Brosnan seals win for Kerry as they move ahead of Longford Town

MOVING UP THE TABLE: Kerry FC played their sixth Friday night home game and in a buoyant mood following the FAI Cup win over Cobh Ramblers last week, can thank Cian Brosnan for another cracking goal that sees them move ahead of Longford Town. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division: Kerry FC 1 (Brosnan 54') Longford Town 0

Kerry FC played their sixth Friday night home game and in a buoyant mood following the FAI Cup win over Cobh Ramblers last week, can thank Cian Brosnan for another cracking goal that sees them move ahead of Longford Town. Kerry was forced to line out without Ronan Teahan and Daniel Okwute but Ewan Lee was back in after being cup tied last week.

Longford made a bright opening with Stefan Ugbesia carving an opening but Daragh Murtagh’s shot was easily dealt with by Matt O’Connor.

Kerry had to wait until the 18th minute but Joe Adams shot lacked venom and was off target. The home side enjoyed a purple patch between the 30th to 35th minutes with Kerry creating three goal chances. Oran Crowe was a central figure in two of the chances as he went close to scoring in the 32nd when he raced through but he shot straight at the Longford keeper. But then came the move of the half two minutes later when Kevin Williams sent Brosnan racing down the right wing, before finding Crowe forced Harry Halwax to make a flying save as he turned the ball behind for a corner. O’Connell floated in the resultant corner and Niall Brookwell headed inches over.

Kerry despite being able to find the net, were enjoying the lion’s share of possession and Crowe, Joe Adams and Carl Mujaguzi were passing the ball well along the deck. Then just before the break, Brosnan with an audacious volley almost scored another spectacular goal following last week’s opener in the FAI Cup win over Cobh Ramblers but Halwax pushed it over the top for a corner.

Kerry really took the game to the visitors in the third quarter and Robbie Cleary set up Brosnan inside the box but he shot wide when he should have scored. Cleary was again through in 50th minute but with the Longford keeper stranded, Cleary delayed his effort and he was dispossessed.

But Cleary made it third time lucky in the 53rd minute when he collected a Crowe clearance inside his own half before beating three Longford defenders before finding himself inside the box. He slipped the ball to his right and there was Brosnan to rifle the ball low into the bottom corner of the Longford net and the home side comfortably held on despite a late second yellow card picked up by Williams..

Kerry FC: M Connor, K Williams, N Brookwell, E Lee, C McQueen, S O’Connell; O Crowe, C Mujaguzi; J Adams, R Cleary, C Brosnan.

Subs: R Perez for C Brosnan (61), A Healy for J Adams ( 82), S Aladesanusi for R Cleary ( 94) 

Longford Town: H Halwax; P Manuel, A Spain. O Hand, D O’Shea; D Norris, L Wade Slater, S Moore, A Doran, S Ugbesia; D Murtagh 

Subs: F Campbell for S Ugbesia ( 66), K Robinson for D Murtagh ( 66), E James for D Norris ( 66), M Bodiaf for A Doran ( 83).

Referee: O Moran (Dublin)