1 v 1 
Finn HarpsVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 April 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's First Division | 2023 |
Match Report
Ryan Flood struck late to snatch a draw for Finn Harps, as they share the spoils with Kerry FC in Mounthawk Park this evening. A dramatic and entertaining tie at both ends of the field, as the teams wrote another chapter in the Kerry v Donegal sporting rivalry, Harps getting a point a welcome result after last weekend. Kerry will feel they have left another three points slip by them, Sean McGrath gave Kerry the lead in the 37th minute from close range, but an unmarked Flood headed home after 67 minutes as he was a big danger all evening for Harps. Kerry had all the ball in the early stages, they attacked early on and won a corner, some short passes, between Leo Gaxha, Sean Kennedy and Sean McGrath but Harps did well to thwart any danger with Ellis Farrar blocking Kennedy on the right wing from crossing. The visitors Finn Harps would have the first shot on target of the tie as Ryan Flood met a lofted ball into the area, but his header went into the hands of Guthrie, minutes later Michael Harris was found in space by Tim Hiemer from a free kick, he got the better of Rob Vasiu on the left wing and curled an effort that just went past the right upright. It took until the 20th minute for Kerry to have their first chance of the tie, McGrath won back possession as the Kerry forwards were putting the Harps line under pressure, he played a pass to Gaxha, but his shot hit the side netting. Seconds later Harps almost had a calamity at the back, a misplaced back pass was greeted by Ryan Kelliher and his volley at goal needed Hiemer down to his right to save. The Finn men were having yet more half chances putting pressure on the Kerry defence, Flood whipped in a dangerous free kick that was cleared, while former Kerry man Daniel Okwute flashed a shot wide from range. Minutes later another Flood free kick caused danger, Farrar striked at goal it was blocked down and Guthrie raced out to smother the ball before Okwute could connect with a follow up. With 37 minutes on the clock Kerry would take the lead, it was said by Billy Dennehy earlier this week how Kerry were not taking chances, but it was a lovely passage of play by Kerry to break the deadlock, Kelliher took a ball down from the air and played a beauty of a pass to Gaxha on the left wing, he whipped a ball across the face of goal and McGrath stabbed home to score. Gaxha would see a card minutes later ruling him out of the tie with Waterford next week, Harps pressed but Kerry did not let the goal show any sign of weakness at the back as they kept the pressure on as Kerry went in ahead 1-0 at the break, their first ever half time lead in the league. Two minutes after the restart Flood had an effort on goal that Guthrie was at full length to save out for a corner, Flood would whip in the corner and it clipped the crossbar on its way out for a goal kick. Harps were back on the attack minutes later, again Flood over a free kick but his shot entered the stratosphere and landed into the far field behind the goal, while Filip da Silva stung the palms of Guthrie. On the hour mark the Kingdom had their first chance of the second half, Cian Barrett on loan from Shamrock Rovers struck a shot that was blocked down and then Kennedy striked at goal but it was saved by Hiemer. Minutes later Harps broke Kerry hearts as they equalised in the 67th minute, Caoimhin Porter whipped in a cross after a free kick was given against Jonathan Hannafin, Porter’s ball found its way to the back post where an unmarked Ryan Rainey was there to nod home. Harps as the game wore on really came into the game, testing Kerry all evening and they will feel a draw is a fair result as they make the long journey back to Ballybofey, for Kerry another week goes by in search of a win, but again another big performance that they can build on.Harps draw with Kerry in first Kingdom visit
Timeline
| 7. Seán McGrath | 37' | |
| 12. Leo Gaxha | 40' | |
| 15. Kevin Williams | 50' | |
| 57' | Michael Harris | |
| 59' | 11. Ryan Rainey | |
| 65' | Michael Harris Katlego Mashigo | |
| Seán McGrath Matt Keane | 67' | |
| Ryan Kelliher Trpimir Vrljicak | 67' | |
| 67' | 7. Ryan Flood | |
| 70' | 7. Ryan Flood | |
| 18. Samuel Aladesanusi | 73' | |
| 73' | 11. Daniel Okwute | |
| Sean Kennedy Sean O'Connell | 79' | |
| 79' | Caoimhin Porter Kevin Jordan | |
| Jonathan Hannafin Cian Brosnan | 88' |
Ground
| Mounthawk Park |
|---|
| Mounthawk Park, Tralee Rural ED, Tralee, County Kerry, Munster, 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.
