It’s a big win for Kerry and a tough one to take for Bray as the Kerrymen ran out 2-1 winners.
Kerry got off to a lighting quick start, after Kennedy Amachi capitalised on an error from Bray goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran and tapped the ball into the back of the net after just 12 (TWELVE!) seconds.
This shocked Bray into action, who had the line share of possession but failed to create much at all, ending the first half with zero shots overall.
Kerry could have easily doubled their lead, when they broke and created an opening for Oran Crowe, who sent it whiskers wide of the net.
There was little to write home about for the remainder of the first half, with Kerry going into the break the much happier of the two teams.
A much improved Seagulls side came out in the second half and cranked up the pressure on the Kerry defence.
Kenny Amachi made a clumsy challenge in the box on Jamie Ryan after 51 minutes, and Wanderers were awarded a spot kick, which was taken and converted by Bray’s top scorer Max Murphy, making up for his penalty miss against Treaty last week.
Bray continued their dominance and control of the second half, and could’ve turned it around completely within five minutes, when Billy O’Neill was denied by a massive save from Tim Hiemer after 53 minutes, and when Cian Curtis miscued and sent it over the bar on 55.
The Bray second half dominance continued and Billy O’Neill once again forced a great save out of Tim Hiemer between the sticks.
Kerry began to knuckle down in the final fifteen minutes as they searched for a winner, and they very nearly had it after 78′, when an excellent long range effort from Daniel Okwute curled just over the bar.
Bray showed they were not out of it yet though, when Billy O’Neill dribbled brillianty through a sea of Kerry players from within his own half on the right hand side, and played a ball through to Danu Kinsella-Bishop, but Tim Hiemer did well to smother the chance before it could amount to more.
The winner for The Kerrymen came after 87 minutes, when Sean O’Connell delivered a corner into the box and Jimmy Corcoran in the Bray net failed to gather, which led to centre-back-turned-striker Abel Alabi taking advantage and putting it away, to win it for Kerry and secure three huge points.
This win for Kerry, bundled with UCD and Wexford’s losses to Cobh Ramblers and Longford Town respectively, see Kerry sit two points off the playoff spots, putting them in real contention for 5th.
Bray have now lost both of their two games since the break, and they’ll be eager to put it right next time out. Fortunately, they have the chance to do that on Monday night back at the Carlisle Grounds against UCD.
Kerry will look to build on this win, travelling to St. Colmans Park to face Cobh Ramblers on Monday night.
MY MOTM: Sean O’Connell