Kerry FC picked up their second win of the season breaking their six-game losing streak after a hard-earned victory over Finn Harps in Mounthawk Park this evening.

The hosts took the lead early in the second half from the head of Ryan Kelliher and doubled their advantage inside ten minutes through Okwute after a bit of fortune. 

Kerry FC with one game before the halfway mark of the 2024 campaign, have eclipsed their points total of their inaugural season.

Both teams now look to their final game of the first half of the season next Friday night, the Kingdom travel to Cobh Ramblers whilst Harps host Wexford.

The first opportunity of the tie came just four minutes in, with Kennedy Amechi having dropped into the second eight position replacing the injured Teahan, it meant Dolia could move out to left wing and those two linked up early with the Ukrainian playing inside to Amechi who drove low and hard but Walsh was able to parry out for a corner. 

As the period wore on, it felt like the away side had shaken off the five-hour bus journey from their legs as they began to settle in and play some football of their own. Half an hour passed though without them troubling Antonio Tuta in the Kerry net. 

The best chance of the half came from Daniel Okwute’s persistence down the right wing. He got the better of Luke O’Brien after a long battle and managed to dig out a cross which Kelliher moved ahead of his marker to flick towards goal but despite beating Walsh, the crossbar denied the Kerry nine from opening the scoring. 

The Kingdom took the lead with their first chance of the second half. Sean O’Connell delivered a wonderful corner to the back post finding the head of Kerry FC leading scorer Ryan Kelliher who headed home into the far corner giving his side a deserved lead at this point in the game. 

Kerry, having taken the lead, looked to push on for a second goal, something they seemed to need to pick up a win having led seven times at home in their nine games so far, but only turning the 3-0 victory over Longford into victory.

Daniel Okwute had a couple of chances in the aftermath but on the third attempt, fortune favoured the Kerry winger as he inadvertently doubled his sides lead. McGrath played a low cross into the box that Harps failed to clear, Shane McMonagle tried to smash clear but it struck the onrushing Okwute and ricocheted back into the Harps net. 

Harps turned to three of their four outfield players in reserve after the second goal, with head coach Darren Murphy introducing Coyle, Lotefa and McLaughlin. 

Kerry were handed a golden opportunity to put the game to bed with thirteen minutes to play when Ryan Kelliher dispossessed the Harps defenders' attempt to dribble out from the back. The ball fortunately fell the way of Sean McGrath who dribbled in slowly towards Walsh before pulling the trigger but Walsh managed to close the angle and save well.

Into the final ten minutes of the tie Kerry FC were starting to show some game management experience to run the clock down, something which coach Surgue pleaded for during the week.

The hosts managed to see out the final five additional minutes of the game and end their six game losing streak to the joy of the fans in Mounthawk Park who stuck with the side throughout.