SSE Airtricity U17 League ; Kerry 4-1 Bray Wanderers

SSE Airtricity U17 League
Sunday 17th July 2016
Kerry  4-1  Bray Wanderers

Report and Pictures by Tommy Naughton. Images Copyright to KDL ,No usage without permission by any other website, Facebook or Twitter Pages .

Kerry picked up their second win of the season and have made it back to back league wins at home when they defeated Bray Wanderers at Mounthawk Park on Sunday. The result was great but what was more pleasing was the performance and work rate by every single player in a Kerry jersey.

Bray started the game the better holding onto the ball in the early stages while never really testing Brian Lonergan in the Kerry goal. Kerry began to find their feet quickly as the half progressed and went close from a Karl O’Sullivan free kick after 13 minutes. Bray nearly got though minutes later when a long ball over the top sent two players through but Gearoid Dillane was alive to the danger to intercept at the expense of a corner and from the corner the ball broke out to Kieran Butler whose long range effort was off target.
Kerry were now working extremely hard to win possession back and when they did they dint give it away to easily. Darren Loughnane picked out Dillon Robinson who got to the end line and his pull back was deflected goal wards and which forced Jack Henry in the Bray goal to react quickly to save.
With just seven minutes to the break Kerry struck for the opening goal of the game. Karl O’Sullivan who was playing his second game for Kerry showed great skill to beat his man and get to the end line before pulling the ball into the path of Dillon Robinson and he made no mistake drilling the ball home at the near post. Bray nearly pulled a goal back immediately when Dylan Thornton’s well struck effort was saved and held by Brian Lonergan divining low to his right. The final chance of the half fell to Kerry when Eoin Clifford who was making his debut started Kerry on a quick counter attack which saw Thomas Burke cross to Dillon Robinson but his curling effort just missed the target .

Kerry started the second half just like they finished the first working hard for each other all over the pitch and went close within two minutes of the restart when Sheagh O’Connor’s long range volley was just over the bar. Bray’s response was to make a treble substitution in the 52nd minute and within three minutes they found themselves behind even further. Thomas Burke picked the ball up on the right side line midway within the half before cutting in and curling a 25 yard effort into the far top corner giving the keeper no chance with an outstanding strike. Things got even better for Kerry as less than sixty seconds later they got a third. Straight from the restart Kerry again won the ball back and Dillon Robinson slipped Thando Dube in behind the Bray defence and he made no mistake shooting across the keeper into the far corner.
Bray now had to throw men forward and went close when Brandon Kavanagh’s header hit the top of the bar from a Kieran Butler cross. The Kerry defence of Gearoid Dillane , Sean Carmody, Eoin Clifford and Michael O’Gara where working well together and in truth never left Bray get in behind them. Darren Loughnane, Thando Dube , Karl O’Sullivan, Thomas Burke and Sheagh O’Connor were excellent for Kerry and in the searing heat their work rate was incredible and when you have a player like Dillon Robinson up front who will never stop going then the team will always have an out ball .
With twenty minutes left a one two between Sheagh O’Connor and Karl O’Sullivan saw Sheagh’s efoort saved by Jack Henry who was out quickly to deny him. Kerry introduced Kevin Williams and Dylan O’Sullivan and they picked up from the players they replaced continuing the high intensity work rate by Kerry. The home didn’t have to wait long for their fourth goal as it came with three minutes later. Karl O’Sullivan picked out Dillon Robinson with a well taken free kick and Dillon’s powerful header was goal bound but for an outstanding save from the Bray keeper for a coner. From the resulting corner by substitute Kevin Williams , Darren Loughane lost his marker and drilled the ball past a crowded defence to the delight of the Kerry supporters.
Bray did pull a goal back with ten minutes remaining when Conor Cummins finally got in behind the Kerry defence to score low into the far corner but it was just a consolation goal as Kerry saw out the remaining minutes untroubled and sealed the three points in what was their best team performance of the season.

Kerry; Brian Lonergan, Gearoid Dillane, Michael O’Gara, Sean Carmody. Eoin Clifford, Thomas Burke, Karl O’Sullivan, Thando Dube, Darren Loughnane (capt), Sheagh O’Connor , Dillon Robinson. Subs ; Kevin Williams for Thomas Burke 71 mins, Dylan O’Sullivan for Sheagh O’Connor.

Bray Wanderers; Jack Henry, Andy Lyons, Kieran Butler, Andrew Doolin, David Gilshenan, Michael Gardiner, Luke Somers, Luke Devlin, Dylan Thornton, Jake Byrne .Cormac Kelly . Subs; Brandon Kavanagh for Doolin 52 mins, Evan White for Gardiner 52 mins, Conor Cummins for Somers 52 mins, Ryan Brown for Byrne 71 mins .

Officials;
Referee , Anthony Morrison .
Assistants , Adrian Quirke & Adrian O’Shea .