U-17 snatch draw with UCD
SSE AIRTRICITY UNDER-17 LEAGUE
KERRY 2 UCD 2
AFTER a couple of recent defeats Kerry steadied the ship at Mounthawk Park on Sunday when they played out a 2-2 draw with UCD.
Earlier in the season UCD snatched a late equaliser in Dublin but Kerry got their own back in this game grabbing an 88th minute equaliser.
Kerry showed a lot of character and battling qualities in this game as they had to come from 2-0 behind and deserved to take a point after a great second half performance.
Kerry were in deep trouble right from the start of this game as they went behind after just 30 seconds.
Just after the kick off the visitors atttacked down the middle with Luke Hannigan playing the ball in to Andy Farrell who was totally unmarked and he turned the ball to his left foot and sent a delightful curling shot which went into the bottom corner of the net.
Kerry’s first scoring chance came three minutes later when Sheagh O’Connor and Dillon Robinson linked up to create a chance for Kevin Williams and his volley was just over the top.
Shortly afterwards the Kerry defence were again at sea and Harry McEvoy capitalised slipping the ball in to Dave Samson and he applied a great finish.
Sean Carmody who was just back on the team after a long time out with injury had to retire after 12 minutes and was replaced by Padraig McCannon.
Kerry began to get their game together after this but their passing in the final third of the pitch left a lot to be desired.
However a scoring chance materialized in the 27th minute when a foul on Michael O’Gara led to a free kick just outside the box.
It was hit sweetly by Martin Coughlan and the UCD keeper Matthew Treaner got down low to parry the shot but Kevin Williams was following up and blasted the ball to the roof of the net.
Kerry were forced to make another substitution in the 27th minute with Sebastian Vasiu replacing the injured John Hayes.
Just past the half hour mark Kerry forced a corner kick and Martin Coughlan’s cross hit the post.
They had another chance coming up to half time but Kevin Williams was unable to keep his shot down.
Kerry began to dominate the game in the second half but they were lacking penetration up front where Dillon Robinson was putting in a lot of work but that little bit of luck was not going his way.
Michael O’Gara fired a free kik over the top for Kerry while Luke Hannigan done likewise for UCD.
Kerry then survived a scary few minutes with the excellent Ronan Cahill making two magnificent tackles to prevent certain goals while he took another ball off the line that was destined for the net.
As the half moved on Kerry kept coming forward at every given opportunity and as time was running out it looked as if they were on the road to defeat.
This all changed in the 88th minute after they forced a corner kick.
It was sent into the danger zone by Martin Coughlan and when the ball broke loose UCD defender Adam Byrne was unfortunate to fluff his attempted clearance and it fell invitingly for Michael O’Gara and he volleyed an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net.
Kerry then went in pursuit of a winner but time ran out and they had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Overall it was a decent performance by Kerry but they will have to eliminate conceding early goals if they are to keep moving up the league table.
Manager Darren Aherne has strengthened his squad with the signing of Leo Gaxha from Tralee Dynamos at the weekend.
He will be in the squad for Kerry’s next game which is on Sunday week away to Cabinteely.
KERRY: Alex O’Connor, Paddy O’Rourke (Boki Nikic, 80 mins), John Ward, Sean Carmody (Padraig McCannon, 12 mins), Ronan Cahill, Sheagh O’Connor, Kevin Williams, John Hayes (Sebastian Vasiu 27 mins), Dillon Robinson, Michael O’Gara, Martin Coughlan.
UCD: Matthew Treanor, Hugh O’Mahoney, Charlie Smith, Danny Bruce, Dan Mullen, Adam Byrne, Andy Farrell (Darragh Nugent, 52 mins), Harry McEvoy, Luke Hannigan, Dave Samson (Dylan O’Reilly, 46 mins), Promise Omochere.
REFEREE: Derek O’Shea