League Report: Kerry 1 - 1 Wexford

Ryan Kelliher fired in a stoppage-time equaliser as Kerry FC and Wexford played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at Mounthawk Park on Friday evening.

It was the away side that began the brighter at the Tralee venue, with forward Thomas Oluwa presented with a glorious chance to break the deadlock in only the second minute.

The ex-Waterford man latched onto a Darragh Levingston through-ball that split the Kerry defence; however, his left-footed effort rebounded off the post, much to the relief of the home side.

Wexford continued to look the more likely during the opening exchanges, without creating too many clear opportunities.

As the half wore on, Kerry began to find their groove, and talisman Kelliher had their first effort on goal in the tenth minute, heading wide from a Sean O’Connell free-kick.

Kelliher was in the thick of the action five minutes later; however, he couldn’t make the most of his opportunity from inside the box after fine approach play involving Sean McGrath and Ronan Teahan.

At the other end, Wexford right-back Reece Webb was presented with an opportunity through a Kennedy Amechi error; however, he could only shoot straight at Kerry deputy custodian Aaron O’Sullivan.

Kerry responded with a chance of their own almost immediately when an excellent McGrath pass released Nathan Gleeson behind the visitors’ defence. The winger fired an inviting cross-shot across the goal with Amechi only inches from turning it home from close range.

Mikie Rowe was wide with a header from a Webb delivery as Wexford sought to wrestle back control in what was an increasingly open first half. Another Amechi mistake culminated in Ethan Boyle heading wide from a Rowe cross from the right, before visiting keeper Alex Moody got to show his talent with a fine double save to deny Amechi from outside the area and then block Kelliher’s follow-up with his feet.

Boyle had the final chance of an entertaining first half but again was off-target after getting on the end of another Rowe delivery.

Lightning struck twice at the beginning of the second period, as Oluwa was again played through on the Kerry goal, this time down the right following a fine pass from Rowe. This time the burly centre-forward made no mistake, confidently slotting past O’Sullivan with his left foot from inside the area.

Kerry needed a response, and the mercurial Amechi nearly provided it almost immediately, firing narrowly off-target from distance after a fine piece of skill created the space.

The normally defensive-minded Boyle went close from a header for the third time in the 54th minute, being denied from close-range by O’Sullivan after the home side failed to deal with a James Crawford corner from the right.

Kerry had a great chance to equalise shortly afterwards when an inviting O’Connell free-kick from the left caused consternation in the Wexford defence. Kelliher completely missed his header from a great position, resulting in a frantic goalmouth scramble which the away side did well to survive.

A spate of yellow cards followed over the next ten minutes as Wexford were happy to slow the game down and protect their lead.

Kerry’s task was made all the more difficult in the 72nd minute when right-back Kevin Williams picked up his second yellow card in the space of 15 minutes for preventing the marauding Oluwa from escaping down the left.

However, the hosts were never going to throw in the towel and were unlucky not to force an equaliser with a quarter of an hour remaining.

The tenacious Ronan Teahan created a shooting opportunity for Kelliher from the edge of the area, with Kerry’s top scorer unlucky to see his left-footed effort flash narrowly wide.

A superb Kelliher turn at halfway set up another opportunity from substitute Daniel Okwute, with Moody forced into a save with his legs from the tightest of angles. Okwute again threatened in the 85th minute, firing across goal and wide from the right side of the area as the hosts rallied courageously.

Wexford substitute Aaron Dobbs really should have put the issue beyond any doubt at the other end a minute later. Kerry captain Andy Spain left a long goal-kick from Moody run, oblivious to the presence of the attacker, and was relieved to see Dobbs’ effort drift just wide.

Kerry refused to lie down, however, and the ever-dangerous Kelliher forced Moody into another save in the 89th minute with a header from a Sam Aladesanusi cross from the right.

The home side just kept coming as the clock ticked down, and Okwute had a glorious opportunity to snatch a point for his side when he was played straight through by a pass from the impressive substitute Cian Brosnan. Moody was in no mood to give up his clean sheet easily and pulled off a tremendous one-on-one save.

If the spectators thought that was going to be the end of the chances, then they were in for a pleasant surprise as both sides created several more opportunities throughout a chaotic seven minutes of stoppage time.

Wexford’s Aaron Robinson fired over twice from counter-attacks in quick succession, the first from outside the box and then from a much more presentable chance after latching onto a driven Levingston cross.

This profligacy was to come back to haunt the visitors, and it was that man Kelliher who inevitably had the final say in the 93rd minute. Okwute found space down the left-hand side and fired a fierce low cross across the face of goal. Kelliher slid in to convert from point-blank range, sending the home fans into raptures.

There was still time for Okwute to latch onto another ball over the top as Kerry threatened a winner. Unfortunately for the winger, he lost his balance at the crucial time, just as the Kerry fans were dreaming of an unlikely winner.

In the end, it was the hosts who were undoubtedly happier with the result, having shown great character to get back in the game after going down to ten men.

For Wexford, they will be disappointed not to hang on to the three points, especially considering their numerical advantage, as their poor run continued.