Longford Town suffer demoralising defeat against Kerry FC and will need to bounce back against Bray

Kerry FC . . . 3   Longford Town . . . 0 

Still without a win in the SSE Airtricity League First Division this season, bottom of the table Longford Town suffered a demoralising defeat against Kerry FC at wet and windy Mounthawk Park in Tralee on Friday night last. 

It was a historic occasion for Kerry FC who celebrated their first home win in the league at the 23rd attempt as they stretched their impressive unbeaten run to six games.

The opening 20 minutes produced little by way of any clear chance for either team, with Amechi’s shot bringing a save out of Town keeper Jack Brady early on, and Daniel Okwute trying his luck in the 18th minute but Brady gathering comfortably.

Just before the half hour mark Sean O’Connell popped a shot from outside the box but the ball drifted harmlessly wide, and then, in the 31st minute the home side struck for the opening goal.

Okwute did well to dispossess the opposition and set Kelliher towards the baseline with a neat through ball. Kelliher squared his pass to Healy who moved it along the 18-yard line to McGrath who took a touch, then turned smartly on to his stronger left foot and fired back across his body and low past Brady to the corner of the goal.

Longford’s first, and only, proper chance of the first half came in the 37th minute when Kyle O’Connor put in a teasing cross which Luke Ward Slater met perfectly but his header was just inches wide of Antonio Tuta’s post.

Right on the 45th minute Kerry were in again. This time McGrath turned provider, nudging the ball forward for Kelliher who still had plenty to do on the edge of the square. The Killarney man took a touch, pulled the ball back inside Oisin Hand and Conor Crowley and with super precision fired his shot low past Brady into the same corner McGrath had scored in.

It could have been even better at half-time when Okwute, hard-working all through, got to the baseline and flashed a dangerous ball across the goalmouth. Amechi was there at the far post but couldn’t sort out his feet properly, and though he scuffed a shot at goal, Brady managed to block it with his feet and Longford cleared the danger.

The second half was always going to be a conundrum for Kerry: sit back on their two-goal lead or push on and look to kill off a Longford team that showed some moments of incisive play but who were also there for the taking. It turned out to be a bit of both.

Longford, as expected, found an extra gear after the break, though not before Amechi tested Brady again with a smart shot after just 18 seconds. The visitors kept Kerry pinned back for much of the third quarter, but Samuel Aladesanusi, Kevin Williams and Andy Spain defended superbly, and bar one or two half chances, Kerry keeper Tuta was never pressed into having to make a major save.

Indeed, Okwute had the best chance just before the hour mark when he took the ball into the box but Brady was out quickly and bravely to deny him what would have been his fifth goal of the season.

With Longford getting increasingly stretched, and the rain starting to sheet down, a third goal did duly arrive, and it was brilliantly finished by Amechi in the 82nd minute. McGrath was the provider again, pushing the ball on for the young striker to pick up just outside the D, and with the confidence of a veteran, Amechi pinged his shot off the outside of his right boot in giving Brady no chance.

Things are not going well for Longford Town on the pitch in their centenary year and the players badly need a boost in the battle for a positive result.

Their next league game is against Bray Wanderers at Bishopsgate on Saturday night (throw-in 7.30pm), followed by the rearranged fixture away to Wexford FC on Tuesday April 16.

KERRY FC: Antonio Tuta; Samuel Aladesanusi, Kevin Williams, Andy Spain, Seán O’Connell; Dáire McCarthy, Steven Healy, Seán McGrath, Kennedy Amechi, Daniel Okwute, Ryan Kelliher.

Subs:- Ronan Teahan for Healy (66 mins); Cian Brosnan for Amechi (90 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: Jack Brady; Shane Elworthy, Oisin Hand, Dean O’Shea, Kyle O’Connor; Jordan Tallon, Bastien Hery, Conor Crowley, Adam Wixted, Karl Chambers, Luke Wade Slater.

Subs:- Guilherme Rego Priosti for Wixted (half-time); Ross Fay for Crowley (half-time); Samuel Clarke for Chambers (66 mins); Emmanuel James for Wade Slater (90 mins).

Referee: Gavin Colfer (Dublin).

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Longford Town v Bray Wanderers
At Bishopsgate - Saturday, April 13
Kick-off 7.30pm

Wexford FC v Longford Town
Ferrycarrig Park Tuesday, April 16
Kick-off 7.45pm