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Date Time League Season
17 February 2023 7:45 pm LOI Men's First Division 2023

Match Report

LOI FD Report: Cobh dampen party atmosphere in Tralee

Goals from O’Brien and Doherty helped Cobh Ramblers spoil the party in Tralee tonight beating hosts Kerry FC 2-0 in their first ever League of Ireland fixture.

O’Brien put the away side in front just before the halftime break, with Jack Doherty finding him open at the edge of the six-yard box after some fine work coming in off the left. Jack Doherty made it 2-0 on the 70th-minute mark smashing a free kick past Guthrie.

The hosts would feel disappointed to lose this game but it was a lack of experience along with a couple of missed opportunities that saw them lose on their big occasion with Cobh showing exactly how to go away from home and get a result. 

Kerry FC got the game underway with 6’4 striker Tryp the first to kick a ball in the League of Ireland in the Kingdom. 

As expected, the game was as any Cork-Kerry derby should be, feisty, with Sean Kennedy not afraid of a tackle but picking up a warning for early fouls.  Kerry were showing nerves early on with Cobh trying to play through the Kingdom back five with the majority of possession. 

Tiernan O’Brien had a free kick at the corner of the box swing dangerously close to the bottom corner but Guthrie let it drift past the post. 

Sean Kennedy made unwanted history on the 20th minute as he became the first Kingdom player in the referee’s book as he picked up a yellow card for a number of early fouls. 

Coming up to the half-hour mark Kerry were starting to get into the game. Tryp and Teehan with high pressing managed to stop Cobh playing through the middle of the park as they had so much success with early on. 

After a fantastic opening half Cobh took the lead. Tiernan O'Brien put Cobh in front after some great work coming in from the wing from Jack Doherty chipping passed Sean O’Connell and putting the ball in for O'Brien who smashed home.  

Kerry forward Tryp almost replied instantly, powering from halfway line all the way into the box but could not get his shot away, and with no late chances, Cobh lead 1-0 at the break.

Tryp and McGrath were replaced by Ryan Kelliher and Leo Gaxha at the break and Gaxha almost scored immediately, an effort from the edge of the box forcing Steacy into a big save.

Kerry were by far the better team in the early stages of the second half with Gaxha proving a major impact along with the switch to a back four with Kevin Williams moving to right back. 

The biggest chance for the hosts came with just over 25 minutes to go as Leo Gaxha poked the ball past Steacy but a Cobh defender recovered to slide in and clear the ball off the line with the Kingdom pushing hard for an equaliser. 

Jack Doherty put the away side 2-0 up on the 70th-minute mark from a free kick. Guthrie handled outside his area which left a 20-yard free kick. Doherty smashed keepers side finding the side netting to give Cobh a comfortable lead after some great Kerry pressure before that. 

The second goal put the hosts' dreams of an opening night victory to rest as the free kick seemed to take the wind from the Kerry players going into the final few minutes. 

Cobh ran the bench towards the end as they cruised towards a big away victory, considering they only had four wins in the entire of last season, this was a big opening night for Shane Keegan. 

For Kerry, a spirited performance and a big learning curve in the league, and a performance they can build on going away to Bray next Friday night.

Kerry FC

1Wayne Gutherie Goalkeeper 71'
3Sean O’Connell Midfielder
4Shane Gutherie Defender 59'
5Kalen Spillane Defender
7Seán McGrath 10 Forward
8Matt Keane Midfielder
11Sean Kennedy 17 Midfielder 20'
15Kevin Williams Defender
20Trpimir Vrljicak 9 Forward 45'
23Ronan Teahan 29 Midfielder
27Graham O’Reilly Midfielder
6Alex Ainscough Midfielder
9Ryan Kelliher 20 Forward
10Leo Gaxha 7 Forward 60'
14Andy Quaid Midfielder
16Callan Scully Goalkeeper
17Nathan Gleeson 11 Forward
18Samuel Aladesanusi Defender
24Jonathan Hannafin Defender
29Kennedy Amechi 23 Forward 85'

Cobh Ramblers

1Lee Steacy Goalkeeper
2Michael McCarthy Defender
3Cian Browne Defender
5Breandan Frahill Defender
6Charlie Lyons Defender 45'
7Wilson Waweru 9 Forward
10Jack Doherty 14 Midfielder 70'
16Luke Desmond 18 Midfielder 72'
28Dale Holland 8 Midfielder 36'
29Tiernan O’Brien 4 Midfielder 40'
39Jason Abbott Midfielder
4Justin Eguaibor 29 Defender
8Pierce Phillips 28 Midfielder
9Jake Hegarty 7 Forward
12Darragh O’Sullivan Connell Defender
14David Bosnjak 10 Midfielder
18Callum Stringer 16 Midfielder
24Issa Kargbo Defender
30Darragh Burke Goalkeeper
33Adrien Thibaut Forward
  • 95'

    Full-time in Mounthawk Park, Cobh spoil the Kerry party and take the points back to Cork tonight.

