Kerry FC overcome Finn Harps to move off bottom of the table

Kerry FC is celebrating their second win of the season thanks to two goals in a 10-minute spell in the second half of this First Division clash with Finn Harps at Mounthawk Park with these three points move them temporarily off the bottom of the table.  

Kerry FC are now on 12 points, which is two points more than they had for their inaugural season last year, with only half the year done in 2024. 

The home side created the opening chance of the game as early as the fourth minute when Valerii Dolia set up Kennedy Amechi whose shot to the bottom corner was turned behind Harps keeper Conor Walsh for a corner that was cleared.  

Valerii Dolia was causing Harps problems with his incisive running, but Luke O’Brien was keeping a close eye on Daniel Okwute. 

After another Sean O’Connell corner in the 15th minute won by Dolia, Harps keeper Walsh cleared a long ball to Sean O’Donnell who looked certain to get through, but Sean McGrath cut out the threat with a well-timed tackle.  

Not surprisingly the home side was on the front foot as Finn Harps tried to settle after their long trip to Tralee from Donegal, and Kennedy Amechi was looking like a big threat and he shot wide after carving open the Harps defence on the 21st minute. 

Harps’ first real chance arrived two minutes later when full-back Jamie Watson shot from outside the box, but it drifted harmlessly wide. 

Harps created another chance when Stephen Doherty was fouled on the edge of the Kerry FC box, but Patrick Ferry’s free kick was turned behind for a corner that came to nothing. 

Sean O’Connell was excelling at full-back anytime Success Edogun got past his marker. 

Kerry FC had the best chance of the half in the 41st minute when Daniel Okwute beat Luke O’Brien and his cross was met by the arching head of Ryan Kelliher whose header beat the keeper but cannoned down off the underside of the crossbar into the grateful arms of Walsh. 

Finn Harps looked dangerous on the break and when Sean O’Connell took down Sean O’Donnell on the right side of the box, Finn Harps had a chance on the stroke of half time, but O’Brien’s effort was headed behind. 

Kerry FC went looking for the lead goal and in the 55th minute Dolia won a corner off Noe Baba that was floated to the back post by Sean O’Connell and Ryan Kelliher rose highest beating Baba in the air to head Kerry FC in front. 

O’Connell then floated in another free kick in the 60th minute and when O’Brien slipped, Okwute fired over as the home side were in the front for the seventh time at home this season, but only once did they end up winning. 

However, Kerry FC were to change that stat because in the 64th minute, they made it 2-0 when Valerii Dolia sent Sean McGrath through on the left and into the Harps box, and his low cross was met by Okwute whose initial shot was blocked by O’Brien, but Okwute followed in and finished to net off Shane McMonagle. 

McGrath should have put the game beyond Harps' reach in the 75th when through one-on-one with keeper Walsh but the Finn Harps man denied him when the striker should really have scored. 

Finn Harps never gave up and attacked right to the final whistle but the Kerry FC defence was heroic as the home fans celebrated only the second win of the season. 

Kerry FC: A Tuta; K Williams, S O’Connell (S Aladesanusi 71), A Spain, E Kos; S McGrath (N Gleeson 82), D McCarthy, V Dolia, K Amechi; D Okwute (F Barrett 92), R Kelliher. 

Finn Harps: C Walsh; J Watson, L O’Brien, N Baba, S McMonagle; S Edogun, S Doherty (D Coyle 65), R Rainey, S O’Donnell (C Lotefa 65); P Ferry (A McLoughlin 65), M Johnson (G McAteer 78). 

Referee: M Moynihan (Dublin)