A Ryan Kelliher brace helped Kerry FC to a third straight home win in the First Division at the expense of bottom-side Longford Town. 

Kelliher gave the Kingdom the lead just before the half-hour mark with a wonderful flick through his legs. Town got back on terms through Chambers's header just before the break. 

The winner came just six minutes from time when Sean McGrath shot towards the far post with the Kerry number nine sneaking in to smash home unmarked. 

The Kingdom now move five points clear of tonight’s opponents who sit rooted to the foot of the First Division. 

Longford Town now look forward to the mid-season break before hosting Bray Wanderers in two weeks time. Meanwhile, Kerry FC's attention turns to the Munster Senior Cup Final against Waterford in ten days. 

The home side were dealt a blow before a ball was kicked after Valerii Dolia rolled his ankle in the warmup and was forced to withdraw from the starting eleven. The Ukrainian winger was replaced by Cian Brosnan, making his third start for the Kingdom. 

Kerry looked the sharper side in the opening quarter of the tie, with striker Ryan Kelliher’s hold-up play proving vital to getting his side up the pitch. With all that possession though they only forced Brady into one save which was a tame effort from range by their number nine. 

The hosts managed to break the deadlock just before the half-hour mark. The attack started with Ronan Teahan spreading the ball wide to get out of the Longford press before O’Connell delivered the ball down the left to Cian Brosnan who composed himself before unleashing a left-footed cross that flew across the face of the goal. Ryan Kelliher got the jump on his marker and produced a delightful heel flick to give his side the lead and bag his sixth league goal. 

The Kingdom had a huge chance to double their advantage with ten minutes to go in the half. Sean McGrath played in Ronan Teahan in the left channel but the pass fell just behind the midfielder. Teahan did manage to turn and get a shot off and forced Brady into a big save high to his right. 

Kerry looked set to take the lead into the break but once again came undone through a set piece. Longford Town looked unlikely to get anything in the half but earned themselves a corner with a minute to play. Crowley stepped up and delivered a ball towards the front post, finding the head of Karl Chambers who flicked towards the far top corner. A superb headed finish under pressure but for Kerry it was proving to be the same gremlins rearing their heads. 

The hosts had another massive chance to retake the lead early in the second half when McGrath crossed to Gleeson who forced a shot on net that had Brady beaten but the winger was prevented by the foot of the post. 

As the rain came over Mounthawk Park the game lost all flow. The Kingdom, short on wingers due to injuries and suspensions changed to a back five introducing Aladesanusi for Cian Brosnan. With the change, Longford began to gain the ascendancy. The away side had several close calls around the Kerry box including a Dean O’Shea free, and a couple of set pieces which caused scrambles in the box but the hosts held firm. 

With the game looking likely to head for a tie, Kerry FC found a way to take the lead with just six minutes to play. Some great passing patterns helped the home side get the ball out to Kevin Williams who came inside the shadowing Emmanual James before sliding the ball down to line to McGrath. The midfielder turned in the area and unleashed a shot off his left towards the far post with the cross-shot being smashed into the bottom net on the volley by Ryan Kelliher at the back post. 

Normally with the slender advantage at this time of the tie, the management would turn to a defensive set-up but with Aladesanusi already on, it was easy to drop Kevin Williams back to wing-back in the five and ensure the points remained with the home side.

Sean McGrath had a massive chance to make sure of the result in the final moments of the tie when he dispossessed a Longford midfielder and set himself through on goal but was denied by Brady.

Despite a number of absences from the squad, it was a huge performance from a Kerry FC side who now look forward to their first ever cup final appearance.