2 v 3 
Kerry FCVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 May 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Kelliher strike crowns first Kingdom win
Kerry FC have made history as they secured their first ever win in the League of Ireland, the long awaited result coming at the expense of Athlone in Lissywollen.
Ryan Kelliher proved the match winner, a goal that will for sure have people talking after this tie, the goal given by the linesman as it crossed the line but plenty of objections from the home faithful.
Kelliher had given Kerry the lead with a stunning shot from range, Nathan Gleeson doubled their lead with a deflected effort, but Athlone found a way back as Frantz Pierrot and Valerii Dolia both found the net, Kerry debutant Aaron O’Sullivan despite conceding twice had a phenomenal game all evening.
Athlone were on top early having much more of the possession, Adam Lennon had hit a tame effort from range to test debutant Aaron O’Sullivan, but came close minutes later to almost grabbing the opening, all coming from Valerii Dolia, who skinned two Kerry men with his quick feet, his ball across found Lennon who fired for goal, but Samuel Aladesanusi did well clearing off the line.
Two minutes later they came close again as Frantz Pierrot got into the area, but O’Sullivan came out well to smother the danger and save, Athlone had all the ball and the chances, Dolia hit a wild one from range, but again the ball needing clearing off the line as Kevin Williams was back to keep out both Patrick Hickey and Lennon for a potential opener.
Down at the other end, Kerry were working the ball well and against the run of play took the lead, Togor Silong the young 17 year old on his second start, headed up the field, Sean McGrath did well to hold off Aaron Connoly trying to deal with the danger, Ryan Kelliher took the ball down, turned and struck a shot on his right foot that looped over Vladislav Velikin into the Athlone goal in the 16th minute.
Athlone almost found an equaliser in the 19th minute, Jack Kavanagh fizzed a cross across the face of goal, but it eluded Pierrot who just had to tap it home and headed for a throw in, a huge sigh of relief for Kerry.
Again against the run of play, Kerry doubled their lead after 22 minutes, again McGrath involved this time he will get the assist, he passed to Nathan Gleeson, the forward cutting inside from the right wing, space opened up for him and he unleashed a left footed shot that took a deflection off German Fuentes Rodriguez, that lobbed Velikin, another from range.
O’Sullivan was having a solid start to his Kerry FC career in the First Division, he made a stunning save after 26 minutes to deny Dolia, again he was quick and agile to get through the Kerry rearguard before a strong hand down to his right saved a rasper from the Ukrainian forward.
The Kerry keeper and defence were kept busy as the hosts piled on the pressure, it would tell as Athlone would get a goal back in the 37th minute, from a throw in on the right wing Patrick Hickey took possession and crossed to the area, Frantz Pierrot looked to have gotten a touch, but a wicked deflection in the build up was enough to deceive Aaron O’Sullivan as Athlone had their sucker blow.
Athlone searched for an equaliser before the break, trying to catch the Kerry side on the hop as they had just conceded, Lennon stood over a dangerous free kick but his curling effort was saved well by O’Sullivan, but Kerry held strong to remain ahead at the break.
It was a strong start to the second half by Athlone but they could not find the net, Lennon had a shot just after the restart that just flew over the bar, Blake Ryan a half time sub them had an effort, his shot hit the underside of the bar, came out no indication if it crossed the line but it was not given, Hickey then kissed the crossbar with a rocket from the edge of the area.
O’Sullivan continued his fine form into the second half, in the air he was winning the battles, while again his saves too were strong, Haji Abdikadir struck from distance plenty of curve in the shot but again a solid hand denied him.
Before the hour mark Pierrot almost came close, he deceived three Kerry defenders and got into the area but his shot hit the side netting, then Williams produced an acrobatic clearance to clear a Campion-Hinds cross for a corner, Kerry defending with their backs to the walls.
Athlone drew level and the heart breaker in Tralee Dolia proved the menace again, he was terrifying all evening, Hickey found him unmarked in the box and he shot into an empty goal, but two minutes later Kelliher was found my McGrath just outside the six yard box and the forward shot at goal, blocked by Aaron McBride on the line but the linesman awarded the goal in the 71st minute.
Hickey almost snatched an equaliser in added time as he headed for goal but O'Sullivan was down well to deny him, Pierott then headed wide from inches away a huge miss, Kerry had their back's to the walls fighting for their lives but earned the biggest reward, the keeper a standout as Kerry celebrated their first win in the League.
Timeline
| 16' | 9. Ryan Kelliher | |
| 22' | 13. Nathan Gleeson | |
| 9. Frantz Pierrot | 37' | |
| Jack Kavanagh Blake Ryan | 46' | |
| 64' | Ronan Teahan Graham O'Reilly | |
| 10. Valerii Dolia | 68' | |
| 69' | 18. Samuel Aladesanusi | |
| 71' | 9. Ryan Kelliher | |
| 2. German Fuentes Rodriguez | 73' | |
| Adam Lennon Matthew McCarrick | 80' | |
| 82' | Seán McGrath Matt Keane | |
| 87' | 13. Nathan Gleeson |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 6)
0 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Mounthawk Park Kerry FC 0-1 Athlone Town AFC |
Ground
| Athlone Town Stadium |
|---|
| Athlone Town Stadium, Old Rail Trail, Garrycastle, Athlone East Rural Electoral Division, The Municipal District of Athlone — Moate, County Westmeath, Leinster, N37 N1F2, Ireland |
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.
ITS OVER ITS OVER, KERRY MAKE HISTORY, THEIR FIRST EVER WIN IN THE LEAGUE, GET IN!
Four added minutes
Blood pressure through the roof here....
