The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
U17s recover to get first win
SSE AIRTRICITY U-17 LEAGUE
Kerry 3 Salthill Devon 1 IT has been a long time coming but Kerry recorded their first win of the season at Mounthawk Park on Saturday when they came from behind to register a morale boosting victory over Salthill Devon.
They had to do this the hard way as they went behind after just two minutes and had to work very hard to get back into the game
This game was between two sides rooted to the bottom of the table so it was imperative that Kerry collected all 3 points.
The side took to the field under new manager Darren Aherne and he did not make too many changes to the side that played the last game However they showed great character to come back from 1-0 down and clinch the game after a very strong second half performance.
The game got off to the worst possible start for Kerry when they went behind after just two minutes.
Kerry goalkeeper Brian Lonergan made a good save to deny Mark Wynne Walshe ending in a corner kick.
It was swept into the box by Cian Dunne and Jake Mortimer took advantage of some sloppy Kerry defending and forced the ball home from close range.
Kerry then put two good chances together but efforts from Dillon Robinson and Martin Coughlan did not test the Salthill keeper.
Kerry had the ball in the net in the 14th minute but Martin Coughlan had strayed offside.
Play moved down the other end with Christopher Horgan finding David Connaughton with a great cross but he headed over the top.
The same player looked like he had to score three minutes later but he was denied by a superb tackle by Conor Standen.
Now Kerry had found the Achilles heel of the visitors with their over the top balls giving their defence nightmares.
Kerry lost the very influential Martin Coughlan after 31 minutes due to a injury and he was replaced by Blake Bolster who went on to play a very influential role in the game.
Dillon Robinson had a number of good scoring chances coming up to half time but he was unable to finish them off putting two wide while he was denied also by a great save by the Salthill keeper.
Dillon Robinson put Blake Bolster in one on one with the Salthill keeper just before the break but he fell just as he was about to pull the trigger.
The Kerry manager made a change at half time replacing Dylan O’Sullivan with Michael O’Gara.
Kerry were on the offensive from the start of the second half and subs Blake Bolster and Michael O’Gara combined to put Dillon Robinson in but he was denied by a great foot save by the Salthill keeper Mark Greaney.
Then Salthill forced two corners and from the second taken by Mark Wynne Walshe it was parried by the Kerry goalkeeper and came back off the post and was cleared to safety. Then Kerry hit on the break but with only the keeper to beat Blake Bolster shot wide.
As Kerry continued to mount attacks in search of an equaliser their persistence paid off just on the hour mark when Thomas Burke knocked down a corner kick to Dillon Robinson and after it bounced he volleyed it to the roof of the net.
Now Kerry had their tails up as they got the scent of a win and straight afterwards Robinson was most unlucky to see his rasper of a shot come back off the crossbar.
Kerry then got a setback when Robinson had to retire injured and he was replaced by Niall Downey.
After a period of sustained pressure Kerry went ahead in the 79th minute when Blake Bolster worked hard to win the ball in his own half and after a good run played an accurately measured crossfield ball to Thomas Burke who raced in and showed great composure drilling the ball to the bottom corner..
Kerry made sure of victory in the 90th minute with Thomas Burke playing in sub Ben Cooney who steered the ball wide of the advancing keeper.
It was a much needed win for Kerry and raises the morale of the side who play Limerick FC at Mounthawk Park this Wednesday evening in the Cup.
It was a good solid performance by Kerry who bossed the game for long periods and is the perfect start for new manager Darren Aherne.
The entire squad were ecstatic after the game which shows what a win can do for a team.
Hopefully now this win will boost their confidence and help them get the results necessary to move up the league table. KERRY: Brian Lonergan, Gearoid Dillane, Kevin Williams, David O’Connor, Conor Standen, Darren Loughnane, Thomas Burke, Thando Dube (Ben Cooney 87), Dylan O’Sullivan (Michael O’Gara 46), Martin Coughlan (Blake Bolster 31), Dillon Robinson, (Niall Downey, 62). SALTHILL Devon: Mark Greaney, Christopher Horgan, Evan Reen, Cillian Doyle, Jack Mortimer, Cian Dunne, Jack Dwyer, Adam Nolan, Mark Wynne Walshe (Matthew Davenport 51), Evan Coyne, David Connaughton. REFEREE: Adrian Quirke