City over throw the Kingdom to make it seven on the bounce

📷 KBD Photos

It was a familiar sporting rivalry that took place at the cross last night, with Cork City facing off against Kerry FC for the third time this season. The Rebel Army were coming into the match hoping to continue their good record against Kerry and in the league in general, having won six games on the bounce including last week's cup game coming into the bout.

Tim Clancy made two changes to the side who went through to the third round of the FAI cup last time out. He opted for the experience of Sean Murray and Jack Doherty over Conor Drinan and Arran Healy.

Kerry came into this game weakened by the recent departures of Kevin Williams and Jack Kavanagh, who both opted for quite similar moves away from Tralee, moving to Malta and Treaty United respectively.

City began testing the Kerry backline early on, with them going close 10 minutes in. Greg Bolger and Sean Murray play a one two in their own half before the latter hooked a ball over the top of the Kerry defence. Jack Doherty sprinted onto it and rolled a shot from the right hand side, across goal that beat Aaron O’Sullivan in net, but also beat the far post and went just wide.

The Kingdom made themselves known to the hosts ten minutes later. Sean McGrath made a great run through the City midfield before giving it out left to Nathan Gleeson. Gleeson cut inside and released a curler past Brad Wade, but luckily for City, it came back off the crossbar so the game remained goalless.

The hosts continued to try to test the Kerry defence, this time from a set piece. Evan McLaughlin swung a City free kick towards the back post, which found Cian Coleman. Coleman headed the ball across goal towards his centre back partner Charlie Lyons, who swung a shot that was blocked by Ryan Kelliher. Kellihers block fell into the path of Sean Murray, whose shot from 10 yards was crucially blocked by Kerry captain Andy Spain.

It became noticeable by the time of Kerry midfielder Ronan Teahan’s booking in the 30th minute, that referee David Dunne was fond of his cards. The resulting free kick from Teahans foul found the head of Charlie Lyons in the box, whose header went narrowly wide of the Kerry goal.

City continued to restrict Kerry to very few chances, but couldn't really create many clear cut opportunities of their own for the remainder of the first forty five, so the half finished goalless.

Both teams came out of the half time break rather slowly, with each seemingly lacking a little bit of urgency early on in the half. This meant they struggled to test the other in the early stages of the second forty five.

It was City who finally broke the deadlock with twenty five minutes to play. A low deflected Cathal O’Sullivan free kick found the path of Charlie Lyons, who threw himself at it and redirected it past Aaron O'Sullivan with some part of his body, (couldn't tell you which one) to give City the lead.

The hosts began to kick into gear after the goal, stringing attacks together more effectively and looking more of a threat. Their job became easier with ten minutes to go when Ronan Teahan took out Barry Coffey along the left hand sideline, resulting in his second booking of the night and putting the visitors down to ten men while trying to mount a fightback.

City kept threatening for a second goal, sending multiple efforts from outside the box just wide or over the Kerry goal, and seemed destined to score a second to kill the game off.

Kerry simply couldn't hold The Rebel Army off with just ten men, and the hosts finally had their two goal cushion. Jack Doherty fired his corner to the edge of the box towards Barry Coffey, who had just been denied by a briliant stop from O' Sullivan in the Kerry goal. He took one touch and fired a brilliant shot into the bottom left corner, this time leaving the Kerry net minder frozen in his goal and confirming that the three points would stay Leeside.

That would be the last big action of the game, with Cork City picking up another three points at home, continuing the great home form and ensuring they are still yet to lose at home this season.

Kerry left still having not scored a goal vs yesterday's opponents, and didn't really seem to lay a glove on City during the 90, with their top scorer Ryan Kelliher having been kept quiet by City’s centre halves.

I thought City played a bit within themselves for the first 65 minutes of the game, probably because they subconsciously know their opponents each game simply aren't up to their standards. To be fair to them, as soon as the first goal went in I thought they massively improved going forward, and were obviously helped by Ronan Teahans sending off.

My Man of the Match goes to City’s Charlie Lyons. I thought Lyons was superb in his mission of keeping Ryan Kelliher quiet, who didn't get even a sniff of a chance all game long thanks to City’s number five. Lyons also did get his goal, even if he mightn’t have known a whole lot about it. Charlie has become a bit of a goalscorer so far this season, having netted his fourth of the season.

City have another Munster derby to look forward to next, with the Leesiders travelling to Limerick to play Treaty United next Friday night. As for Kerry, they'll be travelling up to the midlands on the same night to take on Athlone Town.