Longford Town take on League of Ireland newcomers Kerry FC at Bishopsgate

When you mention Kerry football you automatically think GAA and all the All-Ireland titles won over the years by the very successful GAA team. 

Kerry is a sports mad county and that has been proven with full house signs for all the soccer club home games to date. 

In their debut game at home to Cobh Ramblers the Co Cork side left Mounthawk Park with three points from a 2-0 victory.

 They travelled to Bray for their first away game and lost 3-1 with the Kerry goal coming from Leonardo Gaxha and the former Albanian under 18 player really looks a very exciting prospect. 

Kerry played Treaty United at home in the next game and they picked up their first and only point to date by virtue of a 1-1 draw. 

Sean Kennedy was the club's scorer that day in a game they finished with 10 men due to the sending off of Andy Quaid. 

After their morale boosting draw against Treaty they had to travel to Eamonn Deacy Park and suffered a 9-1 hammering at the hands of John Caulfield's table toppers Galway United.

 Ryan Kelliher scored the Kerry consolation goal in the 68th minute. 

In the next game Kerry travelled to Wexford and ended up losing 2-1 with their goal coming from Gaxha. Last weekend they played Athlone Town and they lost to a 84th minute winner and by all accounts they were so unlucky not to get a draw.

Kerry may be at the wrong end of the table at the moment but one has to say that they are a breath of fresh air to a division that is ailing at the moment and the foresight of the people behind the club in putting this amazing new club together and they have to be complimented on the progress made so far. 

 The fact that most of their squad are all from Kerry and the surrounding areas also augurs well for the future of the club and soccer football in the Kingdom. 

The Kerry committee started on the right foot by bringing in the very experienced Billy Dennehy as manager and the much travelled player was with Shamrock Rovers, Cork City, St Patrick's Athletic and Limerick during a fantastic soccer career. 

The Kerry squad is much like the current Longford Town squad with a few experienced players and many young up and coming players. 

First of all the club has two brothers in their squad and both have been excellent GAA players. Wayne Guthrie is the senior member of the squad at 33 years of age and he is the team's number one goalkeeper. He was a star player for the Austin Stacks team over the years and a very good keeper. 

His brother Shane at 38 years is the senior member of the squad and he like his brother played gaelic football for Kerry but also played in the League of Ireland with Limerick, St Patrick's Athletic and Dundalk.

 Kevin Williams is 22 years old and a decent centre back. Jonathan  Hannafin is in his late 20s having played with Cork City and previously with Salthill Devon under 19s. 

Graham O'Reilly can play in defence or midfield and he is 20 and came from Waterford. Sean O'Connell is only 18 and he is also a defender. 

Matthew Keane at 27 is almost a veteran in midfield having joined from Treaty United. Nathan Gleeson is only 20 and he plays up front as does Ryan Kelliher who is 22 and he joined the club from  Killarney Celtic. Leonardo Gaxha is a very exciting and talented striker who has joined the club from Sheffield United.

The bench has many 17 to 20 year olds who by all accounts will be very good when they get more experience. 

On the bench against Athlone was 31 year old Kalen Spillane who previously played with Sligo and Cork.

There is no doubt that this young Kerry side will be up for this game especially when they are only two points behind the Town at the moment.

 There are a lot of similarities between the two teams with many very young players in both squads but Stephen Henderson hasn't had much luck since the commencement of the league as injuries have decimated his squad.

Aaron Walsh and Oisin Hand are both missing from the defence due to injury while striker Cristian Mageruson has yet to put on a jersey in the current campaign. Striker Jamal Ibrahim was missing against Galway. Town manager Henderson made two changes from the team that started against Finn Harps.

Out went Francis Campbell and Josh Giurgi and in came Derek Daly and Darragh Lynch. Giurgi replaced Darragh Lynch on 76 mins, Adam Verdon replaced Gary Armstrong on 83 mins while Mohammed Boudiaf also came on at 83 mins replacing Gavin O'Brien. 

Going to Galway and coming away with a slender defeat was only a consolation for manager Henderson who will be hoping his side can pick up all three points on Saturday next. 

It's a fact that the Town have no luck this season with many injuries and no luck in front of goal.

Losing Oisin Hand recently through injury is an awful loss for the manager but one has to say that the midfield of Dervin, Serdeniuk and Armstrong are capable of playing against the best and there is no doubt that once the goals start to go in we will see much improved results. 

Saturday night's game is a huge one for the club and there is no doubt that the Town need to get their first win this season.