REPORT: SSE AIRTRICITY MEN’S FIRST DIVISION
MATCHDAY 22: Treaty United 2-1 Kerry FC
Kerry FC were back on the road on Friday evening for the first of two away weekends in a row as they made their final ever trip to The Markets Field to take on Treaty United.
Kerry FC came into the game on a brilliant run of form, winning three on the bounce and a record of seven games unbeaten in Mounthawk Park as they look to take that home form on the road. If results went their way on the evening, they could have finished the night in the playoff places, so to say that this Munster Derby was big is somewhat of an understatement.
For Treaty United, they sat bottom of the First Division heading into the fixture. They hadn’t won a game at home or away for that matter since the fifteenth of May against Finn Harps. As they welcomed Kerry FC to Markets Field for the last time, they hoped to go out with a bang against their Munster rivals.
A lot was riding on the fixture, so the travelling Mounthawk faithful hoped they were going to get a bang for their buck in Limerick City.
FIRST HALF
Kerry FC began brightly after kick-off at the Markets Field and settled into the contest well, enjoying encouraging spells of possession during the opening exchanges.
The first disciplinary action of the evening arrived in the fifth minute when Samuel Aladesanusi was shown a yellow card. Despite that early caution, Kerry continued to play positively and looked composed in possession.
Cian Murphy registered Kerry’s first effort on target in the seventh minute when he tested Jack Brady, although the Treaty goalkeeper was able to gather comfortably.
The Kingdom continued to see plenty of the ball and looked settled in their approach. Kerry had made an encouraging start from a possession standpoint, but Colin Healy’s side had yet to create a clear opening.
Kerry came close to breaking the deadlock in the twenty-sixth minute. Cian Brosnan struck a powerful effort from distance that forced Brady into action, with the goalkeeper pushing the ball away for a corner. The resulting set piece failed to produce a further opportunity.
Treaty’s Mark Murphy entered the referee’s notebook in the thirty-fifth minute before the game produced its defining first-half moment just a minute later.
Daniel Okwute burst into the penalty area and was brought down, leaving the referee with no hesitation in awarding a penalty to Kerry FC. Darren Nwankwo was shown a yellow card for the challenge as Kerry were presented with a huge opportunity to take the lead.
Cian Murphy stepped forward confidently in the thirty-eighth minute and made no mistake from the spot. The forward coolly sent his penalty straight down the centre of the goal to put Kerry in front and spark celebrations among the travelling support.
Kerry continued to battle strongly in the closing stages of the half, although Daniel Okwute received a yellow card in the forty-first minute.
The visitors protected their advantage well during the remaining moments of the half and headed into the dressing room deservedly leading by a goal to nil.
SECOND HALF
The second half brought a dramatic shift in momentum almost immediately.
Just two minutes after the restart, Kerry goalkeeper Matthew Connor was shown a red card in the forty-seventh minute, leaving the visitors to play the remainder of the game with ten men. The dismissal altered the shape and flow of the contest and handed Treaty United a significant advantage.
Harvey Mangan was introduced in place of Ryan Perez shortly afterwards as Kerry looked to reorganise following the setback.
As expected, Treaty began to apply increasing pressure as they searched for a route back into the match. In the fifty-fourth minute, Kerry found themselves under sustained pressure, but they defended resolutely and continued to protect their lead through committed defending and strong organisation.
Further changes followed in the fifty-seventh minute, with Luke Palmer and Cian Bargary replacing Daniel Okwute and Cian Brosnan.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Kerry almost doubled their lead in the sixtieth minute through a superb move. Sean O’Connell delivered a free kick towards the back post where Ewan Lee headed the ball back across the six-yard area into the path of Cian Murphy. Murphy’s close-range header looked destined for the net, but Jack Brady produced an outstanding save to deny him. That moment proved significant.
Treaty United eventually found an equaliser in the sixty-seventh minute when substitute Jason Oyenuga found the net to bring the hosts level.
The game became increasingly physical as tensions rose, with both Cian Murphy and Robbie Lynch receiving yellow cards in the sixty-ninth minute.
Treaty continued to push for a winner and nearly found one in the seventy-eighth minute when Robbie Lynch headed over from close range.
The pressure eventually told in the eighty-fifth minute as Lynch made amends by finding the decisive goal for Treaty United, turning the game around for the home side.
Kerry introduced Matthew Britton and Colin Healy in the closing stages, replacing Samuel Aladesanusi and Vince Borden, as they searched for a late response.
Five additional minutes were played at the end of normal time, while Cian Bargary received a yellow card in stoppage time.
Kerry continued to fight until the final whistle, but despite a determined effort in difficult circumstances, they were unable to find an equaliser as Treaty United claimed all three points in Limerick.
Kerry FC must now put this knock behind them quickly as they have a huge playoff battle up ahead in Ferrycarrig Park next Friday as they travel to Wexford FC.
Treaty United Team: Jack Brady (C); Steven Healy, Cian Curtis, Mark Byrne, Eric Yoro, Darren Nwankwo, Fionn Doherty, Robbie Lynch (GOAL ‘85), Kyle Foley, Mark Murphy, Ronan Manning.
Subs Used: Jason Oyenuga (GOAL ‘67), Ben Lynch, Roy Lawlor, Ben Feeney, Colm Whelan.
Kerry FC Team: Matthew Connor (RED CARD ‘48); Sean O’Connell, Cian Murphy (GOAL ‘38), Daniel Okwute, Jonas Häkkinen, Cian Brosnan, Samuel Aladesanusi, Ryan Perez, Vince Borden, Niall Brookwell (C), Ewan Lee.
Subs Used: Harvey Mangan, Colin Healy, Cian Bargary, Matthew Britton, Luke Palmer.
