Green shoots for Kerry FC despite opening defeat Wonderful team goal caps brilliant Kerry win

National League Division 1

Kerry 3-15 | Dublin 1-10

A beautifully worked team goal finished off by corner back Ciara Murphy capped a superb result and performance by Kerry against old rivals Dublin on Saturday.

In a move that involved nine players, ten hand passes and several terrific runs, the home side transported the ball all of 138 metres before MKL Gaels star Murphy spun and sent a low, left-footed shot into the back of the net. The strike was incredibly similar to the goal scored by Colm Cooper against the Dubs in Croke Park in 2009. That may be less of a coincidence than you might think. The Gooch is Ciara’s uncle.

Kerry were already out of sight by that point thanks in no small part to the ageless Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, who kicked eight first-half points and also teed up Hannah O’Donoghue for the game’s opening goal.

A second three-pointer – this one a rasper from the boot of team captain Síofra O’Shea – gave the Kingdom a nine-point lead just before half-time (2-10 to 1-4). Remarkably, O’Shea has scored a goal in each of Kerry's first four matches of the season.

Declan Quill and Darragh Long’s charges managed the game well in the second half to secure a statement win that copperfastens their status as the team to beat in Division 1.

Next up for the league leaders is the visit of reigning All-Ireland champions Meath. The Royal County will arrive in Brosna on Saturday hoping to improve on their record of one win, two defeats and one draw. Throw-in is at 2pm with the game being streamed via the LGFA’s official livestreaming portal.

Kerry FC were unable to snatch a result worthy of the historic occasion but they gave the home crowd something to shout about, that’s for sure.

The league’s newcomers came up against a decent Cobh Ramblers side who didn’t look like a team who finished bottom of the division in 2022. The visitors were neat and tidy in possession and they made all of the early running as Kerry’s back four and goalkeeper were kept on their toes by the lively Wilson Waweru and Jack Doherty. The home team went behind in the 42nd minute when Tiernan O’Brien converted a quality cross by Doherty. The timing of the goal came as a blow for Kerry but you couldn’t say that it was against the run of play. Playing with the aid of a stiff wind, Cobh were the better team in the first half, but the change-around and the introduction of Leo Gaxha at half-time precipitated a period of Kerry dominance.

Gaxha, who has returned to Kerry after a five-year spell on the books of Sheffield United, injected pace and trickery and the Tralee native was desperately unlucky not to equalise on a couple of occasions. Kerry’s best effort of the night came from the Ireland and Albania underage international when his goalbound lob was somehow cleared off the line by a retreating Ramblers defender. Graham O’Reilly’s set pieces were causing the away side all sorts of problems but Billy Dennehy’s side just couldn’t find the breakthrough that the vociferous home support craved.

Hopes of stealing at least a point were vanquished in the 72nd minute when Doherty rifled a free kick past Kerry keeper Wayne Guthrie. Impressive Kerry left back Seán O’Connell went close with a late shot that was tipped over the bar and the Cork side held on for the win.

Next up for the boys in green is an away match against Bray Wanderers tonight (Friday) at 7.45pm.

KERRY FC: Wayne Guthrie, Graham O’Reilly, Kevin Williams, Shane Guthrie, Kalen Spillane, Seán O’Connell, Matt Keane, Seán Kennedy, Ronan Teahan, Seán McGrath, Trpimir Vrljicak.

SUBS: Callan Scully, Alex Ainscough, Ryan Kelliher, Leo Gaxha, Andy Quaid, Nathan Gleeson, Samuel Aladesanusi, Jonathan Hannafin, Kennedy Amechi.