All over in Tralee as Harps and Kerry share the spoils, an entertaining draw between the teams as Kerry will feel they should have taken all the points
Little to report on since that goal as we head for added time
Changes to both teams Mashigo in for Harris for Harps, while for Kerry Trpimir and Keane in for Kelliher and McGrath
GOALL FOR HARPS IT HAS BEEN COMING, Flood free at the back post and he nods in the equaliser
Kerry have their first chance of the second half, Cian Barrett struck a shot it was blocked down and then Kennedy strikes at goal but it was saved
Michael Harris and Ryan Rainey both into the notebook
Harps back on the attack, Flood sends a free kick into the far field behind the goal, while da Silva stings the palms of Guthrie
Kevin Williams the next into the book as he has verbal's with the referee did not look like he made a rash tackle
Flood has an effort that Guthrie is at full length to save goes for a corner, Flood whips it in and it clips the crossbar
Back for the second half as a big 45 awaits Kerry for an historic first win
Kerry lead here at the break as McGrath's strike is enough t see them lead a game at the interval for the first time this season
One minute of added time at the end of this half
Gaxha carded and with that he misses the tie with Waterford next weekend
Lovely passage of play by Kerry Ryan Kelliher took a ball down from the air and played a beauty of a pass to Gaxha on the left wing, he whipped a ball across the face of goal and McGrath stabbed home
GOALLL FOR KERRY AS SEAN MCGRATH SCORES
Another Flood free kick causes danger, Farrar strikes at goal it was blocked down and Guthrie races out to smother the ball before Okwute could connect with a follow up
Harps having yet more half chances, Flood whipped in a dangerous free kick, while former Kerry man Daniel Okwute flashes a shot wide from range
Harps almost have a calamity at the back, a miss place back pass meets Ryan Kelliher and his volley at goal needs Heimer down to his right to save
Kerry have their first chance of the tie, McGrath wins back possession plays a pass to Leo Gaxha he hits the side netting
Harps with another shot on goal, Michael Harris struck a beauty that just curled past the post, he cut in from the eft after Heimer played a free kick to the left flank, he skins Vasiu and strikes for goal but just wide
Harps with the first shot on target as Flood meets a ball into the area and it goes to the hands of Guthrie
Kerry having all the ball here so far as they attack and get a corner, some short passes, between Gaxha, Kennedy and McGrath but Harps do well to twart any danger with Farrar blocking Kennedy on the right wing
Kick off here in Tralee
His side are limping after they were hammered 9-1 last weekend in Waterford, they sit five points ahead of Kerry but are not a mile away from the promotion places and aim to climb the table this evening
Dave Rodgers needs a big three points to get Harps in contention for Promotion
Kerry look to be lining out in a 4-4-1-1, while Harps are set in a 4-3-3
With Matt Keane on the bench Wayne Gutherie takes the arm band, Keane is one yellow away from suspension as is Leo Gaxha
Shane Gutherie and Kevin Williams are the only two players to have started in each of their 8 games, seven players have played in all seven that pre date this evening, will aim to make it eight should they come off the bench, Rob Vaisu is also another one to earn his first start as Aladsanusi makes his third start this evening
Cian Barett on loan from Shamrock Rovers makes his first start, having played just 45 minutes off the bench against Galway
Kerry come into this tie having lost to Longford To2n 2-0 last weekend with their last home game being a 1-0 loss to Athlone, they have made five changes, Sean O'Connell, Shane Gutherie, Matt Keane, Nathan Gleeson and Graham O'Reilly all drop out from their side, Robert Vasiu, Sean Kennedy, Samel Aladsanusi, Cian Barrett and Sean McGrath
A good evening from Mounthawk Park as Kerry FC take on Finn Harps, one of the biggest round trips in the league, the sun is shining as a full house is expected here this evening