Jack Doherty strikes twice as Cork City beat Kerry in league opener

Cork City 2 Kerry 0 

JACK Doherty’s two goals gave Tim Clancy a winning start as Cork City manager as they defeated Kerry at Turners Cross on Friday night in their return to the First Division. 

There were 5,507 spectators in attendance at the Cross to see City start their league campaign with a comfortable, though not overly impressive victory over the Kingdom.

There were 10 league debutants in a much-changed City side from the team that lost to Waterford in their relegation/promotion playoff game, with Cian Coleman the sole survivor from that night in Tallaght. Seven of the starting 11 were brought to the club during the off-season while the remaining featured heavily for the club’s U19s last year. 

There was no place for Greg Bolger in the City matchday squad with the player ruled out through injury.

It was a less than convincing start from the hosts with very little patterns of play from the Rebel Army. The players looked nervous, with passes going astray and poor decision-making off the ball.

Kerry had the first opening of the game when former City player Sean McGrath managed to weave his way into the box before forcing Brad Wade into his first real action in the City jersey.

From the resulting corner, Okwuy Okwute wasted a wonderful opportunity when he shot wide from close range.

City’s first bit of good play saw the Rebel Army go ahead in the 16th minute. Harry Nevin was positive in possession, driving at the Kerry defence before crossing to Doherty, who turned neatly to fire the ball low into the net.

Doherty soon doubled his and City’s tally with a composed finish. After some good play between the former Cobh Ramblers player and Nathan Wood, Doherty chopped inside Sean O’Connell before finishing with the outside of his foot.

It was a reasonable first half from City. Nevin and Mattew Kiernan frequently got forward and created an overload for Clancy’s side. Doherty showed his class with his two finishes but also his general play was good. Arran Healy in the middle of the park looked very assured and not just in terms of what he did on the ball but also the way he communicated or instructed those around him.

Wood, who was playing as City’s striker, showed some good moments, particularly his role in the second goal, but he lacked movement in behind the Kerry defence. Despite keeping a clean sheet in the half, Wade did have two questionable moments, with less than convincing clearances with feet that Kerry should have probably punished one.

The Kingdom started the second-half the better of the teams and came close to reducing the deficit when Andrew Spain was allowed a free header just outside the six-yard area which Nevin managed to block from going over the line, although Wade probably would have saved it had he not. Charlie Lyons had a half chance soon after but his headed effort was off target. 

Kerry’s strong start to the second half forced Clancy into a double substitution. 

One of those who departed was Evan McLaughlin, who on his City debut did fine. There were glimpses where he showed quality on the ball but more will be expected from him for the rest of the season, but it was a reasonable start to his City career.

Nathan Gleeson wasted another opportunity for the visitors after he smartly controlled a crossfield box inside the penalty area but sliced his shot wide of the post.

Wood tried his luck from distance that worried Antonio Tuta in the Kerry goal but the strike went wide of the far post.

Besides the quality he will bring to the team this season in general play, Sean Murray showed on the night the excellent delivery he has at set-pieces. His inswinging corners caused a lot of problems for the Kerry defence and his set-piece quality will be a valuable asset for City this season.

CITY: Wade; Nevin, Coleman, Lyons, Kiernan; O’Sullivan, Doherty, Healy (Umeh 60), Murray, Mclaughlin (Coffey 60); Wood.

KERRY: Tuta; Williams, O’Connell (Kos 67), Aladesanus, Spain, Healy (McCarthy 67), Williams, Teahan, Okwute, Gleeson, McGrath (Amechi 67); Udeze (Kelliher 46).

Referee: D Murphy