O’Brien strike earns Longford a point against Kerry

The draw leaves Kerry still searching for a win this season following defeats to UCD and Athlone

Sean McGrath gave Kerry an early second half lead against Longford. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity First Division: Kerry FC 1 Longford Town 1

Longford Town came from a goal down to rescue a point against Kerry FC in Mounthawk Park on Friday evening in the League of Ireland First Division.

Sean McGrath gave the home side the lead just after half-time with a well-worked play, before Longford captain Alex O’Brien smashed home the equaliser from close range fifteen minutes later to earn a share of the spoils.

Healy needed a reaction after last week’s show against Athlone Town and got the response he was looking for early as Kerry dominated the early stages, but their lack of a threat up front was glaringly obvious. Their best chance came from midfielder Sean McGrath, who dribbled in from the right before unleashing towards the top corner, but was denied by the crossbar.

Vincent Borden also came close with an effort from range which whizzed past the top right corner, but as the first half wore on, Longford grew in comfort as the home crowd were frustrated with the game scoreless at the break.

Colin Healy’s half-time team talk was clearly inspiring, as just six minutes into the second half, the home side broke the deadlock. The play started with Ewan Lee playing a pass to Brookwell in midfield, who advanced play and picked out his right back, Finn Barrett, with a beautiful trivela pass. The weight of the ball was perfect for Barrett to deliver a first-time low cross, which found Sean McGrath, who made no mistake with the first-time finish into the top right corner.

The away side responded very well to going behind and began to bring the game to Kerry, and within 15 minutes, Longford Town were level.

The goal came from a long throw into the box, which resulted in a head tennis battle that Kerry could not clear their lines from. The ball fell to Longford captain Alex O’Brien, who unleashed a rocket of a shot first time into the near corner.

Longford came close to a winner when Andy Parashiv’s shot flew just over the top of the bar, but apart from that, both sides did not show anything positive going forward to look for the three points, as both settled for the draw.

Elsewhere in the First Division, Athlone drew 2-2 at home to Wexford while UCD beat Treaty United 2-0.

KERRY FC: Halwax; Barrett, Lee, Hakkinen, Cantwell, O’Connell; Borden, Brookwell, McGrath; Palmer, Murphy. 

Subs: Koufie for Palmer (60), Bermingham for McGrath (75), Cooney for O’Connell, Brosnan for Barrett (Both 86) 

LONGFORD TOWN: Moore; O’Brien, McCarthy, Manuel, Ugbesia, Omorehiomwan, Murtagh, O’Brien, Errity, Paraschiv, Moore

Subs: Campbell for Ugbesia (70), Adenekan for Paraschiv, Williams for Murtagh (Both 83), Ndebumadu (90) 

Referee: Robert Dowling