SSE Airtricity u17 League Southern Elite Division: Bray Wanderers 5-1 Kerry
Report by Padraig Harnett and Pictures by Geraldine Nagle. Images Copyright to KDL ,No usage without permission by any other website, Facebook or Twitter Pages.
William’s scores but Wanderers win ;
The Kerry 17’s League of Ireland journey is one for the long haul and success will be measured in little increments.
They played their first away game, in Pearce Park, home of St Joseph’s Boys, and also got their first goal of the campaign. Credit must go to the Kerry boys who started their second game the better with Dillon Robinson and Kevin William looking especially dangerous. However Bray, who lost their first game to Cobh Ramblers, had threats of their own and Robert Osbourne had to be alert to keep out the lively Conor Cummins and David Gilsehenan.
But it was the visitors who should have gone ahead in the 23rd minute. David O’Connor and Darren Loughnane combined to find Robinson and his flick put Williams in one on one with Bray keeper Ryan Brown who saved well.
At this level chances must be taken and when Bray got their opportunities they were lethal. The opening goal came in the 30th minute when Jack Whelan’s long range free went all the way to the net. Before Kerry could recover they were 2-0 down. The second came 5 minutes later when Conor Cummins flicked a low cross into the bottom corner of the net. 2 became 3 in the 39th minute when Gilsehenan found the net from the edge of the box.
Kerry ended the half creating two half chances when Loughnane set up Martin Coughlin who was off target as was Gearoid Dillane.
The second half started in the same vein as the first with Kerry doing the pressing and they were rewarded when Kevin Williams reacted quickly to a short kick out to stroke the ball home for a historic Kerry goal.
Sadly they could not sustain this pressure and conceded again in the 55th minute when Gilshenan got his second and in the 62nd minute Cummins wrapped up the scoring when he nipped in between goal keeper and defender to lob the ball home.
Kerry never gave up and were dangerous from crosses and free kicks with Loughnane heading just over from a Burke cross, Sean Carmody who impressed when he came on was also close as was Williams.
Kerry will take some positives from this game but realise they have to be on their game from the start and sustain the performance all through. And when they get chances they must take them.
They welcome UCD to Tralee this Sunday with the Dublin side having won both their games defeating Wexford Youths 4-3 in their first game and Waterford 1-0 in their second .
Kerry: Robert Osbourne, Gearoid Dillane, Thomas Burke (Sheldon Neill 70 mins), Conor Standen, David O’Connor (Blake Bolster 60 mins), Darren Loughnane (Shaagh O’Connor 82), Dylan O’Sullivan
(Sean Carmody 60 mins), Martin Cloughlin, Dillon Robinson, Thando Dube, Kevin Williams. Subs not used – Ben Cooney, Neil Downey and Brian Lonegan.
Bray Wanderers: Ryan Brown (Jack Henry 79 mins), Conor McGuire, Jack Whelan, Aaron Malone, Cian Gilsehan, Luke Clucas (Luke Barrett Somers 65th min), Evan White, David Gilshenan, Conor Cummins, Michael Gardiner, Cormac Kelly (Luke Devlin 60th min). Not used Andy Doolin.