Match Report: City 2-0 Kerry

Cork City ran out 2–0 winners over Kerry FC on Friday night as the question of if they win the title begins to turn into when.

Tim Clancy made two changes to his side from the previous week’s FAI Cup victory over Finn Harps. Jack Doherty resumed his usual place in the attack in place of Conor Drinan who was absent from the teamsheet, and Sean Murray started over Arran Healy as the loanee returned from a minor injury.

Kerry’s starting eleven was three different from their recent Cup victory over Cobh Ramblers, with an injured Antonio Tuta unavailable Aaron O’Sullivan started between the sticks, seventeen-year-old Finn Barrett made his first start of the season for Kerry replacing the outgoing Kevin Williams at right-back, and Oran Crowe also made his first start in Green and Gold since joining from The Rebel Army earlier in July.

City created their first chance of the evening inside two minutes, Malik Dijksteel supplied Jack Doherty with a great pass through the Kerry backline but Doherty’s first-touch around the onrushing goalkeeper was too heavy, leaving the attacker with too tight an angle as he fired wide.

Nathan Gleeson was unlucky not to score for Kerry as he dribbled into the City box, the defence stood off him and he cut inside on his right foot, rifling a powerful shot on goal and rattling the crossbar.

Cork City themselves had chances, and in the 24th minute Greg Bolger’s free-kick delivery caused chaos, and after three consecutive blocked shots the Kerry defence somehow cleared the ball.

City’s set-piece quality has been a big issue for the teams in the First Division this season, and after a half-hour Bolger won another free-kick himself, which he played short to Doherty who whipped into the box as Charlie Lyons rose the highest but couldn’t direct his header on target.

Kerry continued threatening the City defence and came close to scoring yet again though Nathan Gleeson who found the end of Evan McLaughlin’s headed clearance on the edge of the box. The Tralee man tried the half-volley, but his effort was of minimal threat and curled over the bar.

The sides entered the break scoreless, with a solid first half from Kerry both defensively and offensively ensuring City kept alert.

City started the second half positively with two chances and subsequent corners in quick succession as they attacked the Shed End, Greg Bolger’s brilliant delivery from the second corner found the head of an unmarked Sean Murray, who headed narrowly over the bar.

City fell back into their first-half lull after their early pressure but after the period of unimpressive football they finally found their breakthrough.

Cathal O’Sullivan was taken down outside the Kerry box in the 67th minute and stepped up to take the free-kick himself, with his effort deflecting off the wall and bouncing across the box only to be bundled over the line by Charlie Lyons for his fourth goal in a City shirt.

Just three minutes later City created another chance through Darragh Crowley, as the full-back did well to outpace his man and deliver a low cross into the box toward Jack Doherty but the pass didn’t meet its target and was cleared by the Kerry defence.

The Kingdom went down to ten men with a quarter hour to play, Ronan Teahan was the offender as he tangled with Barry Coffey on the left wing and after being booked early in the first half, the referee awarded him a second yellow card.

Kerry’s young backup goalkeeper Aaron O’Sullivan made a brilliant save to keep his side in the fixture in the 85th minute, fully stretching to his bottom left corner to deny Barry Coffey a goal which he was sure he had scored.

Unfortunately for the goalkeeper though, City scored from the subsequent corner through none other than Barry Coffey, as Jack Doherty caught the Kerry defence napping taking the corner quickly to Coffey just outside the box, and with acres of space around him he powerfully struck home with a brilliant finish to secure the victory for The Leesiders.

Charlie Lyons and Barry Coffey’s goals were enough to get City over the line, keeping the title charge well on its way into the closing stages of the season.

The result also means Kerry are yet to register a goal against City this season.

City’s next fixture comes next Friday, as the City team travel to Limerick to face Treaty United in Market’s Field as they search for their first win of the season over Treaty.

Kerry are in Westmeath next Friday, as they travel to Athlone to face Athlone Town. Both games kickoff at 19:45.