Longford Town go down in Tralee as Kerry FC snatch win in frantic finish

Kerry FC . . . 2 Longford Town . . . 1

The fierce battle for a place in the First Division promotion play-offs took another twist in Tralee on Friday night when Kerry FC snatched a crucial win in a frantic finish at Mounthawk Park.

All three goals were scored in the dramatic closing stages with a Vince Borden header yielding the winner in the 87th minute when it appeared that the Andy Parashiv equaliser was going to earn the visitors a draw.

It was a cruel blow for Longford Town FC who were forced to field without the suspended keeper Kian Moore (straight red card against Bray the previous week) while another notable absentee was the midfield general Aaron Doran who is still on the injured list.

Kerry FC have improved beyond recognition this season and after moving ahead of the Town (7th) in the table on goals difference the Kingdom could end up in the play-offs.

Sparking off a third consecutive win in the Tier 2 league was the deadlock breaker from Cian Murphy in the 80th minute and while Paraschiv levelled matters just two minutes later, up popped Borden to find the back of the net to earn all three points for Kerry FC.

After suffering successive defeats in Bray and Tralee, the Town will be hoping to get back on track against UCD at Bishopsgate on Saturday next (kick-off 7.30pm) but that is another difficult task against the second placed students.

KERRY FC: Matt Connor; Samuel Aladesanusi, Niall Brookwell, Jonas Hakkinen, Sean O’Connell; Ewan Lee, Vincent Borden; Daniel Okwute, Ryan Perez, Cian Brosnan; Cian Murphy.

Subs:- Luke Palmer for Brosnan (58), Cian Bargary for Perez (67), Colin Healy for Okwute (88).

LONGFORD TOWN: CJ Odum; Osaze Irhue, Taylor McCarthy, Jamie Egan, Jake Hough; Sultan Adenekan, Sean Moore; Pharrell Manuel, Andy Paraschiv, Darragh Murtagh; Dean Williams

Subs: Stefan Ugbesia for Adenekan (89), Mark Canavan for Manuel (89), Cole Omorehiomwan for Hough (90).