Kerry FC v Bray Wanderers in the SSE Airtricity Leavue of Ireland First Division at Mounthawk Park, Tralee. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry FC v Bray Wanderers in the SSE Airtricity Leavue of Ireland First Division at Mounthawk Park, Tralee. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry FC v Bray Wanderers in the SSE Airtricity Leavue of Ireland First Division at Mounthawk Park, Tralee. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry SportThe highlight of the night should have been Ryan Kelliher's first hat-trick for the home side.
He scored the opener in the 14th minute after an assist from Cian Brosnan and the second came in the 25th minute after converting a penalty after he was tripped in the Bray area.
The visitors responded with two goals in as many minutes from Darren Craven and Harry Groome in the 28th and 29th minutes respectively.
Nathan Gleeson hit the bar just before half-time but Kerry FC went back in front in the 57th minute with Kelliher completed his hat-trick.
The killer blow was the equalising header from the unmarked substitute Ben Feeney in the 78th minute.
Kerry FC v Bray Wanderers in the SSE Airtricity Leavue of Ireland First Division at Mounthawk Park, Tralee. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry FC v Bray Wanderers in the SSE Airtricity Leavue of Ireland First Division at Mounthawk Park, Tralee. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry FC v Bray Wanderers in the SSE Airtricity Leavue of Ireland First Division at Mounthawk Park, Tralee. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry FC v Bray Wanderers in the SSE Airtricity Leavue of Ireland First Division at Mounthawk Park, Tralee. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry Sport
Kerry FC v Bray Wanderers in the SSE Airtricity Leavue of Ireland First Division at Mounthawk Park, Tralee. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry SportFIRST HALF
Kerry FC started the game well on top and after just three minutes Nathan Gleeson took the ball around Stephen McGuinness in the Bray goal, he passed the ball out to Sean McGrath whose shot was deflected behind for a corner. The subsequent corner came to nothing but it was a fantastic start from the home side.
Just five minutes later Ryan Kelliher had the ball in the back of the net but was given offside. There were a few shouts that the linesman had made the wrong decision but he stood his ground and stuck to his decision. In a mad first ten minutes, Cian Brosnan had a shout for a penalty for a slight nudge in the back. Play was waved on and was probably the right decision as there was very minimal contact.
For a crazy opening ten minutes from the Kingdom where they were by far the better team, they got their reward through Ryan Kelliher. A lovely intricate ball from Cian Brosnan down the channel opened up Ryan to be one-on-one with McGuinness. A slight touch around the Bray keeper from Kelliher was enough to put Kerry FC one goal to the good.
Ten minutes after going a goal ahead Kerry were awarded a penalty when Ryan Kelliher was amongst the action again when Max Murphy clipped Kelliher inside the area. Mark Moynihan had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Ryan made no mistake when slotting it home into the bottom right corner. McGuinness was close to getting there but the power was too much for Bray’s number one. Just twenty-three minutes into the game Kerry FC were in dreamland.
The dream had a dent in it though because just four minutes after Kerry’s second goal, Bray got one back. Darren Craven received a fizzed pass into his feet from twenty-five yards out, he took one touch and thumped it into the bottom left corner giving Bray hope. The hope was doubled just a minute later when Harry Groome equalised just two minutes later. He received the ball on the half turn and had plenty of space and time to think about his shot before finding the bottom left corner.
On the stroke of half time, Nathan Gleeson nearly got Kerry back ahead when his lobbed effort from twenty yards out hit the top of the crossbar and fell kindly into the arms of McGuinness. The half-finished two a piece in a game that was breathtaking for the neutral.
SECOND HALF
Eleven minutes after the restart Kerry FC were on the front foot and got back in front thanks to a club first ever hat-trick courtesy of number nine Ryan Kelliher. Bray were caught out at the back and a simple pass played Kelliher through on goal. The composure shown on display to take the ball around the keeper and finish with his weaker foot was nothing short of top-class from the Killarney man who writes his name into the history books.
The joy and jubilation was evident in and around the ground in admiration for the club's leading goal scorer. Unfortunately, the jubilant atmosphere was short-lived as substitute Ben Feeney equalised with a free header into the bottom corner. It was very disappointing to go level again after all the hard work was undone because of a free header inside the area.
There were very few opportunities in the final fifteen and it finished in a stalemate. On one hand an unbelievable night for Ryan Kelliher but on the other three points should have been grasped. Kerry FC will take the point and move on as they head into the second round of the FAI Cup next week when they take on Cobh Ramblers in St. Colman’s Park looking to start a fresh cup campaign in style with a win.
KERRY FC TEAM: 30. AARON O’SULLIVAN, 15. KEVIN WILLIAMS, 6. ETHAN KOS, 18. SAMUEL ALADESANUSI, 3. SEAN O’CONNELL, 8. RONAN TEAHAN, 7. SEAN MCGRATH, 21. DAIRE MCCARTHY, 123. NATHAN GLEESON, 9. RYAN KELLIHER (C) (GOAL ’13, ’25, ’57), 17. CIAN BROSNAN.
SUBS: ANTONIO TUTA, ANDY SPAIN, ORAN CROWE, GRAHAM O’REILLY, FINN BARRETT, TOGOR SILONG, VICTOR UDEZE, BOBBY AMADASUN, DANIEL OKWUTE.
BRAY WANDERERS TEAM: 25. STEPHEN MCGUINNESS, 2. MAX MURPHY, 4. KILLIAN CANTWELL ( C ), 7. DARREN CRAVEN (GOAL ‘7), 8. HARRY GROOME (GOAL ‘8), 11. CALLUM THOMPSON, 14. FREDDIE TURLEY, 15. ZACH NOLAN, 16. PAUL MURPHY, 18. PETER GROGAN, 31. KIERAN CRUISE.
SUBS: BEN CLARK, COLE OMOREHIOMWAN, GUILLERMO ALMIRALL, BEN FEENEY (GOAL ’78), THOMAS MORGAN, ZAYD ABADA, CONOR KNIGHT, JOSH MCGLONE
Radio Kerry's John Drummey got the reaction of Kerry FC Coach, James Sugrue
Cork City stay fifteen points clear at the top of the First Division courtesy of a 1-nil win at home to Finn Harps.
Second placed Athlone claimed the Midlands Clasico, beating Longford 4-1.
Ten-man UCD held on for a 1-1 draw with Treaty United.
And Wexford beat Cobh Ramblers 3-nil.
Waterford missed the chance to insert themselves in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division title race last night.
They went down 1-nil away to Galway United.
Ten-man Sligo Rovers won 2-nil away to Bohemians.
And Daryl Horgan scored twice as Dundalk got the better of the Louth derby, beating Drogheda 4-2 at Oriel Park.
2 Kerry FC teams play today in the EA Sports League Of Ireland Academy.
The Men’s U15s are home to Cobh at 2.
The Men’s U20s are away to Bray at 3.
