Borden grabs winner as Kerry close on play-off spots

All three goals came in the final 10 minutes of normal time

Vincent Borden scored an 87th minute winner for Kerry against Longford. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity First Division: Kerry FC 2 Longford Town 1

Vincent Borden’s header secured Kerry FC a huge three points in their race for the play-off spots in the League of Ireland First Division. The victory for the Kingdom over Longford Town in Mounthawk Park sees Colin Healy’s men to within two points of the play-off positions.

We had to wait until the last 10 minutes of the game for all the action as Cian Murphy gave Kerry FC the lead in the 80th minute with a well-taken finish at the front post off a Cian Bargary cross.

But the lead was short-lived as just two minutes later, the visitors found the equaliser when Darragh Murtagh slid the ball to his left for Andy Paraschiv, who took a touch out and found the bottom right-hand corner with a superb low curling effort.

The drama was not done, though, as just three minutes from time, Kerry took the lead once more. Borden started it all with a shot from distance that Longford keeper CJ Odum parried out for a corner. Sean O’Connell’s left-footed delivery found the head of Borden, who made no mistake from close range.

Longford Town had won just once in their previous seven visits to the Tralee venue, that coming at their first attempt. That initially looked like changing as both Murtagh and Williams had good chances to get the go-ahead goal for Longford.

Kerry, despite having most of the ball, were not all that sharp up top either. Young Longford keeper Odum had to make a couple of saves, but mostly from long-range strikes.

Healy’s side did eventually push on and found the winner late on from Borden, their third consecutive victory in the First Division, a feat they achieved on Friday night for the first time.

Elsewhere in the First Division, UCD beat Cobh Ramblers 2-0 at Belfield, Adam Wells scoring in both halves. Wexford and Treaty United drew 0-0 while it was a 1-1 draw for Athlone and Finn Harps. 

Kerry FC: Connor; Aladesanusi, Brookwell, Hakkinen, O’Connell; Lee, Borden; Okwute, Perez, Brosnan; Murphy. Subs: Palmer for Brosnan (58), Bargary for Perez (67), Healy for Okwute (88).

Longford Town: Odum; Irhue, McCarthy, Egan, Hough; Adenekan, Moore; Manuel, Paraschiv, Murtagh; Williams. Subs: Ugbesia for Adenekan (89), Canavan for Manuel (89), Omorehiomwan for Hough (90).