The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Pleasing opening day draw for U-17s
SE AIRTRICITY UNDER-17 LEAGUE Kerry 2 UCD 2
WHEN starting out any league campaign most team’s aspiration is not to lose the opening game and for that reason Kerry will be pleased enough to come away with a point in their league opener against UCD at sun-drenched Mounthawk Park on Sunday.
However they will be disappointed to let a 2 goal advantage slip and at the end had to dig deep to ensure they secured a point after they played second fiddle to UCD in the second half..
They could have come away with nothing but for the brilliance of their goalkeeper Alex O’Connor who made a series of fantastic saves at vital stages of the game.
Things looked very rosy for Kerry at half time when they went in 2-0 ahead and they appeared to be in a position to win their opening game of the season.
However the visitors staged a great comeback in the second half as Kerry wilted and ran out of steam and it was Kerry who were the more relieved side when the final whistle sounded.
Back-boned with some of last years squad Kerry had a good bit of experience in their ranks and they gave a lot of encouragement to the new recruits and they gelled together very cohesively in the first half.
Aided by a brisk breeze Kerry enjoyed a lot of possession as they dominated midfield with Sebastian Vasiu and Padraig McCannon in sparkling form while up front John Carmody and Bojan Nikic were a constant threat.
John Carmody had two early chances for Kerry but he was unable to hit the target.
UCD created their first chance in the 17th minute but Danu Bishop was denied by a great save by Kerry goalie Alex O’Connor while a glancing header by Harry McEvoy was only inches wide.
However Kerry went ahead in the 22nd minute after a foul on Junior Ankomah led to a free kick out on the wing.
It was floated into the packed goalmouth by Sebastian Vasiu and Liam Collins rose high at the back post to steer a powerful header into the top corner of the net.
Things got even better for Kerry four minutes later when Bojan Nikic used his strength to win the ball off an opponent and he powered past two defenders and from just inside the box drilled a great shot into the bottom corner of the net.
This goal brought an immediate response from UCD who began to take the game to their opponents and they created three good chances before half time but they were thwarted each time by great saves from Kerry keeper Alex O’Connor.
He produced a fingertip save to deny Jack Ring saved another from the same player at the butt of the post and dived low to make a fantastic save to deny Hugh Torfeldt.
When Kerry went in 2-0 ahead at the interval they appeared to be in a comfortable position but they knew if the visitors pulled one back the game would be wide open again.
UCD came out with fire in their bellies in the second half and began to take charge of the game with Kerry reliant on counter-attacks to engineer any type of scoring chance.
Now the foul count and yellow card count began to add up as UCD began to take charge of the game at midfield and pile considerable pressure on the Kerry defence.
They pulled one back in the 53rd minute when Kerry conceded a free kick out on the left 10 yards outside the box.
It was drilled in low and hard into a crowded goalmouth by Hugh Torfeldt and the ball evaded everyone and crept in at the far post.
Then a Conor Behan cross was taken off the line by James Rusk and Darragh Nugent was denied by a superb save by Alex O’Connor.
Kerry then struck on a pacey counter attack with Bojan Nikic offloading to Padraig McCannon but he could not get the final touch to put the ball away.
Kerry hit on the break again 5 minutes later and UCD keeper Matthew Treaner made a fine save to deny Bojan Nikic.
As the game entered the concluding stages UCD piled on the pressure leading to a litany of free kicks and corner kicks but the Kerry defence held firm.
However the inevitable equaliser came in the 89th minute when sub Ethan Levins played in Danu Bishop and he applied a great finish.
UCD tried their utmost to secure a winner in added time but Kerry held out and were the happier side when the final whistle sounded.
Like the start of any league campaign there were lessons to be learned from this game and the management will have to experiment with their team formation in the weeks ahead before they know their best starting line out.
It is all a learning process and there were plenty of positives to be taken from this game that augurs well for the long season ahead.
Kerry’s postponed game against Cabinteely will be played this Good Friday in Dublin with a 2pm kick off.
Their next home game is against Cork on April 15.
KERRY: Alex O’Connor, Dylan Quirke, Paddy O’Rourke (David Rogers, 63mins), James Rusk, Liam Collins, Sebastian Vasiu, Padraig McCannon, Bojan Nikic, Junior Ankomah (David Oba, 80 mins), Jordan Barry (Leon Shalemba, 69 mins), John Carmody.
UCD: Matthew Treanor, Asaac Akinsete (Ethan Levins, 52 mins), Evan Weir (Cormac Moore 80 mins), Harry McEvoy, Kealan Sherratt, Adam Verdon, Jack Ring, Darragh Nugent, Danu Bishop, Hugh Torfeldt (Aaron Moore, 75 mins), Conor Behan.
REFEREE: Anthony Morrison
SPEAKING after the game the manager of the Kerry side Darren Aherne said it was game of two halves.
“It was really a bright start by the lads and going two up put us into a strong position. However it was the first under 17 game for 5 of the team so it was hard to keep the momentum going,” Aherne said, adding that they need to take a closer look at their second half performance when reviewing the video of the game.
“We have our first point on the board so onto our next fixture and a lot of more hard work to do during the week on the training ground.”
He said it was great to see such great support for the team on Sunday and he was looking forward to seeing everyone again at their next home game against Cork in a couple of weeks time.