2 v 1 
Kerry FCVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 September 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Athlone Scrape By Tough Kerry Test
Dylan Gavin struck late in the second half to ensure Athlone Town picked up three points to keep their promotion hopes alive and well as they overcame a battling Kerry FC.
Athlone got the optimum start as Frantz Pierrot scored inside five minutes, Kerry battled hard and Leo Gaxha scored the equaliser after the half hour mark. A closely fought encounter but Gavin latched onto a loose ball and fired home for the deciding moment.
With two away trips to come, this was an important game for Athlone to take points and despite the scoreline saying otherwise, Kerry battled them every step of the way and made sure the hosts had to work hard for the result.
For large parts of the start of the half it was an overall even contest, with both sharing possession, Athlone would enjoy more of the ball as time wore on and with Jamar Campion-Hinds causing issue down the right wing, he sprayed a wall across the face of goal for Frantz Pierrot to tap home inside the six yard box.
The hosts kept the pressure on with Samuel Aladesanusi almost seeing his header back to Lee Axworthy cut out by an Athlone man, the net minder gathered and minutes later watched on as Pierrot flashed an effort wide of the goal.
Kerry had half chances but 18 minutes in, Ryan Kelliher almost connected with Daniel Okwute for the equaliser. Kelliher found Okwute in space inside the area but his touch let him down and the ball was cleared by an Athlone defender.
Kerry defended well after going behind, Kevin Williams really bringing a calming influence to the defence. Despite committing a couple of fouls, allowing Athlone a chance at goal from set pieces, they were doing well to keep composed and not allow the hosts further chances to increase their lead.
Leo Gaxha would lead by example as captain by equalising in the 35th minute. Cutting in from the left wing he curled one from outside the area on his right foot into the back of the net past Enda Minogue to level the tie.
Axworthy needed to be alert minutes later as a speculative Oisin Duffy effort almost landed in the top corner of his net. A smart save to keep the game all square as both headed to the dressing rooms minutes later.
Valeri Dolia almost struck a free kick that just went over the bar, that could have been a massive start to the second half for the hosts. Seconds later Kevin Williams almost found the net from a Sean O’Connell cross but the effort dragged wide.
Mingoue was quick to gather a cross that if it had met Okwute could have been the chance Kerry needed to take the lead, that was cleared and two very short minutes later Dolia dragged wide the chance that could have put the hosts in the lead.
Into the final quarter of an hour both looked really up for it, however Kerry have that late curse that lingers over them and as a ball was trying to be cleared to safety, Gavin fired home to restore the hosts lead in the 76th minute.
Kerry were all guns blazing to try net an equaliser, Athlone studied at the back were able to soak up all the pressure. Chances came and went but the hosts take a massive three points to keep that push alive with Wexford and Longford not in action this evening to change the standings.
Timeline
| 9. Frantz Pierrot | 5' | |
| 16' | Sean Kennedy Rob Vasiu | |
| 24' | 6. Ethan Kos | |
| 27' | 2. Rob Vasiu | |
| 35' | 12. Leo Gaxha | |
| Jack Kavanagh Michael Peprah | 45' | |
| 45+2' | 8. Ronan Teahan | |
| 45' | Ethan Kos Kennedy Amechi | |
| 9. Frantz Pierrot | 46' | |
| 18. Oisin Duffy | 51' | |
| 56' | 15. Kevin Williams | |
| Valerii Dolia Josh McGlone | 77' | |
| 83' | Ronan Teahan Alex Ainscough | |
| 83' | Ryan Kelliher Cian Brosnan | |
| Dylan Gavin Néhémie Lamtoukou | 89' |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 19)
0 - 1LOI Men's First Division
Mounthawk Park Kerry FC 0-1 Athlone Town AFC |
|
(Round 14)
2 - 3LOI Men's First Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town AFC 2-3 Kerry FC |
|
(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.
