Kerry U-17s lose to Limerick in League and Cup

SSE AIRTRICITY U-17 MARK FARREN CUP FIRST ROUND Kerry 1 Limerick FC 4

KERRY bowed out of the Mark Farren Memorial Cup in disappointing fashion at Mounthawk Park last Wednesday in a game in which their defensive frailities were clearly exposed.

Once again they conceded a very early goal and all of the goals conceded were due to sloppy defending.

They went behind after just three minutes when they failed to clear their lines with adequate time to do it and Ger Barry took full advantage for Limerick firing home from close range.

Now the visitors got time to perfect their passing game and Kerry were finding it hard to get possession.

However they improved as the half progressed and brought the game pack to parity in the 18th minute with a superbly manufactured goal.

The move began with Thomas Burke getting possession and he off loaded to Dareen Loughnane and ran on for the return ball and after seeing off the challenge of a defender he applied a great finish from 12 yards.

Limerick wasted a great chance to take the lead again in the 28th minute with Ger Barry putting his shot from 10 yards over the top.

However they were not to be denied 10 minutes later when a nice one two between Bradley McNamara and Darragh Lowth opened the Kerry defence and McNamara fired home from 10 yards.

Another chance presented itself 3 minutes later when the Kerry defence was at sea but thankfully Jack Callaghan was unable to keep his shot down.

However Kerry’s defence was thrown open again in the 36th minute after a free kick from midfield and Bradly McNamara ghosted in unnoticed and found the net from close range.

Kerry had a good chance at the start of the second half when Blake Bolster was played in but he was just beaten to the ball by the Limerick goalie.

They had another great chance to get one back 5 minutes later after a great run from Dillon Robinson which started in his own half and after brushing past a number of defenders he was in with just the keeper to beat but he was denied by a great block by Carl Williams.

The visitors killed off the game in the 55th minute when Gearoid Murphy ran on to a ball 10 yards outside the box.

As defenders backed away from him he let fly with a screamer of a shot which curled inside the right hand post for a goal of sheer class.

Now Kerry began to use their bench as they tried to make some kind of a comeback but it was not to be and Limerick ran out very comfortable winners. KERRY: Brian Lonergan, Gearoid Dillane, Kevin Williams, David O’Connor, Conor Standen, Darren Loughnane, Thomas Burke, Thando Dube (Niall Downey 88), Michael O’Gara, (Ben Cooney 75), Blake Bolster (Sheagh O’Connor 56), Dillon Robinson. LIMERICK FC: Carl Williams, Darragh Lowth, Evan Lynch (Sultan Owolabi, 78), Kevin Fitzgerald, Ben Quinn, Gearoid Murphy, Andy Quaid, Jack Callaghan, Bradley McNamara, Ger Barry, Samual Ogundare. REFEREE: Kevin O’Regan

SSE AIRTRICITY U17 LEAGUE Limerick FC 3 Kerry 0

KERRY met Limerick for the second time in the space of five days at Hogan Park on Sunday and again they went down by three goals, this time 3-0, to the Shannonsiders. Kerry held their own well in the first half and went in 1-0 down at the interval.

Limerick moved up a gear in the second half and ran out comfortable winners at the end.

Next Sunday Kerry travel to Bishopstown to play Cork City. KERRY: Robert Osborne, Gearoid Dillane, Conor Standen, David O’Connor, Kevin Williams, Darren Loughnane, Michael O’Gara, Ben Cooney, Dillon Robinson, Sheagh O’Connor, Thomas Burke.