League Report: Kerry FC 3 - 0 Longford Town

Aidan Breen reports from Mounthawk Park

At a wet and windy Mounthawk Park on Friday night, it was the home side who celebrated their first-ever home win in the SSE Airtricity League after an emphatic 3-0 victory over a disappointing Longford Town outfit.

After a very low-key opening at the Tralee venue, it was Kerry FC that had the first shot in anger in the 18th minute when the lively Daniel Okwute shot straight at Longford Town goalkeeper Jack Brady from outside the box.

The home side continued to look the more dangerous side as the half progressed, and Kennedy Amechi was the next to try his luck, with his shot from outside the area being turned around the post by the increasingly busy Brady.

The breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute when the visitors carelessly lost possession on the halfway line.

Okwute picked up the loose ball and set Kerry on the attack, which ended with Sean McGrath cutting onto his left foot and firing a fine low finish into the corner past Brady following a pass from Steven Healy.

Buoyed by the lead goal, the home side really stepped it up a gear for the rest of the half, with Amechi again going close from distance after Ryan Kelliher made a nuisance of himself.

However, Longford almost delivered a sucker punch almost immediately when a fine cross from the left from the impressive Kyle O'Connor was headed wide from close range by makeshift striker Luke Wade Slater.

It was a let-off that Kerry certainly made the most of, and they doubled their lead right on 45 minutes through talisman, Ryan Kelliher.

This time it was McGrath with a fine assist, finding Kelliher running at the Longford defense, and the striker did the rest, cutting onto his right foot and finding the far corner with a lovely strike.

Indeed, Kerry should have scored a third with the last action of the half, with Amechi scuffing his effort from point-blank range after Okwute again got behind the visitors’ defense with ease and delivered a teasing cross that really should have been converted.

Longford, playing with a stiff breeze at their backs in the second half, would have been hoping for a fast start, however, it was Kerry who very nearly made it 3-0 almost immediately, with Amechi again denied by a fine Brady save.

The home side again went close in the 58th minute after Okwute got behind the visitors’ defense after a pass from Amechi, however, the impressive Brady again came to the rescue for Longford.

Longford responded by forcing a series of set pieces, however, the delivery was often poor as they failed to put the home rearguard under sustained pressure.

As it happened, it was Kerry who wrapped up the match in splendid fashion in the final ten minutes. It was fitting that it was Amechi, who finally grabbed his deserved goal in the 82nd minute, again getting behind the Longford defense after another McGrath through ball and finishing brilliantly with the outside of his right foot.

The game petered out after this, and at the end, it was Kerry FC who celebrated a richly deserved historic first home win in the SSE Airtricity First Division at the 23rd time of asking.

Meanwhile, for the visitors, it was another disappointing night at the office as they continue to search for their first win of the season.

Kerry FC: Antonio Tuta, Kevin Williams, Samuel Aladesanusi, Andrew Spain, Sean O’Connell, Steven Healy (Ronan Teahan 66), Daire McCarthy, Sean McGrath, Daniel Okwute, Ryan Kelliher, Kennedy Amechi (Cian Brosnan 90).

Subs not used: Darragh Foley, Ethan Kos, Ronan Teahan, Cian Brosnan, Victor Udeze, Finn Barrett, Graham O’Reilly, Cianan Cooney, Evison Rramani

Booked: None

Longford Town: Jack Brady, Shane Elworthy, Jordan Tallon, Oisin Hand, Dean O’Shea, Kyle O’Connor, Karl Chambers (Samuel Clarke 66), Bastien Hery, Conor Crowley (Guilherme Rego Priosti 46), Adam Wixted (Ross Fay 46), Luke Wade Slater (Emmanuel James).

Subs not used: Jack McCarthy, Ross Fay, Samuel Clarke, Emmanuel James, Guilherme Rego Priosti

Booked: Kyle O’Connor 70, Fay 87

Referee: Gavin Colfer

Attendance: 683

Man of the Match: Kennedy Amechi