Kerry FC 2023

Finn Harps 0 - 0 Kerry

One change from last week with team captain Matt Keane returning to the starting line up. A good competitive start saw Finn Harps create some good chances and Sean McGrath and a Nathan Gleeson volley going close for Kerry. Hard to say how good the Finn Harps chances were as the (soon to be retired) pixelot camera couldn't keep up with play. A much settled first half with Kerry winning the majority of the second balls, creating a lot more up front and defending a lot better.

The second half was similar with Finn harps going close early on and hitting the post twice and Kerry going down the other end with the Finn Harps keeper saving Ryan Kelleher's effort. Things began to peter out from here with the exception of Kelleher again forcing a great save in the final minutes of extra time. Much more purpose in the team this week, Matt Keane added a missing element of calmness and stability in the midfield and Aaron O' Sullivan was great again in goals. A hint of good fortune but that's the first clean sheet for the year.

Next fixtures are a home double header with Waterford on the bank holiday Monday and Athlone on Friday and tickets are available on kerryfc.com/tickets

I think its normal enough that some players will come and go, and Wayne Guthrie is still injured, but was with the team for the home game against Wexford, the same with Jonathan Hannafin. I did hear that Trip was let go, but like yourself I don't know how much truth there is in it.

Kerry FC 0 - 6 Waterford

The same result at home, albeit against a much better team this week. The first half was tightly contested until goalkeeper Aaron O' Sullivan missed clearing a long ball over the top, which left the Waterford striker an open goal to score into. Another ball over the top on the brink of half time saw two players through for a simple finish. The result was beyond doubt with ten gone in the second half where two Kerry defenders marked the same man leaving the Waterford striker to finish on his weaker side, at the near post. With 25 to go, another ball over the top unlocked the Kerry defense for Ronan Coughlan to get his third. He added a fourth to his own tally from the spot and the final nail came in fitting fashion, a long ball over the top.

After the first half hour, not much to write home about in this. Naive defending for a lot of the goals, never made the opposition keeper work and persisting to play high balls from set pieces despite our weakness in the air. Thats 21 goals for Waterford in the last 5 which includes a 0-0 draw.

Next up is a more competitive fixture against Athlone on Friday

Kerry FC 0 - 1 Athlone Town

Last Fridays game saw Nathan Gleeson, Kevin Williams and Leo Gaxha all suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards and the formation was changed accordingly. The returning Jonathan Hannafin starting alongside Samuel Aladesanusi and Graham O' Reilly as part of three centre back set up.

Kerry started the game well and had a goal ruled out for offside after about 15 minutes after the linesman delayed raising his flag. Ronan Teahan was then found to be offside while through on goal, despite being 3 yards behind the defender when the ball was played. The game was open enough, with Kerry struggling to create anything to trouble the keeper and Athlone resorting to long range efforts but Athlone got the only goal of the game with a well worked move on the half hour mark. Just before half time Sean McGrath went down with what looked like a bad injury with Kennedy coming on to replace him. The second half saw a good response from the team with Kerry dominating the ball for long periods and Ryan Kelliher forcing a ridiculous save from the Athlone keeper. Kerry kept pushing towards the end but couldn't get the goal that they deserved.

Small margins away from a good result but it was good to see the team not drop their heads after going behind. This week is a rare week off for the team with the next game away to Bray on Friday 23rd

I'd say around 650-700

Tickets are here https://eventlist.store/braywanderers/awayfans?ftredirect=1

Bray Wanderers 3 - 2 Kerry FC

Yesterday's game saw another few changes to the side, with Ronan Teahan, Jonathan Hanafin and Aaron O' Sullivan missing but Kevin Williams, Leo Gaxha and Nathan Gleeson returned to the starting 11.

We went behind after two minutes when the bray winger found himself with ages to pick out the top corner with a great finish from outside the box. The lead could have been doubled shortly after, with a mix up at the back giving the Bray striker only the keeper to beat but he poked the ball wide. Leo Gaxha drew Kerry level with 15 minutes gone when Ryan Kelliher flicked on a ball to Sean McGrath who put Gaxha through to finish with class. Bray grew into the game from this point and took the lead on the brink of half time in a similar goal to their first.

Bray got the decisive goal early in the second half but for the last 30 minutes, Kerry were well on top, with Gleeson slicing a ball just wide and Amechi only being denied by a lucky block. The lifeline came too late to salvage a point but great work from Kennedy Amechi to bring a ball back from the line into Matt Keane who squared it for a great finish by Cian Brosnan.

Some good spells for us again and we'll need that and more than our fair share of luck next week, away to Galway

The head went after he missed the shot and the defender got into his head too. Probably a bit too common for him this season and his attitude definitely needs work.

