McGrath and O'Connell stunners give Kerry Munster Senior Cup win over Cobh Wanderers

Sean McGrath scored Kerry's opening goal on the hour mark. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Munster Senior Cup: Kerry FC 2-0 Cobh Wanderers 

Kerry FC booked a safe passage into the Munster Senior Cup quarter-final stage with a 2-0 win over Cobh Wanderers in Mounthawk Park on Friday evening.

Sean McGrath broke the deadlock with a volley on the hour mark before Sean O’Connell wrapped up the tie with an edge-of-the-box effort that found the top corner with just five minutes to play.

Kerry will play the winners of Leeds AFC and Lakewood Athletic in the last eight of the competition.

Colin Healy named all five of his new signings from the start, with Halwax, Cantwell, Hakkinen, Borden and Murphy all making their competitive debut in Mounthawk Park.

The quality of the League of Ireland side was evident from the off, as Kerry dominated all the ball, but could not break the deadlock before the break.

Cantwell, Healy, Borden and Okwute twice produced decent efforts on goal but struggled to beat former Ramblers keeper Burke in the Wanderers net.

Wanderers did not threaten at all in the opening period, with their only shot of the game, a long-range effort from Kearney, blocked easily by a Kerry defender.

Kerry continued on the front foot in the second period and came close again when O’Connell’s corner found Okwute in the box, whose header was cleared off the line.

One minute later, Sean McGrath opened the scoring for Kerry. Arran Healy’s deep free kick was headed to the edge of the area for the Kerry captain to latch onto and produce a spectacular volley into the far corner.

Wanderers should’ve been level 15 minutes from time when Nathan O’Connell pounced on an error to break through on goal, but squandered the chance as he bent past the post of Halwax.

Sean O’Connell doubled the Kerry lead five minutes from time. The left back was given plenty of time and space at the edge of the area and produced a stunning left-footed shot into the top right corner.

KERRY FC: H. Halwax; S. O’Connell, E. Lee, J. Hakkinen, K. Cantwell; V. Borden, A. Healy, S. McGrath, D. Okwute, C. Murphy, L. Doolan Subs: L. Palmer for Doolan, C. Brosnan for McGrath (Both 70), F Barrett for Borden (75), S Aladesanusi for Cantwell, R Perez for Murphy (Both 87) 

COBH WANDERERS: D. Burke, E. Hastings, D. Kearney, C. Walsh, S. Cummins, D. McNamara, C. O’Connor, N. O’Connell, C. Griffin, C. Henderson, D. Hayes Subs: G. Keating for Hayes (70), G Sillet for Hastings (80), M Trapella for O’Connor (86), D Curran for Walsh (88) 

Referee: S Drislane ( Clare)