Terrible first half in Kerry costs Cobh Ramblers any chance of victory over Colin Healy's side

Kerry 3 

Cobh Ramblers 0 

A first half to forget set Cobh Ramblers up for a 3-0 defeat to Kerry at Mounthawk Park on Monday evening in the Airtricity First Division League.

Fran Rockett’s side conceded three goals in 42nd minutes, on a night made worse by the pouring rain in Tralee.

Former Cobh player Cian Murphy got two and Sean McGrath got one for Colin Healy’s team.

This defeat brings everyone in claret and blue back down to earth after jumping to fourth on Friday with their 1-0 victory over Wexford at St. Colman’s Park.

Cobh were out to build on this result, and stop Kerry from growing more momentum in their play-off push.

Healy’s team, after starting the season with two wins in fifteen games, now have very real aspirations of competing for a place in the Premier Division at the end of the year after recording just one defeat in their last nine outings.

They also overcame Shelbourne in the FAI Cup at Mounthawk Park in recent weeks, a major statement of intent by a club that joined the league in 2023.

The Kingdom were already buoyant before kick-off, as they had beaten a Bray side sitting in second 4-0 on Friday at the Carlisle Grounds.

Kerry picked up where they left off, leading a number of early crosses getting headed away by Breandán Frahill.

Their breakthrough came from a free-kick, won from a Mikey Carroll foul. 

Sean O’Connell sent the ball in for a close range header by Murphy that went well passed Timothy Martin in the 16th minute.

Dylan McGlade replied for Cobh with a stunning strike that was pushed out for a corner that came to nothing.

Kerry got their second in the 28th minute from a sublime run by McGrath that ended with a neat finish.

The Ramblers looked dazed, and things got worse before the break as Cian Bargary was able to get through on the counter. 

The Cork City academy graduate squared to Murphy on that occasion, presenting an easy opportunity that was taken by Murphy in the 42nd minute.

Rockett reacted to the deficit at the break by bringing on Kai O’Neill for Dietrich, a change that acted as a small catalyst for Cobh.

The Ramblers started seeing more of the ball, but clearcut chances were few and far between as Kerry were able to dig in and frustrate their near rivals.

Rhys Gourdie eventually took matters into his own hands from distance, and the midfielder drew an excellent stretched save from Matthew Connor.

Rockett also brought on Rhys Kelly Noonan and Anthony Adenopo, who pressed high and tried to force Kerry into making mistakes.

Nothing worked out. The Kingdom were too organised and cool in the backline. 

The Ramblers were frustrated. The positive thing is that the club has an opportunity to bounce back in four days, against Treaty United at St Colman’s Park.

Kerry: Matthew Connor; Ewan Lee, Samuel Aladesanusi, Jonas Hakkinen, Sean O'Connell; Niall Brookwell, Vincent Borden, Sean McGrath; Cian Bargary, Cian Murphy Daniel Okwute.

Subs: Robert Keane for McGrath (70); Ryan Perez for Bargary (70), Luke Palmer for Murphy (80), Simon Luchinger for Borden (81), Cian Brosnan for Okwute (83).

Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Brian Lenihan, Breandán Frahill, Enzo Dietrich, Lucas Curtin; Rhys Gourdie, Mikey Carroll; Jordan Adeyemi, Dylan McGlade, Luka Le Bervet, Jonas Stjernberg.

Subs: Kai O’Neill for Dietrich (HT); Dara McCormick for Carroll (70), Rhys Kelly Noonan for McGlade (70), Anthony Adenopo for Stjernberg (79).

Referee: Mark Patchetll