Yellow for Rodriguez
MORE DRAMA HERE, McGrath passes to Kelleher, his shot is blocked on the line, linesman's flag is up and the goal is given
Dolia does it again, the man in Tralee who broke hearts has done it again, loads of space and he rifles home
First change for Kerry as Graham O'Reilly replaces Ronan Teahan
Kevin WIlliams clears a Campion-Hinds cross over the bar
Pierrot almost comes close but it hits the side netting
Haji Abdikadir fires from range but O'Sullivan saves
O'Sullivan deals with a dangerous cross to Pierott
Hickey fires from outside the box and it kisses the crossbar
Blake Ryan shoots hits the underside of the bar, comes out no indication if it crossed the line
Lennon has a shot that just creeps over the bar
Second half underway, Athlone make a change at the break as Blake Ryan replaces Kavanagh
Half Time in Lissywollen and Kerry lead 2-1 at the break, a dream start to the half but a wicked deflection has Athlone back in it, a huge second half to come
Adam Lennon strikes a free kick that O'Sullivan saves well
Athlone draw one back as Pierrot looks to have gotten a touch to the net, Hickey crosses into the box it takes a wicked deflection and into the net
Aaron O'Sullivan is having quite the debut, a huge showing from the Kerry keeper this evening
Cian Barrett does well to deny Campion-Hinds a shot at goal, Athlone again looking strong to create chances
WHAT A SAVE BY O'SULLIVAN ON HIS DEBUT, Dolia again uses his trickery to elude the Kerry defenders, but a strong hand by the keeper denies him
It looks deflected but Kerry wont mind this is sensational stuff
NATHAN GLEESON ITS 2-0 KERRY ANOTHER SCREAMER
Kelliher looks to add a second but his shot destined for the far corner is held well by Velikin
Athlone almost find an equaliser, Jack Kavanagh fizzes a cross across the face of goal, but it eludes Pierrot who just had to tap it home and heads for a throw in
Kerry take the lead and Ryan Kelliher scores a beauty, he takes the ball down well, turns and hits a first time shot that loops over Velikin into the back of the net
AGAIN OFF THE LINE, Kevin Williams denies both Patrick Hickey and Lennon for a potential opener, Pierrot also gets a touch to deny one of his teammates
Dolia is a real menace thus far, he tries one from range that sails over, but he might need a man mark job to keep him quiet this evening
Athlone come close again as Pierrot gets in the box and O'Sullivan saves well, all Athlone
OFF THE LINE, Athlon come close, Dolia skins two Kerry men, Lennon tries an effort from inside the box, with Samuel Aladesanusi clearing off the line
Kerry break on the counter from an Athlone corner, with Sean McGrath putting on the afterburners, he was dispossessed by Aaron Connoly, Athlone then break, Adam Lennon tries one from range but Aaron O'Sullivan saves well, his first save in the LOI
Early free as Jamar Campion-Hinds is brought down, Jack Kavanagh floats it on the left wing but it goes out for a goal kick
Kick off in Lissywollen
The teams coming out onto a sun kissed Lissywollen, the oldest club in the league v the youngest
One of the youngest squads in the league, Kerry have worked on developing their talent at a local level and do have plenty of top quality players, Ronan Teahan is 18 and in the midfield is electric and exciting, coming from a strong sporting family, his uncle being Maurice Fitz, he has been a standout this season, Samuel Aladesanusi is strong at the back, he is 19, Togor Silong came in against Longford and impressed in the midfield, the 17 year old shone and earned his managers praise afterwards, while Cian Barrett’s loan move to Kerry from Shamrock Rovers has seen him be a first team regular, another 18 year old, all feature this evening from the off
Last week’s result was frustrating for Kerry as they managed to score twice for the first time this season, unlucky not to get a draw they had been much better as a host of younger players are putting their hands up to lead by example, afterwards manager Billy Dennehy was also frustrated with certain senior members of his squad for under performing.
Kerry once again line out bidding for a result as they try to get some form and get results under their belt, to put a dismal and frustrating start to the campaign behind them, they suffered defeat to Longford last week their fifth in a row since drawing with Finn Harps, they look to avoid making it six this evening.
When they met in Tralee earlier this season, it was a late winner from Valerii Dolia that separated the teams, Dolia has been clinical to their campaign, netting four times but his overall link up play has been a huge plus for the side, Pierrot has been a huge addition to the team for this season, netting 10 times so far, he has brought the goals since Thomas Oluwa headed for Waterford.
Gordon Brett's tenure as head coach of the Athlone Town has been a strong one, both him and Dermot Lennon came in last season and with Lennon departing to continue his role as director of football, three wins from five have followed since the change of management, their recent loss to Treaty United came as a late change to the script.
Town are looking to continue a rich vein of form that has propelled them into fighting for promotion this season, after last year they finished second from bottom. A win tonight would match their win total from last season on seven, with just 14 games after the dust settles this evening, it has been a whirlwind 12 months for the Midlanders.
Kerry hand another debut in goal, with Wayne Guthrie out long term, Aaron O'Sullivan starts with Richie Healy the U19 keeper named on the bench, following last weeks nail biting draw with Longford, they make three further changes, as Leo Gaxha returns from illness, Nathan Gleeson and Ronan Teehan also come in, out go Callan Scully, Sean O'Connell, Andy Quaid and Trpimir Vrljicak
Athlone are trying to bounce back from last week's defeat to Treaty United, as they were done late on to see them leave Limerick empty handed, two changes for them as Adam Lennon and Aaron McBride who earns his first start replace Noah Van Geenen and Matthew Leal, Van Geenen is suspended as a result German Fuentes Rodriguez and Aaron Connolly are the only two to have started every game
A big night in the Midlands as Athlone search to keep their push alive for promotion, while Kerry FC try to get a result as they are in a big rut of late, Diarmuid Kearney here to update all the action from Lissywollen