Kerry cruise past concerning City in Tralee

By Donncha Noonan | Photo: Kevin Barry Dorney

After a damning defeat at home to local rivals Cobh Ramblers on Friday, City travelled west to Mounthawk Park to face Kerry FC in hopes of grabbing a much needed win. Unfortunately, it was another shocking result for City as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Colin Healy’s men.

Barry Robson made two changes to the defeated outfit on Friday, with Greg Bolger and Josh Fitzpatrick coming out of the side, being replaced by Cillian Murphy and Niall O’Keeffe.

It was just one change for Kerry from their goalless draw with Athlone. Sean McGrath dropped to the bench, with Cian Brosnan stepping into the lineup.

The first action of the match came in the sixteenth minute, where after a good opening spell, the hosts managed to take the lead. A throw-in on the right hand side to Sean O’Connell allowed the left-back to swing a cross towards the back post to a completely unmarked Jonas Hakkinen. He diverted it back across goal to Niall Brookwell, who controlled it before burying the ball into the bottom corner to give Kerry the lead against his old side.

City did have a chance of their own in the thirty-fourth minute despite the Kerry dominance. Niall O’Keeffe broke through the midfield and found Seani Maguire with a pass. He flicked it in behind for Ruairi Keating, who latched onto the ball but dragged his shot wide of the far left corner.

Kerry could've easily made it two in the fourty-first minute. Ryan Kelliher led a counter before spreading the ball left to Cian Brosnan. Brosnan took on Harry Nevin, cut inside then back out again before whipping the ball narrowly past the top right corner.

That was all for a first half where the long-ball gameplan wasn't paying off for City, as Kerry dominated and the visitors found themselves a goal down at the break.

The hosts started the second half similarly to the way they did the first, and came close to an equaliser with an outrageous effort. Ewan Lee hooked a ball over the top for Cian Murphy to chase, he let it bounce in front of him before volleying the ball towards goal, with the former City man seeing his effort clatter the left hand post.

Things got harder for Kerry with sixteen minutes to go. Cian Bargary, already on a yellow, took a bit too long to take a throw-in for the referees liking, which led him to show the winger a second yellow card and give Baggsy his marching orders.

Despite the man disadvantage, City’s poor play continued to allow the hosts to have big chances, including a sitter three minutes after the red. Cian Murphy got down the line and dinked the ball into an unmarked Ryan Kelliher, who managed to head the ball over the bar from just six yards out.

City did have one decent chance in the eighty-third minute. After a bit of pinball, the ball broke to Conor Drinan in the centre of the park. He burst forward before driving an effort towards the bottom right corner, but Matthew Connor got down to deal with the shot.

And from there the full-time whistle blew as a historically poor weekend for Cork City came to an end. To give Cobh their first ever win in Turner’s Cross, and then lose to Kerry for the first time ever in the same weekend is unprecedented. As bad as it is, I think calling for Robson’s sacking is a bit too far at this point due to how early it is but I get the frustration. That being said, Kerry should've had two or three on the night. The long ball football was dire from City and allowed Kerry to dominate the visitors and were they more clinical, they could've been far more comfortable in their win.

My Man of the Match goes to Kerry FC's Sean O’Connell. Pretty much every Kerry player could've been up for this one, but I went with the stalwart left-back. Despite having the job of marking CIllian Murphy, O’Connell did exceptionally all night and not only did he do well defensively, he was brilliant going forward and created loads of chances for the Kingdom.

City now find themselves second in the league, needing to pick up a win on Friday at home to league leaders UCD. As for Kerry, they'll look to continue this good form away to Finn Harps.