Kerry hold First Division champions Cork City to secure historic playoff spot

Colin Healy’s side will face Bray Wanderers in the playoff semi-finals, with Kerry hosting the first leg at Mounthawk Park next Saturday evening.

PLAYOFFS BOUND: Vincent Borden of Kerry celebrates. Pic: Eakin Howard/Sportsfile.

Kerry FC 1 Cork City 1

Kerry FC have secured their place in the playoffs after a draw against Champions Cork City was enough to see Colin Healy’s side finish fourth in the First Division.

Healy’s side will face Bray Wanderers in the playoff semi-finals, with Kerry hosting the first leg at Mounthawk Park next Saturday evening.

A draw was likely to be enough for Kerry as Cobh Ramblers required a double-digit victory over Treaty United to leapfrog the Kingdom. But the Limerick side caused an upset on the night by beating Cobh in their last fixture under the Treaty name.

Longford Town beat Athlone Town in the Midlands Derby, but the scoreline was not enough for De Town to jump Kerry in the table, as they remained behind on goal difference.

The capacity crowd in Mounthawk were buzzing from the opening whistle, and Kerry responded with a good start although they quickly found out that they were facing a City side who were well up for the match despite lifting the title last weekend.

Ruairi Keating opened the scoring midway through the first half thanks to some brilliant work from Conor Drinan down the left-hand side before squaring to Keating, who smashed on the turn past Matt Connor in the Kerry goal.

Brody Lee of Cork City fouls Cian Brosnan of Kerry during the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division match between Kerry and Cork City at Mounthawk Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Eakin Howard/Sportsfile

The nerves were being felt around the ground but the home side were not behind for long as they got back on level terms just four minutes later.

Sean O’Connell played a wonderful through ball to find Vincent Borden, whose shot across the face of goal took a big deflection off the foot of a Cork City defender, which beat Brann at the near post.

From then on, the tie became cagey and never opened up again. Both sides traded half chances in the second half, with Mpongo, Keating and second-half substitute Seani Maguire all forcing Connor into saves.

Whilst down the other end Kerry looked dangerous on the break through Brosnan and Murphy but lacked the bit of quality to secure the three points on the night. But not that they cared as a point was all they needed in the end.

Meanwhile Cobh Ramblers finished sixth, their play-off hopes ending with a 2-0 defeat away to Treaty United. UCD moved up to second with a 5-2 win away to Wexford while Bray, who finished third, lost 2-0 away to Finn Harps. Longford secured fifth, and the final play-off place, with a 1-0 win at home to Athlone.

Kerry: Matt Connor; Samuel Aladesanusi, Jonas Hakkinen, Niall Brookwell, Sean O’Connell; Vincent Borden, Ewan Lee; Cian Brosnan, Sean McGrath, Cian Bargary; Cian Murphy Subs: Robert Keane for Brosnan (71).

Cork City: Conor Brann; Fiacre Kelliher, Ruairi Keating, Hans Mpongo, Niall O’Keefe, Conor Drinan, Darragh Crowley, Rory Feely, Ike Manjor, Brody Lee, Cillian Murphy Subs: Sean Maguire for Manjor (58), Josh Fitzpatrick for Lee (58), Matthew Murray for Mpongo (64).

Referee: Declan Toland.