Another set back for U-17s with defeat to Limerick

KERRY completed their SSE Airtricity Under 17 League programme on a losing note at Mounthawk Park on Sunday going down to Limerick FC in a lacklustre game.

This was a typical end of season game played at a pedestrian pace with both sides just going through the motions to complete their league engagements. To their credit Kerry played quite well, moved the ball around cohesively at midfield but they were lacking penetration in the final third of the pitch.

When their striker Dillon Robinson had to go off injured in the second half their threat up front diminished. Kerry created a half chance after 10 minutes with Eoin Clifford getting to the end of a Dillon Fitzgerald corner kick but he headed the ball wide.

They should have gone ahead in the 19th minute when Kevin Williams put Dillon Robinson through on goals and with only the keeper to beat his low shot was brilliantly saved by custodian Cory McManus getting one hand to the ball and pushed it away.

Then Limerick went close to scoring after good approach work by Sean Madigan and Stephen Talty created an opening for Bradley McNamara, but his low shot from 12 yards was just outside the right hand post.

However, the Kerry defence was unhinged in the 39th minute when Darragh Lowth whipped in a great cross from out on the side line and Bradley McNamara got in on the blind side of Kerry defenders and headed to the net from six yards.

The tempo of the game subsided further in the second half with both sides finding it difficult to engineer scoring chances. Kerry had a good opportunity to equalise in the 64th minute when sub Thomas Burke put in Eoin Clifford, but his shot was superbly saved by the Limerick goalie.

Limerick then put a swift attacking move together after a Dylan Higgins Kelly corner kick and Darragh Lowth saw his thunderous shot come back off the crossbar, but Lee Devitt Molloy was following up and he tapped the ball home from close range.

Kerry should have pulled one back five minutes later when a great run by sub Thomas Burke unzipped the Limerick defence and with three players lining up to put the ball in the net they failed to get their calls right and were unable to make contact with the ball to put it away.

Limerick almost got a third goal near the end when Conor Standen miss hit a clearance and it looked as it was going into the net, but Brian Lonergan made a brilliant save to keep it out.

With the league programme completed Kerry now wait to see who they will draw in the Shield competition which is between the four bottom sides in each of the two Under 17 divisions.

KERRY: Brian Lonergan, Gearoid Dillane, Michael O’Gara, Conor Standen, Sean Carmody, Eoin Clifford, Darren Loughnane, Martin Coughlan, Kevin Williams (Ben Cooney 77 mins), Dillon Robinson (Sheagh O’Connor 60mins), Dylan O’Sullivan (Thomas Burke 63 mins)

LIMERICK FC: Cory McManus, Darragh Lowth, Sean Madigan, Sam Ogundare, Brandon O’Halloran, Andy Quaid, Dylan Higgins Kelly, Aaron Fitzgerald, (Edward O’Dwyer 69 mins), Bradley McNamara, Lee Devitt Molloy, Stephen Talty

REFEREE: Martin Courtney