The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
U-17s lose final home game
SSE AIRTRICITY UNDER-17 LEAGUE
KERRY played their last home game of the season at Mounthawk Park on Sunday and after a disappointing performance they went down to Bray Wanderers.
They were well in contention in the game for a long time but when they conceded a second goal in unfortunate circumstances the away side were on their way to victory.
The absence of a number of regulars due to injuries did not help their cause and they could have no complaints with the re- sult at the end as in general they played very much below par and never got to grips with the game unable to break down a rock solid Bray Wanderers defence.
Both sides began cautiously but Kerry could have gone ahead in the 10th minute when a great ball from John Hayes found Dillon Robinson inside the box but he kicked his volley into the ground and the chance was gone.
Robinson had a better chance two minutes later but he was denied by a great block by the Bray goalkeeper.
The visitors went ahead in the 22nd minute against the run of play from a set piece situation.
After forcing a corner kick Conor Coughlan delivered the ball right into the goalmouth and a downward volley by Jack Byrne flew into the roof of the net.
They almost doubled ther lead two minutes later but a Conor Dowling shot came back off the crossbar.
Kerry goalie Robert Osbourne was called into action and he made a great save from an Eoin Darcy shot from 15 yards.
Then a Conor Dowing free kick was smashed off the post by Daniel Madaghjian and John Ward got the ball to safety.
Madaghjian had another great chance just before the break but he was denied by a great block by the Kerry goalkeeper.
Bray made a substitution for the second half with Bryron O’Gorman replacing Jake Ellis.
Dillon Robinson had a good chance to score early in the second half but despite only having the keeper to beat he could not finish to the net.
Robinson had the ball in the net three minutes later but he was judged to have handled the ball before he scored.
Kerry’s chances of getting back into the game went out the window in the 70th minute when a Bryan O’Gorman shot was parried out by Robert Osbourne and as the ball broke loose he attempted to clear it under pressure but his attempted clearance came off John Ward and ended in the back of the net.
Dillon Robinson had a chance to pull one back with a close in volley but the Bray keeepr saved it.
Bray put the game to bed in the 84th minute with Eoin Darcy playing in sub Glen Holywood and he put himself on the big stage with a great finish.
Kerry now have just one game left in their league programme away to Cork City next Sunday. However, they will also be playing in the Shield competition, which is for teams that did not reach the knock out stages of the competition. KERRY: Robert Osbourne, John Hayes, John Ward, Ronan Cahill, James Rusk, Sheagh O’Connor (Paddy O’Rourke, 87 mins), Kevin Williams, Michael O’Gara (Boki Nikic, 40 mins), Dillon Robinson, Martin Coughlan, Thomas Burke.
BRAY WANDERERS: Alex Nevin (Dylan Davis, 85 mins), Aaron Hennessy, James Crilly, Cian Walsh, Jake Byrne, Evan Dunne, Cian Maher, Daniel Madaghjian (Glen Holywood, 76 mins), Jake Ellis (Byron O’Gorman, 46 mins), Eoin Dancy, Conor Dowling (Liam Moore, 63 mins).