Kerry boss Billy Dennehy: 'The support shows the appetite for the sport down in Kerry'

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Credit: Adam Kowalczyk/Kerry FC

Billy Dennehy hailed the support Kerry have received after they scored their first senior League of Ireland goal on Friday night against Bray Wanderers.

Leo Gaxha found the net for the Kingdom in their 3-1 loss against the Seagulls.

And while their trip to the Carlisle Grounds ended in defeat, Dennehy saw the positives.

“The support has been amazing,” he told extratime.com. “After the game we went over to the supporters and I was surprised with how many of them were there.

“That’s who we represent and who we are. We understand where we are as a club. We have no history or tradition, but we are creating it from scratch.

“We appreciate every single person who supports us and they are the people we represent when we play.

“That makes us more disappointed that we didn’t come away from Bray with a win but that day will come too.”

Kerry have already sold out their second home game against Treaty United on March 3, having seen their season opener against Cobh Ramblers sell out in minutes.

And the Kingdom have also reported very healthy season ticket sales for their debut campaign at Mounthawk Park.

“(The support) shows the appetite for the sport down in Kerry,” Dennehy explained. “It has been a lifetime coming.



“We just have to make sure that we come away from games knowing that we have given the supporters everything that we have.

“People could see that in the second-half against Bray. The result wasn’t going our way but we never gave up or stopped.

“They kept going and we could have scored one or two more. I think they appreciated that but it is important that we send them home happy with wins as well.”

And it will be players like Gaxha that will be crucial for Kerry as they look to build a strong local core to their side under Dennehy.

The winger, 20, was previously of St Brendan’s and Tralee Dynamos before joining Sheffield United at 16.

But the youngster opted to return home in January and is one of Kerry’s most exciting young talents to watch for this season.



“Leo has a great desire to go and kick on again,” the Kerry boss added.

“He is back from Sheffield United where things haven’t worked out for him and he is at the rebuilding phase of his career.

“I was there myself when I came home from Sunderland. But he has the right attitude and I am delighted that he is the first goalscorer for Kerry in the League of Ireland. Hopefully there is more to come from him.

“This is my first time working with him and he showed a great desire to come into the club when he was leaving Sheffield United.

“We spoke a couple of times and straight away I have seen that he is a player that wants to really do well.

“He works and prepares well for training so I was delighted that he scored our first senior League of Ireland goal. Hopefully there is more to come.”

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