Rotation expected as Cork City face Kerry in Munster Senior Cup semi

While Friday night’s First Division clash against Treaty United was postponed at short notice, Cork City will be playing twice this week, against Kerry FC tomorrow night at Mayfield in their Munster Senior Cup semi-final, and again at home when they host Wexford FC in the First Division.

The Leesiders meet Kerry once more after their Easter Monday thriller, Seani Maguire’s second half hat-trick and a header from Fiacre Kelleher decisive as the Rebel Army fought back from two goals down at half-time to win 4-2.

It was the first time this season that City have fallen behind in a game, but their recovery was encouraging, and left them seven points clear at the top of the table. Tomorrow night’s competition, though, is not one that City have been so convincing in.

Despite being the all-time record holders of the Munster Senior Cup with 19, Cork City haven’t managed to win it since defeating Midleton FC in the final in 2019. Since then, they’ve reached the decider three times but lost all three, to Rockmount in 2020 and Cobh Ramblers twice in 2022 and 2023.

It is important to acknowledge that City have almost always rotated excessively in this competition, and that will likely be the same tomorrow evening with Wexford travelling to the Cross three days later. The Munster Senior Cup has not been a primary objective for the club in quite some time.

Reigning title holders and winners of three of the last four Munster Senior Cups, Cobh Ramblers were knocked out at the quarter final stage by Waterford FC, but the Blues fell in the other semi-final to Rockmount, losing 7-6 on penalties after playing out a 2-2 draw.

That gives City a chance to set up a repeat of their 2020 decider, and avenge that 2-0 loss to Rockmount.

They must first navigate Colin Healy’s Kerry FC once again, who defeated Leeds AFC 4-0 in the quarter-finals with some key players lining out. Aaron Healy, Harry Halwax and Jonas Häkkinen all started in the win.

City’s quarter-final was a 2-0 victory over a Ringmahon Rangers side that had beaten Treaty United earlier in the competition. Jayden O’Donovan and Denzell Obenge were the two to get on the scoresheet for City, as a squad almost exclusively comprised of U20s won out. Of those that featured, only Matthew Murray, Brody Lee, Cillian Murphy and Niall O’Keeffe are senior players, with Murphy the only one of the four to receive regular First Division game time.

The league table will certainly matter more to both City and Kerry, and so both sides are likely to maintain their youthful shapes. Niall O’Keeffe is almost certain to start again given how few minutes he’s played so far in the league this year, while AJ Bridge and Harry Nevin might also be given run outs and an opportunity to impress manager Barry Robson.

Kerry played last Friday against UCD, 18-year-old Matthew Britton rescuing a point in the 96th minute for the hosts, after Hugh Smith had put the Students ahead earlier. It was a bit of a let off for Kerry, and with 10 games played now, they sit ninth in the table with seven points, and only one win.

Tenth-placed Treaty have a game in hand after the postponement of their meeting with City, so Kerry’s start to the season has not gone as they would have hoped. They’ve conceded more goals in the division than any other team, and have been very fragile in defence. Kerry have had a total of 68 errors that have led directly to opposition shots. City, by comparison, have only got 29.

Confidence may be low in the Kerry camp, but tomorrow night’s semi-final gives them a chance at a first ever Munster Senior Cup final appearance.