Kevin Williams cautioned
Oisin Duffy gets his name taken
Frantz Pierrot gets an early booking
Second half underway as both make a change
Half time in Athlone, all square as the sides break for the interval
Teahan the third Kerry man booked this half
Two minutes added on
Campion-Hinds has an effort saved by Axworthy, appeals for a penalty not looked at by the referee
Kerry draw level as Leo Gaxha cuts in from the left wing and curls a beauty to the far top corner
Oisin Duffy shoots from distance and Lee Axworthy dives well to save for a corner
Rob Vasiu gets a second card for Kerry in this opening half hour of play
Free kick hits the wall but another one soon follows
Ethan Kos booked for a foul on Campion-Hinds on the edge of the area
Almost a chance for the visitors as Kelliher finds Daniel Okwute, the touch lets him down, had he managed to keep possession it could have been the chance to level
Kerry forced into a change as Sean Kennedy looks to have injured his ankle and Rob Vasiu replaces him
Pierrot drags a shot wide as Athlone come close again
Athlone take the lead as Jamar Campion-Hinds crosses from the right across the face of goal and Frantz Pierrot taps home
Game underway in Lissywollen
Both teams make their way onto the field in Lissywollen
Since then the results have come in dribs and drabs, they picked up a first win at home in the cup, in the league that wait continues. A share of the points in Ballybofey and two stalemate contests in Tralee with Cobh and Longford are the only points secured since that famous night in May.
For Kerry the 2023 season has been a big learning curve, players have come and gone, the latest being Jonathan Hannafin, moving to Rockmont in the Munster Senior League. With just one win under their belts, they have six games left to try to rectify that statistic. Six games with a split of three home and three away, Lissywollen has been a happy hunting ground in the past. Ryan Kelliher, who signed the first pro contract offered by the club recently, made history that evening, netting twice as Kerry scooped their first three points of the season. Kelliher and Nathan Gleeson had made it 2-0 early in the tie before Frantz Pierrot pulled one back before the break. Valerii Dolia, who has been the difference between the teams twice in Mounthawk Park, equalised after the hour mark as it looked like the sides would share the spoils. Three minutes later Kelliher bundled the ball over the line as the linesman raised the flag to award the goal. Kerry with a young side and a debutant Aaron O’Sullivan in net, hung on to show what they are made of.
A monumental improvement from last season makes it justified that Athlone are promotion contenders, they may have had a change in management this season, Dermot Lennon and Gordon Brett began the season, before Lennon stepped down from the role. Brett initially looked to have stayed on but the decision was made that Town would be led from the dugout by Dario Castelo for the remainder of the campaign. Finishing second from bottom last season the management team steadied the ship into this year and with seven wins last year, they could double that should they overcome the Kingdom outfit this evening in Lissywollen. Six points were secured on the road, they need to make it a win at home to keep this push going.
Over the last two months since their cup campaign ended in the first round to Derry, it has been largely positive in the Midlands. Defeats however to Wexford and Cobh in recent weeks, have allowed the chasing pack to close in. When they toppled Waterford on the first Friday of the month, you could have argued that was an ideal start to go into these final run of games.
With Athlone having lost a big six pointer last week to Cobh, this game will now be a crucial one if they are to stay ahead of the chasing pack. Sitting a point ahead of Wexford and five from neighbours Longford Town, with neither in action this weekend, Athlone cannot afford to slip up.
Kerry are unchanged from last week's visit of Longford, Ryan Kelliher who scored twice here last time out will be looking to notch again this evening, Cian Barrett returns from suspension and is named amongst the replacements Cianan Cooney on the bench for the same game running, Dennehy mentioned earlier in the week about trying younger talents in the squad
Town make one change from last week's defeat to Cobh, German Fuentes Rodriguez replaces Matthew Leal as he returns back from his recent international call up by El Salvador
An evening for the Umbrella's in Lissywollen as Athlone and Kerry meet for their fourth and final clash of the season, 2-1 in favour of the hosts in terms of results, Kerry claimed a big win here last time and hope to build on their draw with Longford last week, Athlone however need a win to keep their challenge alive in the promotion race