  • 91'

    Five minutes additional time in Mounthawk Park.

  • 72'

    GOAL COBH! Jack Doherty makes Guthrie pay, smashing the free kick across the keepers side into the far corner. A killer blow for the hosts.

  • 71'

    Wayne Guthrie booked for handling outside his area, could have seen red in all honesty.

  • 70'

    Doherty almost made it two, getting in behind and pushing the ball towards goal but Guthrie got down to his right to save and keep his team in this.

  • 67'

    Kalen Spillane has a header saved by Steacy from a corner, Kerry really pushing to get back into this!

  • 65'

    GAXHA HAS THE BALL CLEARED OFF THE LINE! Kerry really pushing on, Gaxha pushed it past the keeper but it was cleared off the line by a Cobh centre back.

  • 64'

    Cobh make their first change with Dale Holland replaced by Pierce Phillips.

  • 60'

    Leo Gaxha has been booked and he's not sure why.

  • 58'

    Sean Kennedy comes off for Nathan Gleeson, Sean of course already had been booked.

  • 50'

    Kerry have been the much better side in the opening stages of the half, put playing with the wind is proving an issue as the ball is holding up in the air.

  • 48'

    Gaxha, who was only announced by Kerry in the last week coming home from Sheffield United, already making a big impact.

  • 46'

    WOW. Leo Gaxha almost finds the net immediately! A great effort from outside the box forcing Steacy into a save.

  • 45'

    The changes at the half for Kerry seem to have seen a change of formation to a back four.

  • Leo Gaxha and Ryan Kelliher in for Tryp and Sean McGrath.

  • 45'

    At the end of the half it is Cobh who lead 1-0.

  • 45'

    Two minutes added on at the end of the half.

  • 44'

    Lyons and Tryp both booked for a scuffle just before the break.

  • 41'

    GOAL! Tiernan O'Brien puts Cobh in front after some great work from Doherty off the wing who put the ball in and O'Brien smashed home.

  • 40'

    Jack Doherty takes a free kick from 20 yards off his left but Guthrie saves comfortably, parrying for a corner.

  • 36'

    Dale Holland gets, catching Teehan in the foot after Ronan Teehan got to the breaking ball first.

  • 34'

    Jack Doherty cuts in off the left for the first real effort on target for Ramblers as they caught Kerry on the break down the right hand side.

  • 33'

    The resulting second corner saw Kerry playing in and around the box for the first time but Kennedy was unable to deliver a decent cross.

  • 32'

    Kerry almost take the lead thanks to a wicked deflection in the box!

  • 30'

    The first Kerry Fc corner comes at the half-hour mark.

  • 27'

    Charlie Lyons had an acrobatic effort go over the bar off a Doherty free kick. Could've been the first goal of the season contender!

  • 25'

    For the first time, Kerry start to have a spell of possession. Some great work from Tryp and Teehan working a cross that Sean McGrath could not get on the end of.

  • 20'

    Sean Kennedy picks up the first yellow card of the game. A number of fouls leading to this moment.

  • 15'

    Kerry with absolutely no time on the ball in the centre of the park despite playing four across. Cobh are putting major pressure on to turn the ball over as soon as they lose it.

  • 10'

    Waweru with the first big chance of Cobh off a great through ball but not able to get a touch towards the net.

  • Tryp with the high press as Cobh try play round the back but commits a foul.

  • Cobh make nothing of the corner but looking the most likely to find the lead in the opening ten minutes.

  • First corner to Cobh.

  • The game is already feisty. Kerry Cork derby is upon us! Sean Kennedy with a couple of early fouls.

  • Kerry FC kickoff tonight and the ball is already flying about. Kerry will need to get this game under control early to have any chance.

  • THE LEAGUE OF IRELAND IS UNDERWAY IN KERRY!

  • The teams are coming out to grace Mounthawk Park for the first time to rapturous applause. A big night ahead.

  • A number of presentations are underway to commemorate this massive occasion for Kerry soccer. Kickoff in just under 10 mins.

  • A full 1150 attendance here in Tralee with many more disappointed to be missing out tonight!

  • Lee Stacy, Charlie Lyons, and Jack Doherty also make their Cobh debut tonight.

  • New frontman Wilson Waweru starts up top for the away side, who will be hoping to sent the Kerry crowd home disappointed on their first outing.

  • The teams are in and confirmed! A first-ever Kerry lineup sees the most experience possible with Guthrie in net, McGrath and captain Keane leading the line.

  • Welcome to Mounthawk Park for the very first time! My name is Sam Mansfield, and I will be as unbias as I can tonight but it's hard to hide the excitement of a first LOI Senior fixture in Tralee, it's been a long time coming.

Ground

Mounthawk Park
Mounthawk Park, Tralee Rural ED, Tralee, County Kerry, Munster, Ireland

26-year-old TV, Radio, and New Media graduate from MTU Kerry based in the Kingdom with a passion for a variety of sports.