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Kerry FC must refocus and use home advantage against UCD to arrest four-game losing streak

Kerry FC held UCD to a draw on their visit to Belfield last month, and despite the ‘Students’ sitting second in the division, Kerry must target at least a point at Mounthawk Park

Kerry FC have to take advantage of playing at home this weekend to stop their four-game losing streak and get something positive from their game against UCD

Paul Brennan
© Kerryman

To bastardise the old Oscar Wilde line from The Importance of Being Earnest, to lose two or three games in a row may be regarded as a misfortune, and to lose four on the trot looks like carelessness, but what would it be if Kerry FC were to be beaten again on Friday night? A crisis?

When Kerry FC lost the first three games of the season it didn’t seem anything out of the ordinary. Unpleasant, yes, but given that the club had won just one league match in the entire 2023 season, and that they faced relegated Cork City in their first game of this season, three defeats at the start of the campaign seemed, well,… expected.

Then came a run of five draws, followed by a home win against Longford, and then another draw on the road to Treaty. Life for Kerry FC never seemed so good. Of course it was never going to last, and the longer the team went unbeaten the closer the next defeat was coming. And it did come, at home to Athlone Town in a disappointing game to lose after Kennedy Amechi had given Kerry the lead after 20 minutes.

A 2-0 loss followed away in Bray, and then a pretty much expected defeat at home to Cork City, albeit the Rebels were admirably held to a 1-0 victory from the penalty spot.

The run of losses reached four on Monday night, a 2-1 reversal away to Longford Town, the only team in the First Division that was without a win. Assistant coach James Sugrue, speaking after the game, suggested a degree of complacency in his team, that despite those previous three losses, that the Kerry FC players might have glanced at the table and taken for granted a team below them.

Longford Town might have been below Kerry on the table, but they certainly didn’t feel beneath them and duly got their first win of the season. And now there’s a good chance Kerry could find themselves bottom on Saturday morning if Longford beat Finn Harps and Kerry don’t get something out of their game against UCD. And with Longford to play their game in hand against Treaty next Monday, there is every chance Kerry will go into the following weekend’s game away to Wexford regardless of what they do against UCD.

And what they must do is simple: arrest the run of defeats and get something – a draw at the very least – against a UCD team Kerry played a 1-1 draw with at Belfield six weeks ago. Indeed, Kerry finished the stronger side in that game and if there was to have been a winner then the visitors threatened better for that third goal.

Mounthawk Park isn’t quite yet the fortress the team would like it to be, but Kerry FC must try to harness home advantage better and make it more difficult for visiting teams. UCD, like most of the First Division teams, are not too familiar with astro-turf, and the Students have a long journey to make on Friday.

”Obviously we would love to get a good result on Friday at home. We know UCD are a very good side but we need to put on a big performance and show what we are about,” Conor McCarthy said. “Usually, nine times out of ten when we do that we get a positive result and we saw that during the unbeaten run. But it takes a squad effort and a good performance and hopefully, the result can come with that. We don't fear anyone coming to Mounthawk Park and always fancy our chances at home."

Captain Andy Spain missed the trip to Longford after injuring himself in the Cork City game, and his availability remains in doubt. Ronan Teahan, who was also absent for Monday’s game in Longford, will also be assessed ahead of game to see if they can make the match day squad.

Valerii Dolia made his club debut on Monday, coming on at half time, and coach Conor McCarthy might be keen to throw the Ukrainian in from the start against the Students.

No matter the team selection on Friday, what is essential is an improvement on attitude. Assistant coach James Sugrue seriously questions the players’ attitude in Longford and basically said that without the right attitude on the field everything else is pointless.

A better attitude and greater work-rate is the minimum requirement on Friday and everything else can follow from that. UCD – down from the Premier Division last season – have found their rhythm now and sit second, behind Cork City, but they have only won half of their 14 games. That means teams have taken points of them, Kerry among them. More of that on Friday would go some away to averting a growing crisis.

SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE OF IRELAND FIRST DIVISION

Kerry FC v UCD

Friday, May 10

Mounthawk Park, Tralee

Kick-off at 7.45pm