Late goal from Kerry gives them share of the spoils with Cobh

LATE EQUALISER: Liam Kervick, Cobh Ramblers, Sean O'Connell, Kerry FC. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

League of Ireland First Division 

Cobh Ramblers 1 Kerry FC 1

Kerry FC closed off their maiden season in the League of Ireland by scoring a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Cobh Ramblers at St Colman’s Park.

After a deflected Alec Byrne shot opened the scoring, Kennedy Amechi rescued a point for his side in the 89th minute.

Shane Keegan and his players now turn their attention to Tuesday night’s play-off semi-final first leg against Wexford FC at Ferrycarrig Park.

Cobh were clinical in dealing with an end of season dead rubber, and they forced the first chance of the game by winning a free-kick in the 9th minute.

Jack Doherty had a shot blocked and Kerry’s first chance was hit wide by Ronan Teahan at the Liam McMahon Stand.

After Byrne’s shot hit the back of the net, Ryan Kelliher almost instantly equalised for his side. The winger weaved into space and a cross to the near post forced a save from Darragh Burke.

Pierce Philips came on in the 61st minute and one of his first touches inside the area rolled narrowly wide at the far post.

That was a rare flash of life from a fixture that was meandering towards the full-time whistle. Keegan tried to change that by making a triple substitute in the 77th minute and the trio of Adrien Thibaut, Charlie Cummins, and Jason Abbott injected a new sense of life into the game.

Kennedy Amechi came on in the 61st minute and he managed to poke the ball in during a burst of activity.

Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke; Justin Eguaibor (James O’Leary 45), Jack Doherty (Pierce Philips 61), Darragh O’Sullivan Connell, Alec Byrne (Adrien Thibaut 77), Luke Desmond (Charlie Cummins 76), Dean Larkin, Matthew McKevitt, Charlie O’Brien, Liam Kervick, Dale Holland (Jason Abbott 77).

Kerry FC: Arthur Nganou; Sean O’Connell (Cian Brosnan 82), Ethan Kos, Sean McGrath, Ryan Kelliher, Leo Gaxha, Kevin Williams, Samuel Aladesanusi, Martin Coughlan (Kennedy Amechi 61), Okwuy Okwute, Ronan Teahan.

Referee: Oliver Moran