After 23 attempts Kerry FC finally got that elusive home win, a 3-0 victory over Longford Town in a wet and rainy Mounthawk Park tonight. 

The Kingdom held the title of favourites coming into a league match for the first time and lived up to it with a huge victory on the night of their 50th competitive game. 

McGrath gave the hosts the lead just after the half-hour mark before Kelliher made it two at the break. Kennedy Amechi made sure of the points just eight minutes from time. 

Kerry now look to make it seven unbeaten in the league when they travel to Treaty United next Friday whilst Longford will continue their search for their first victory of the year when they host Bray next Saturday. 

The opening fifteen minutes of the game were cagey, played in poor conditions as the rain and wind affected both sides' ability to get the ball down and play with any intensity early on. 

Although the rain began to ease off, the tie only saw one shot on target in the opening thirty minutes, a tame effort from Daniel Okwute into the hands of Jack Brady in the Longford net. 

The opening goal came just after the half-hour mark, and it was the midfield man making his 50th appearance in Kerry colours Sean McGrath, who opened the scoring with a left-footed shot driven into the bottom left corner of Brady’s net. The goal came off a Longford turnover in midfield which left the hosts with numbers on the right, as Kelliher worked a pass to Okwute who found Healy at the edge of the area, who in turn played to McGrath, netting his seventh goal in all competitions in Green. 

After going behind the away side began to come into the game. Longford almost equalised just two minutes later when Kyle O’Connor delivered from the left-hand side finding Luke Wade Slater into the box but his diving header flashed just past the post. 

Despite the pressure before the break from the visitors who looked to be coming back into the tie, it was the hosts who doubled their advantage just on the stroke of halftime. Kerry broke through McGrath who played to Kelliehr thirty yards from goal who dribbled into the box, turned onto his right-hand side and bent the ball towards the bottom corner, right in the same spot McGrath opened the scoring in. 

Into three minutes added time the Kingdom somehow did not make it three when another break saw Okwute crossing to Kelliher who swiped at the air but in came Kennedy Amechi at the back post who somehow did not convert from two yards out. 

Stephen Henderson didn’t like what he saw from his side in the first half and despite only having four outfield players on the bench for tonight, introduced two of them with Priosti and Fay introduced for Wixted and Crowley. 

Kerry began the second half full of confidence and had two good chances early in the half to get a third, firstly through Amechi who shot from the edge of the box forcing Brady into a big save. A couple of minutes later Amechi turned provider, spreading the play to Okwute who turned in and called Brady into action once more.

As the half wore on as expected Kerry began to sit back more holding onto their lead, looking to hit the away side on the break. They almost found some joy from Okwute down the right but for a cynical foul for Kyle O’Connor, who took an important yellow card to keep his team in it. 

After huge pressure from Longford heading into the final ten minutes, Kerry got that all-important third goal through Kennedy Amechi. A turnover from the press down by the corner saw McGrath play to Amechi who slotted into the bottom right corner to the joy and relief of the home support, who could finally start to believe tonight was the night they get that elusive home win.

With the game all but done the final few minutes were comfortable for the Kingdom, and the home fans could finally celebrate, after 23 attempts they get their first league win at Mounthawk Park. Their unbeaten streak moves to seven in all competitions and at the quarter mark of the season they are only two points off their total from last year.