kingdom on the night.
FIRST HALF
Kerry FC started brightly in Sligo, with Daniel Okwute testing Sam Sargeant from distance inside the opening minute, although the effort was comfortably gathered by the Sligo goalkeeper. At the other end, Jamie McGonigle attempted to lob Matthew Connor in the fourth minute, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
Kerry suffered an early setback in the sixth minute when Okwute was forced off through injury, with Ryan Perez introduced in his place.
Cian Bargary then came close to opening the scoring for Kerry in the eleventh minute. Cutting in from the left, Bargary unleashed a shot which Sargeant did well to save.
The home side made the breakthrough, despite all the Kerry FC pressure, in the thirteenth minute when Cian Kavanagh found the net to make it 1-0.
Kerry continued to threaten, with Bargary getting in behind the Sligo defence in the twenty-first minute and attempting to lift the ball over Sargeant, only for the effort to drift wide. Sean McGrath then produced a superb run in the thirtieth minute before firing just wide with his left foot.
Unfortunately for the Kingdom, things went from bad to worse when Sligo were awarded a penalty in the thirty-second minute, and Alex Nolan converted from the spot to double the home side’s advantage.
Kerry looked to respond before the interval. In the fortieth minute, Kavanagh put an effort wide across the six-yard box, before Kerry produced an excellent opportunity of their own in the forty-first minute. Bargary delivered a dangerous ball across the area, but neither McGrath nor Cian Murphy could get the necessary touch to convert.
Both goalkeepers were called into action in the closing stages of the half. Sargeant produced an excellent save to deny Bargary, while Connor responded moments later with a fine stop to keep out Jack Shorrock.
Vince Borden then tested Sargeant from long range in added time, but the goalkeeper held firm as Kerry went into the interval 2-0 down.
SECOND HALF
Kerry began the second half on the front foot and immediately created another opportunity. McGrath had a superb chance in the forty-seventh minute to halve the deficit, but could not find the net.
Four minutes later, a quick throw-in from Bargary found Murphy, who squared the ball to Perez, but his effort went over the crossbar.
Connor then kept Kerry in the game in the fifty-second minute, making a good save to deny Carl McHugh from range. Borden responded at the other end a minute later, sending an effort from outside the area narrowly over.
Kerry continued to press. In the fifty-seventh minute, Murphy delivered an excellent ball into the area which narrowly evaded Bargary. By the hour mark, Kerry had clearly been the better side since the restart, but the crucial finishing touch remained elusive.
In the sixty-second minute, Kerry were awarded a free after what appeared to be a foul on Murphy outside the area. Three minutes later, another huge opportunity arrived when Murphy found space inside the box, only for Sargeant to produce another important save.
Kerry made their second and third substitutions in the sixty-seventh minute, with Matt Britton and Luke Palmer replacing Perez and McGrath. Cian Brosnan was then introduced for Borden in the seventy-seventh minute.
Despite Kerry’s continued efforts, Sligo added a third in the eightieth minute through captain Carl McHugh. Jonas Häkkinen was booked a minute later, while Bargary and Sligo substitute Archie Meekison were both shown yellow cards in the eighty-eighth minute.
Three minutes of added time were signalled, and Sligo added a fourth goal in the final minute of normal time through Kaiyne Woolery.
The result brought Kerry FC’s FAI Cup run to an end, although the scoreline did not fully reflect the contest, with Kerry arguably the better team for significant periods and having created enough opportunities to make the game much closer.
Kerry FC now turn their attention back to the SSE Airtricity First Division and the fight for the play-offs, with nine crucial games remaining in the 2026 season starting next Friday at home to UCD AFC.
Sligo Rovers Team: Sam Sargeant; Jeannot Esua, Oliver Denham, Gareth McElroy, Sean Stewart, Luke Young, Carl McHugh (C) (GOAL ‘80), Jack Shorrock, Cian Kavanagh (GOAL ‘14), Alex Nolan (GOAL PEN ‘19), Jamie McGonigle.
Subs Used: Sebastian Quirk, Luke Pearce, Archie Meekison, Kaiyne Woolery (GOAL ‘91).
Kerry FC Team: Matthew Connor; Sean O’Connell, Sean McGrath (C), Cian Murphy, Daniel Okwute, Jonas Häkkinen, Samuel Aladesanusi, Vince Borden, Niall Brookwell, Ewan Lee, Cian Bargary.
Subs Used: Ryan Perez, Matthew Britton, Luke Palmer, Cian Brosnan.