Maguire and Keating duel for golden boot as City head to Kerry for final game of the season

One last First Division outing in 2026 awaits, as Cork City travel to Mounthawk Park this evening to take on playoff-chasing Kerry FC at 7.45pm.

The not-so-old joke says City’s stay in the Premier Division will only be one season. In that case, see you back here in 2028.

City supporters will hope that dark humour stays dark humour, and nothing more. The fans – and the club – cannot afford for this to be another one-year break from the second tier. The relationship between the two said parties wouldn’t survive another cataclysmic Premier Division stay.

In any case, there will be plenty of time to mull over City’s prospects next season and they’ve a healthy winter lay-off to get in shape ahead of the 2027 campaign. For now, they will enjoy one more away outing, at the home of Munster rivals Kerry who are fourth and need only a point to seal their place in the playoff spots.

PERMUTATIONS 

With Kerry on 51 points with a goal difference of +4, provided they manage a draw, they will secure a playoff spot unless Longford Town (49 pts, +2) beat Athlone Town (48 pts, 0) and Cobh Ramblers (49 pts, -6) defeat Treaty United, while also overcoming the goal difference deficit of 10 to Kerry.

It sets up a fascinating final game week for the four teams involved. Both Bray Wanderers and UCD are already certain of their playoff status, but there is no guarantee that they finish in the second and third positions that they occupy, as Kerry can still jump UCD, and UCD are only a point behind Bray.

Colin Healy’s Kerry have had an outstanding season, and should they suffer defeat against City they can still make the playoffs, provided at least one of Longford and Cobh Ramblers drop points, and Athlone don’t gain a five-goal swing on Kerry for goal difference.

Fortunately the Leesiders will not be concerning themselves with the mathematical headache that the playoff battle has become, and will instead enjoy one last outing where manager Barry Robson can assess players for next season.

The only thing City have to play for, or rather, Seani Maguire and Ruairí Keating, is the golden boot award. Maguire currently stands on 19 goals, back to the top of the chart after his brace against Finn Harps moved him one ahead of Keating, who has 18 goals.

Hans Mpongo is further behind with 14 goals, tied with Wexford’s Mikie Rowe. The Dutchman does have the highest number of assists in the division with 12, one ahead of Cillian Murphy, the recipient of City’s Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season awards last week.

There could be a bit of bite between the teams this evening, depending on how much City would like to try and spoil the Kerry party.

There have been a few flashpoints between the teams this season, particularly with both management camps, namely when Barry Robson criticised the way Kerry celebrated during their 1-0 win in May. A cold war of sorts, but one that has added intrigue to the meetings between the two, and even if there is nothing but pride on the line, City won’t want to give Kerry any joy.

So far this season they’ve had four meetings, the Leesiders winning all but one, when Kerry deservedly won the last time they met at Mounthawk Park. City got their vengeance for that in their most recent meeting at Turner’s Cross, with late, late goals from Darragh Crowley and Seani Maguire completing a turnaround to win 3-1.

Their earlier meeting at the Cross back in April ended in a 4-2 win for Barry Robson’s side, City again taking the three points after two goals at the death. Twelve days later, they met once more in the Munster Senior Cup, with City’s youngsters doing the business to win 2-1.

This evening will be welcome end to the campaign for Robson’s side, who have been stretched thin for much of the year. They’ve at least had the luxury of being able to coast through the motions in the final few weeks, but they will be able to fully focus on next season from the end of this one.