Carlisle grounds is in a lovely area but my god is it dilapidated.

Galway 1 - 0 Kerry FC

A couple of changes from the starting 11 vs Bray with Ronan Teahan returning and Sean O' Connell taking the place of the injured Rob Vasiu. Kerry started the better side with the wind at their backs. Ryan Kelleher went close after five minutes, taking advantage of a mistake by the Galway defenders to force a good save. Five minutes later Galway got the decisive goal from a cross into the box where the  With 20 gone there was a double penalty call with Ryan Kelleher pushed over and a dubious handball. Kerry were on top for most of the remainder of the first half with Galway hitting the post off a half chance. The second half saw more of the same with Kerry on top for the majority of it and Gaxha went close forcing a great save from the keeper with 20 minutes to go and Kelleher missed a great chance from the following corner. Galway switched to five at the back and it was them who started to slow down the play, break the rhythm of the game and ultimately hang on, but not justify their 1/50 price in the bookies.

The team were unrecognisable from the last trip to Galway with Dennehy getting the tactics spot on and the work rate from the players seems to be better too. The last two games has shown much better resilience from the players who didn't allow the heads to drop when they went behind.

Next up is Treaty at home and tickets are on sale https://kerryfc.com/tickets/

Kerry are also playing Killarney Celtic in a charity match in aid of Comfort for Chemo in the memory of John Doyle and those tickets are also on the link above

Kerry FC 2 - 3 Treaty

No changes from last weeks team with new signings Martin Coughlan and Ethan Kos both making the bench. Kerry took the lead in the first minute, capitalising on a mistake from the Treaty captain with Nathan Gleeson forcing a good save from the keeper, who could only parry to Sean McGrath who finished. The game remained tight but with the return of the Mounthawk wind saw Treaty get an equaliser directly from a corner. Treaty took the lead 5 minutes later with a good finish from a tight angle. With the wind at our, the second half was dominated by Kerry forcing some great saves from the Treaty keeper. Treaty got a third against the run of play, with Enda Curran chipping home. Kennedy Amechi and Cian Brosnan did very well off the bench again and Leo Gaxha scored a wonder goal, albeit too late to rescue anything.

A big disappointment that the pixelot camera was used again and 2 of the 5 goals were completely missed with it only catching the end of our 2nd goal.

Next up is the away trip to Longford on Saturday at 7.30

I'm not sure about it but it makes making the away games a whole lot easier 👍️

Manuel Neuer could have been in goals for those first few games and it wouldn't have made much of a difference. Its just a shame he didn't get a chance behind the settled back four.

Kerry FC 2 - 0 Ringmahon Rangers

One change from the team that started vs Longford, with Ronan Teahan starting in midfield in place of Togor. The first half was a slog, with Ringmahon hitting the woodwork early and creating the best of the chances. Kerrys best chance came from new signing Daniel Okwute who couldn't steer a header on target. Half time saw the introduction of Cian Brosnan and Rob Vasiu and both brought energy and directness that seemed lacking in the first half. Okwute went down injured with 25 to with Ryan Kelleher taking his place and with 15 minutes left, Sean McGrath flicked a ball to him at the edge of the box and he scored into the bottom corner with a tidy finish. Ten minutes later he doubled his tally with a close range goal from a poor clearance and could have added a third on the 90 minute mark but the Ringmahon keeper made a good save.

Great to get the first home win and Ethan Kos looks a proper player at the back. Cian Brosnan continues to make an impact off the bench following his goal against Bray and Kelleher's finishing proving invaluable once again.

Coming up this week is a friendly against Killarney Celtic in aid of Comfort for Chemo on Weds night and tickets can still be purchased for that on kerryfc.com/tickets. On Friday its back to Mounthaw and back to league vs Finn Harps

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Treaty 3 - 1 Kerry FC

A few changes from the cup game with Arthur Nganou starting in goals and Ethan Kos back in the first 11. Treaty took the lead after 20 minutes with Enda Curran beating Kos from an unchallenged cross. The sides were level 5 minutes later after the Treaty defender headed a Sean O' Connell cross into his own net.

Kerry dominated the early part of the second half and only a goal line clearance kept Treaty in the game. Treaty were able to pounce on a mistake at the back with Enda Curran to get his second of the game with 20 to go. The game was put to rest when a corner fell to a Treaty defender who slotted home with 5 minutes left.

Good performance again but being on top for long periods of the game and finding a way to lose is as frustrating as it is familiar. Treaty made a triple change at 60 minutes which disrupted the dominance early in the second half and the Kerry subs came too late off the bench again.

Next up is Bray at home on Friday and tickets are on kerryfc.com/tickets

I don't know the ins and outs of it, but on the face of it, he's been treated awfully