Finn Harps back to winning ways as they see off 10-man Kerry

Daniel Okwute was sent off with a late red card as Kerry FC finished with 10 players.

Finn Harps got back to winning ways thanks to a second half header from Kieran Cooney and Kerry FC fail to win at home in Mounthawk Park again. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Mens First Division: Kerry FC 0 Finn Harps 1 (Cooney 58')

Finn Harps got back to winning ways thanks to a second half header from Kieran Cooney and Kerry FC fail to win at home in Mounthawk Park again.

To make matters worse for Colin Healy, he lost Daniel Okwute to a late red card as Kerry FC finished with 10 players.

Kerry and Finn Harps have a chequered history since the Kingdom side joined the league with 10 meetings yielding four wins for Harps, two for Kerry and four draws so this was an important game for Healy with Kerry, who collected four points over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Kerry were hoping for a win and a boost before their FAI Cup clash with Cobh Ramblers next Friday night.

Harps created the first real chance in the ninth minute when good work down the left flank saw Gavin McAteer cross low and when it was only half cleared, Oran Brogan unleashed a rocket that saw Kerry keeper Matthew O’Connor dive full length to turn the ball behind for a corner. However, McAteer’s in-swinging corner was collected by O’Connor.

Harps had the wind and were enjoying the lion’s share of possession but with Ronan Teahan dominant in midfield for Kerry, they looked dangerous especially from free kicks. Sean O’Connell floated over a dangerous free after a foul on Teahan but Barbosa collected off the head of McQueen.

Robbie Cleary should have given Kerry the lead in the 27th minute but he scuffed his shot and Barbosa was able to get down to save. Harps nearly went ahead two minutes later when a through ball found Conor Tourish whose goal bound effort was turned away by Kerry keeper O’Connor.

Then Harps Shaunie Bradley was fortunate to escape with a yellow card after a carless challenge on Kerry captain Sean McGrath who was forced off to be replaced by Joe Adams.

Both sides were unable to create any clear cut chances in the final 15 minutes with a Chris McQueen header going over the Harps bar, being the closest to the deadlock being broken as the game remained scoreless at the interval.

Daniel Okwute was introduced by the home side for the second and he added pace to the Kerry attack but was unlucky not to score his second goal of the season.

But Harps took the lead in the 58th minute when Kieran Cooney headed home a Gavin McAteer corner that was not picked up in the Kerry box.

Robbie Cleary spurned a great chance of an equalizer minutes later after good approach work by Oran Crowe but Harps held on for maximum points.

Kerry FC: Matthew Connor; Finn Barrett, Samuel Aladesanusi, Chris McQueen, Niall Brookwell, Sean O’Connell; Oran Crowe, Sean McGrath, Ronan Teahan; Kennedy Amechi, Robert Cleary 

Subs: Joe Adams for S McGrath (inj 30), Daniel Okwute for K Amechi (h/t), Cian Brosnan for R Cleary (63), Carl Mujaguzi for S Aladesanusi (63) 

Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia; Josh Cullen, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Kieran Cooney; Max Hutchinson, Oran Brogan; Mikey Place, Shaunie Bradley, Gavin McAteer, Idir Zerrouk 

Subs: Hans Kamta Mpongo for J Cullen (h/t), Gradi Lomboto for S Bradley (h/t), Gradi Lomboto for K Cooney (71)

Referee: Daryl Carlon ( Drogheda)