Match Report - Kerry FC 3 Bray Wanderers 3

 

Ben Feeney marked his return to action with a goal as Bray played out a thrilling draw away to Kerry on Friday 

The 3-3 result at Mounthawk Park was the first time in seven SS Airtricity First Division League matches since last year that the Wicklow side had failed to beat the team from the Kingdom. 

Back in the weather delayed fixture last February at the same venue, the visitors twice came from behind to level the tie at 2-2. 

The three goals in that win came in six second half minutes. 

This time, the two goals to restore parity came in 90 first half seconds before Feeney came off the bench to level the contest in the 78th minute. 

There was one change to the Seagulls line-up who’d gone down 1-0 at home to Longford Town last week. Paul Murphy came into the defence. 

On the bench, striker Feeney and centre half Cole Omorehiomwan made a welcome return to the squad after lengthy spells out with injury. 

That saw Zach Nolan switch to left-back with Kieran Cruise deployed on the left flank. 

But the host club started much the better and had the Wicklow outfit – playing in Royal Blue – on the back foot. 

They had a goal ruled out for offside and a penalty appear waved down before they hit the front in the 13th minute. 

From Cian Brosnan’s astute round the corner pass, Ryan Kelliher burst into the penalty area and hooked past an advancing Stephen McGuinness from 14-yards. 

It got even better for the Munster club in the 24th minute. 

From Samuel Aladesanusi’s long ball, Paul Murphy got a header backwards. Kelliher raced in but was clipped on the heels by the challenging Paul Murphy. Referee Mark Moynihan pointed to the spot and booked the Bray player. Despite going the right way, McGuinness was unable to keep out Kelliher’s spot-kick. 

Yet, Wanderers kicked into life in the 28th minute. 

Harry Groome found Cruise wide left. He drilled in a centre which Darren Craven gathered just outside the ‘D. With his second touch, the midfielder arrowed a stunning right footed half volley to the left corner of the net. 

The tie was all squared then in the 29th minute. 

Groome’s sweeping pass switched play out to the right to the marauding Max Murphy. He found Callum Thompson in the box who teed up Groome. Surrounded by three players, he superbly placed a curling effort to the far left corner of the net. 

Kerry nearly went ahead again in first half stoppage time. 

McGuinness raced out to head clear under pressure from Kelliher. The ball dropped to Nathan Gleeson who lobbed towards the open goal from 25-yards. But his attempt came back off the bar. 

Bray regrouped at the interval, with Guillermo Almirall replacing Paul Murphy. Nolan went to centre half with Cruise reverting to left-back. 

However, Kerry made it 3-2 in the 57th minute. 

As the visitors tried to play out from the back, Sean McGrath intercepted. He passed to the unmarked Kelliher. Play continued despite claims of offside. The striker evaded McGuinness and slotted low to the net for his hat-trick. 

But again – the away team hit back. 

In the 78th minute, Max Murphy burst forward. He linked with Craven who set-up Almirall on the right. From his left-footed cross, the unmarked Fenney scored with a diving ten-yard header. 

Yet, the Seasiders could have won it three minutes into injury time. 

Almirall appeared to be tugged back in the box and went down. But no penalty was awarded. 

Seconds later, Max Murphy tried his luck from distance with a shot. It took a deflection off an opponent. But Aaron O’Sullivan recovered to palmed the ball away with a fine save, 

 

Kerry FC: Aaron O'Sullivan; Kevin Williams, Samuel Aladesanusi, Ethan Kos, Sean O'Connell; Ronan Teahan (Graham O'Reilly 39 - Oran Crowe 86), Daire McCarthy; Cian Brosnan, Sean McGrath, Nathan Gleeson (Daniel Okwute 60); Ryan Kelliher. 

 

Subs not used: Andrew Spain, Victor Udeze, Finn Barrett, Togor Silong, Bobby Amadasun, Antonio Tuta. 

 

Booked: Teahan 5, McCarthy 51, Okwute 79. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Max Murphy, Kilian Cantwell, Paul Murphy (Guillermo Almirall half time), Zach Nolan; Harry Groome, Freddie Turley; Callum Thompson (Zayd Abada 89), Darren Craven, Kieran Cruise; Peter Grogan (Ben Feeney 64). 

 

Subs not used: Cole Omorehiomwan, Thomas Morgan, Conor Knight, Josh McGlone, Billy O'Neill, Ben Clark. 

 

Booked: Paul Murphy 24, Cruise 57, Turley 90 + 2. 

 

Referee: Mark Moynihan.  

 

Pictures: Adam Kowalczyk.