Kerry claim first win of the season as Cian Murphy sees off Finn Harps

Murphy latched on to the end of a brilliant Koufie cross to smash home from close range, but the plaudits will go to the defensive side of the field as Kerry produced a huge effort to deny Finn Harps an equaliser in a frantic finale.

OFF THE MARK: Kerry FC manager Colin Healy during a SSE Airtricity Men's First Division match. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.

Kerry 1 Finn Harps 0

Cian Murphy’s goal midway through the first half was enough to earn Kerry their first victory of the season as they defeated Finn Harps at Mounthawk Park on Friday evening.

Murphy latched on to the end of a brilliant Koufie cross to smash home from close range, but the plaudits will go to the defensive side of the field as Kerry produced a huge effort to deny Finn Harps an equaliser in a frantic final ten minutes of the match.

The pre-match team news was welcomed with open arms for home fans as Kerry FC welcomed back their record goal scorer Ryan Kelliher to the match day squad for the first time in eleven months since suffering an ACL injury against UCD.

The game was scrappy in the opening period with several injury stoppages, but Kerry were in the ascendancy possession-wise.

The hosts took the lead midway through the first half when Hakkinen played Koufie down the left-hand side, who delivered a cross mid-height to Cian Murphy, who finished from close range, which they held into the half-time break.

The second half was rather uneventful for the most part, with Kerry not showing anything menacing going forward whilst looking strong defensively, holding Harps to just a couple of long-range efforts which Halwax dealt with comfortably.

Then came the final ten minutes, where Finn Harps threw the kitchen sink at Kerry FC and were extremely unlucky not to find an equaliser.

With five minutes to play, McAteer’s corner found the head of Conor Tourish, who directed it towards the bottom corner, which Halwax managed to turn onto the post.

Bradley-Walsh had a free kick from 25 yards out with just under two minutes to go, which smashed back off the upright, leaving the Kerry keeper rooted to the spot.

The pressure kept coming into five minutes of additional time with Cullen’s header tipped over the bar by Halwax whilst Bradley-Walsh had two more attempts on target, but Kerry held firm for their first win of the season.

Elsehwere goals from Ben Feeney and Cian Curtis also earned Treaty United their first win of the campaign as they beat Athlone Town in Limerick. 

KERRY: Harry Halwax; Finn Barrett (Cian Bargary 70), Ewan Lee, Killian Cantwell, Jonas Hakkinen, Kieran Cooney; Niall Brookwell, Vincent Borden; Eric Koufie (Luke Palmer 77), Cian Murphy, Sean McGrath (Arran Healy 90).

FINN HARPS: Lorenzo Barbosa; Josh Cullen, Conor Tourish, Oran Brogan (Shaunie Bradley 80), Joe Bradley-Walsh, Temiloluwa Ajibola, Tony McNamee, Gavin McAteer, Aaron McLaughlin (Adam McDaid 72), Nathan Lumingo (Max Johnston 80), Alex-Mathis, Fanle Tiego (Idir Zerrouk 63). 

Referee: John Sconnie Walsh.