Kerry left with mountain to climb as O’Connell red proves costly in playoff defeat to Bray
PLENTY TO DO: Kerry FC manager Colin Healy. Pic Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Colin Healy’s Kerry FC side have it all to do in the First Division Playoff Semi-Finals after falling to defeat at home to Bray Wanderers in Mounthawk Park on Saturday evening.
Two goals early in the second half from Richard Ferizaj and Ben McCormack gave Bray a strong hold of the tie but Kerry forced their way back into things through captain Sean McGrath. The hosts were reduced to ten men late on after Sean O’Connell was given his marching orders.
The Kerry FC free-taker, O'Connell's set-piece deliveries are key to his side and his cultured left foot — as well being a very dependable full-back — will be missed in the return leg.
In truth Bray Wanderers were the better side on the night and they will be fancied to secure the tie at home on this coming Tuesday night.
The tie was played under ferocious wind and rain as the conditions stopped both sides from playing proper football.
Healy started Daniel Okwute on the wing for the first time since their FAI Cup exit against Sligo in August, but the winger struggled to play his way into the tie early on despite Kerry having a good bit of the ball, playing with the wind at their back.
Both sides traded early chances, with Bargary, McCormack and Mustali all coming close to the game's opener.
Kerry’s best chance of the first half came from an O’Connell corner which caught the breeze and found Brookwell at the back post, who deflected the ball just over the top of the bar.
Down the other end, Tyreik Sammy came close three minutes before the break when he took control of a Dean O’Shea cross but smashed wide.
The game blew into action in the second half. Nine minutes in, the visitors took the lead when Ben McCormack lifted the ball into the area. It found the head of Richard Ferizaj, who guided the ball in at the near corner.
Ten minutes later, McCormack went from provider to goalscorer as he cut in from the left-hand side and smashed past Matt Connor at the near post.
Kerry responded quickly through Sean McGrath, who latched onto the end of a cross from Bargary to score at the back post. Healy's side looked for a late equaliser, but Bray Wanderers showed their experience at this level by holding onto the ball and frustrating the Kingdom.
The home side were not helped by the conditions, as playing against the wind in the second half saw several goal kicks fall short and into Bray possession as the half wore on.
Kerry were dealt a huge blow in stoppage time as O’Connell’s attempt to stop a counter-attack saw him shown a straight red card, which will see the fullback suspended for the second leg.
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 Okwute (64), Arran Healy for McGrath (83)
Riam Hogan; Alain Kizenga, Declan Osagie, Jamie Duggan, Dean O’Shea; Ben McCormack, John Bilili Sesay; Ajibola Oluwabiyi, Richard Ferizaj, Tyreik Sammy; Endri Mustali Subs: Jamie Ryan for Sesay (61), Ryan Kelly for Mustali (70), Aime Nyembo for Oluwabiyi (81)
Daniel Murphy
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