Opening night defeat for Finn Harps away in Kerry

Finn Harps suffered defeat on their opening night return to action as Kerry ot the better of the League of Ireland First Division tie. 

Kerry’s two-goal victory over Finn Harps was fully deserved too. The Kingdom played more of the ball, created more of the chances, and when they down to ten men in the last twenty or so minutes defended incredibly well.

It wasn’t even just that Kerry FC defended well, they looked comfortable, refusing to panic. Three years into this project there’s an increasing maturity to what Conor McCarthy’s men bring to the table.

To look a midfielder Ronan Teahan now at the start of his third campaign is to see a more seasoned baller, bringing steel and composure to bolster the promise he showed from the very beginning.

Composure was the name of the game for Kerry in the wake of Joe Adams’ dismissal on 68 minutes. In their opening two seasons Kerry might have panicked. Not this time, even having lost their first half goal-scorer and their second half creator.

The first twenty minutes here were a slow-burn sort of affair, understandably enough on the opening day of the new season for two new-look sides, the Kingdom with six new signings in the starting eleven alone.

Right from the off, though, Nathan Gleeson was heavily involved, getting on the ball, getting stuck in, picking up a yellow card, getting into promising positions, even if the final ball didn’t quite come.

New signings Abel Alabi – a colossus at the back, powerful in the air and the tackle and steady on the ball – and Adams also stood out in the opening exchanges.

Indeed, Adams had a great cross from the left on 16 minutes only for his pass to go just behind last season’s top scorer Ryan Kelliher, lurking with intent at the back post on 16 minutes.

A couple of Gleeson crosses – now delivering that end product – on 23 and 24 minutes resulted the game’s opening goal. Gleeson’s second cross in the space of a minute zipping across the box, earning a slight deflection off Teahan (also immense early on), before Adams swept home.

Kerry in front and in control. It took Harps until about 25 minutes for their opening chance – Gavin Gilmore turning over Alex Dunne before finding Dara McGuinness for a chance which he hit wide.

Further chances came on 31 minutes – a brilliant run and cross by Patrick Ferry down the left – and a shot on 44 minutes by Anthony Dodd, which was blocked by another Kerry new boy, Niall Brookwell.

Despite that trio of half decent chances, one would have to say the Kingdom deserved their one-goal lead at the break. Even while Harps were creating, so too were Kerry. Gleeson with a tantalising cross just before the break. Alas there was nobody there to meet it.

Harps started the second half in decidedly determined fashion with three corners – two of which Alabi was forced to concede – the third of which probably should have resulted in a goal.

A Tony McNamee corner finding Max Hutchinson who headed powerfully leading to a very strong Harps’ claim for a handball, which was brushed away by referee Oliver Moran on the 50th minute.

Then on 53 minutes a casual back-pass by Alabi nearly resulted in a Harps goal, when half-time Gavin Hodgins latched onto it and really probably should have at least found the target, instead shooting wide.

Kerry looked to be working their way back into the game with their first chance of the second half five minutes later and a glorious one it was too when Kelliher played in the unmarked Daniel Okwute down the right. Okwute’s shot, however, was well wide. A gilt-edged chance spurned.

Further chances followed on 63 and 65, twin headers from Alabi and Kelliher leading to a corner, which was taken by Adams from the left-hand side. Alabi again got a nod down, with the ball breaking to Brookwell for a powerful finish to double the home side’s advantage.

Within minutes, however, the task became all the more difficult for Kerry, when Adams was given that straight red card for a challenge on Michael Place. 68 minutes gone, and a chink of light for the visitors.

Kerry, very much to their credit, dug really deep and for the next fifteen minutes looked more than comfortable in the position they found themselves in, Harps struggling to take advantage of the extra man.

Harps earned a corner on 83, but if anything Kerry remained the more creative force, unlucky not to score a third when second half subs Okwute and Stevan Stanic-Floody played a sweet one-two, only for the new signing to shoot just over.

The home side in the end deserved winners. Harps fairly blunt in front of the sticks, their last action in the game a wide from Place. The Kerry faithful greeting the full-time whistle with delight. Very much worth the wait.

Kerry: Tim Hiemer, Alex Dunne, Christopher McQueen, Abel Alabi, Seán O’Connell, Ronan Teahan, Niall Brookwell, Seán McGrath, Nathan Gleeson, Joe Adams, Ryan Kelliher Subs: Kevin Williams for A Dunne, half-time, Danie. Okwute for N Gleeson, half-time, Oran Crowe for S McGrath, 80, Stevan Stanic-Floody for R Teahan, 87, Theo Marcel Farquharson for D Okwute, 90(+6)

Finn Harps: Oisín Cooney, Mikey Place, Max Hutchinson, Conor Tourish, Joel Thompson, Patrick Ferry, David Cawley, Anthony Dodd, Gavin Gilmore, Tony McNamee, Dara McGuinness Subs: Gavin Hodgins for G Gilmore, half-time, Max Johnston for A Dodd, 69, Gradi Lomboto for P Ferry, 69, Joel Bradley Walsh for G Hodgins, 90(+4)

Referee: Oliver Moran