Champions Cork City sweep Kerry aside at Mounthawk Park as Barry Coffey hits hat-trick
Cork City's Aaran Healy on the ball against Kerry. Picture: Domnick Walsh
First Division Champions Cork City opened their victory tour with a comfortable win over Kerry FC in Mounthawk Park this evening.
A Barry Coffey hat-trick included two first-half headers and a Panenka penalty stole the show but the Kingdom were once again haunted by old foe Jack Doherty who added a goal and assist to his hefty Mounthawk Park tally.
Ethan Kos did net a consolation for the Kingdom towards the end of the tie but the City second-string side proved that ultimately it took a squad to win the league.
The newly crowned First Division champions entered Mounthawk Park tonight through a guard of honour from their hosts, but only Cian Bargary remained from the side that started last week's title-securing win at the UCD Bowl.
Still in the middle of serving his suspension, Tim Clancy opted to field a younger side with 10 changes in the starting 11 for tonight’s game.
The Rebel Army looked like a side who have not played many minutes as a unit in the opening quarter, with the hosts enjoying the majority of the ball. Ryan Kelliher was on the end of a couple of half chances for Kerry but couldn’t break the deadlock with either from close range.
Jack Doherty had the first big chance for the away side just before the twenty-fifth minute with a long-range free kick that looked destined for the top corner if not for the intervention of the Kingdom keeper Tuta.
Cork City took the lead just before the half-hour mark through some clever thinking. Doherty had a second chance to go for glory from a set piece within a couple of minutes, and with the whole ground anticipating another strike, Arran Healy dinked the ball to the front post to the unmarked Barry Coffey who looped his header into the far corner with Tuta stranded.
Kerry gave it a good go after going behind, putting plenty of pressure on the Rebels defence who looked stretched at times but as champions do, survived to deliver a dagged right on the stroke of half time. A Doherty inswinging corner halfway through the sole minute of additional time found the head of Barry Coffey, who doubled his tally.
The inevitable Jack Doherty goal arrived just three minutes after the break. Josh Fitzpatrick broke on the counter from a Kerry set piece that broke down at the edge of the area. Kerry got numbers back behind the ball but when it ended up at the feet of Doherty there was only one outcome as his left-footed effort looped over Tuta into the top corner. Doherty now with three goals in four visits to Mounthawk Park split between Ramblers and City.
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts just after the hour mark when Brosnan fouled Matthew Kiernan in the box with the referee pointing to the spot. On the verge of a hattrick, Barry Coffey stepped up and Panenka’d home.
Kerry were being bested by a quality City side but kept pushing despite the scoreline. The home side were rewarded with a consolation with just over ten minutes to play when defender Ethan Kos managed to shift home a Brosnan free kick.
Cork City now return to Turner’s Cross for the first time as Champions next Friday night when they host Finn Harps, whilst Kerry FC will continue their battle to with Longford Town to avoid finishing bottom with an away trip to Bray Wanderers.
Tuta; Barrett, Spain, Kos, O’Connell; Crowe (Kerins 69), McGrath, Teahan; Gleeson, Kelliher (Barrett 69), Dolia (Brosnan 52).
Dowling; Bargary (Sowinski 62), O’Donovan, Brookwell, Kiernan; Coffey, Healy; Fitzpatrick, Doherty (O’Sullivan 75), Drinan; Murphy.
Mark Houlihan
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