- Aidan Breen
- Fri, May 03 2024
Aidan Breen reports from Mounthawk Park
Cork City stretched their unbeaten start to the SSE Airtricity League First Division to 13 games after recording a relatively comfortable 1-0 victory over Kerry FC at Mounthawk Park on Friday evening.
Following a quiet opening at the Tralee venue, it was the league leaders who took the lead in the tenth minute from the penalty spot.
It was one that Kerry will feel was harsh, with Kevin Williams adjudged to have blocked Cathal O’Sullivan’s shot with his hand from close proximity.
However, they had only themselves to blame for the lead up to the incident, with Andy Spain failing to deal with a ball over the top, getting in a mix-up with goalkeeper Antonio Tuta in the process.
The indecision allowed Jaden Umeh to challenge for the ball. The rebound fell to the feet of Josh Fitzpatrick whose goal bound effort from outside the area was inadvertently blocked by Umeh, with the ball eventually landing at the feet of O’Sullivan whose shot drew the penalty.
It was a truly comical passage of play. However, City left-back Evan McLauglin brough a bit of calm to proceedings, calmly slotting the resulting penalty down the middle, with Tuta diving to his right.
The mix-up at the back clearly rattled the home side and another Spain error presented Umeh with an opportunity to make it 2-0. However, Tuta was quick off his line to deny the forward, with Umeh firing the rebound wastefully off target.
As the half wore on, Kerry gradually settled into the game, without creating too much in terms of clear-cut chances. Daniel Okwute finally tested visiting goalkeeper Bradley Wade in the 35th minute with a tame effort after cutting onto his left-foot, while the winger also had a half-hearted penalty appeal turned down.
However, it was Cork who finished the half much the stronger and had two good chances to double their lead before half-time.
Firstly, McLaughlin was denied by an alert Tuta after latching onto a slide rule pass from the impressive O’Sullivan following a flowing team move.
Then, Sean O’Connell came to Kerry’s rescue, clearing Umeh’s close range effort off the line after more excellent approach play from that man O’Sullivan.
Upon the resumption, it was Cork who again looked far the more likely to trouble the scoreboard.
It was the dangerous Umeh who was first to threaten, with the forward desperately unlucky to see his shot strike the underside of the crossbar in the 53rd minute after Kerry failed to clear a free kick into the area.
Shortly afterwards, the visitors were again denied by the woodwork, with Tuta getting a brilliant fingertip to touch O’Sullivan’s excellent effort from outside the area onto the post.
The introduction of Kenendy Amechi provided Kerry with some much-needed attacking impetus and the winger saw his close-range effort blocked in the 71st minute, after Okwute beat his man down the right-hand side and flashed a dangerous ball across goal that was parried out by Wade.
It was Okwute who looked the most likely for the home side as the game entered the closing stages, however in truth Cork never really looked in any real danger. Indeed, it was the away side who probably came closest to scoring again when substitute Cian Bargary headed Sean Murray’s cross from the left into the side netting in stoppage time.
Overall, Cork City were full value for their win and were certainly not flattered by the 1-0 scoreline.
It is now just three goals conceded in 13 league games for the Leesiders this season and their relentless early season form is showing no sign of coming to an end anytime soon.
Meanwhile for Kerry, they will take heart from the fact they were still in the game up the very end, however, they will be disappointed that they weren’t able to create more pressure on Bradley Wade’s goal throughout the evening.
Kerry FC: Antonio Tuta, Kevin Williams, Andrew Spain (Ethan Kos 27), Samuel Aladesanusi, Sean O’Connell, Ronan Teahan (Evison Rramani 48), Daire McCarthy, Sean McGrath, Daniel Okwute, Ryan Kelliher, Nathan Gleeson (Kennedy Amechi 62).
Subs not used: Aaron O’Sullivan, Jack Kavanagh, Ethan Kos, Valerii Dolia, Steven Healy, Cian Brosnan, Victor Udeze.
Booked: Daire McCarthy 29, Sean McGrath 53, Daniel Okwute 64
Cork City: Bradley Wade, Harry Nevin (Darragh Crowley 46), Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons, Evan McLaughlin, Greg Bolger (Arran Healy 76), Sean Murray, Josh Fitzpatrick (Cian Bargary 46), Barry Coffey, Cathal O’Sullivan, Jaden Umeh (Nathan Wood 66).
Subs not used: Aidan Dowling, Conor Drinan, Niall Brookwell, Cian Murphy, Harvey Skieters.
Booked: Josh Fitzpatrick 30, Greg Bolger 38, Cian Bargary 90
Referee: Daniel Murphy
Attendance: 1, 150
extratime.com Player of the Match: Cathal O’Sullivan
