Kerry FC new boy Ewan Lee strikes back to earn draw on road to Treaty United

Irish Independent

3 hours ago

Treaty United 1
Kerry FC 1
Ewan Lee's first Kerry FC goal six minutes from time was enough to earn Colin Healy's side a point against Treaty United in the Markets Field on Monday evening.
Patrick Ferry had initially given the home side the lead just after the hour mark with a superbly taken header, but Healy's attacking substitutions turned the tide, and Kerry took advantage of Treaty trying to sit in and protect their lead.
It means a total of four points from a possible six for Kerry on the Bank Holiday weekend, a much-needed boost in the league standings after a run of five without a win prior.
The state of the playing surface dominated the pre-match discussion in the Markets Field. The Kerry players walked out for their usual pre-match walk an hour before kick-off and discovered several divots that, in all honesty, looked more akin to a driving range than a football pitch.
As a result, the opening twenty minutes of the tie were lethargic, as both sets of players struggled to judge the weight of the pass, which was also hindered by a strong breeze. The away side, though, did have the majority of the possession, but created nothing of note.
It took until the thirty-minute mark of the game for the first action in either final third, with the home side creating two chances in quick succession.
Mark Byrne's looping header drifted wide of Matthew Connor's post; meanwhile, Lee Devitt's snapshot from the edge of the area sailed over the bar a minute later.
Five minutes into the second half, Kerry created their first meaningful scoring attempt. Seán O'Connell's left-footed corner sailed towards the back post whilst Ronan Teahan peeled around the back of the attacking bunch, completely unmarked, but couldn't steer his header on target.
Treaty United were almost gifted the opening goal of the game on the hour mark. Samuel Aladesnausi turned over the ball in his own box to Mark Byrne, whose subsequent shot from ten yards was well saved by Connor in the Kerry net.
Just five minutes later, the home side broke the deadlock. With the game in a complete lull at the time, it felt like the opening goal needed to come from a moment of real quality, and full-back Evan O'Connor's assist was just that.. The right-footed cross from deep by O'Connor was pounced on by Patrick Ferry, who did well to head past Connor at the near post.
After going behind, Kerry boss Colin Healy wasted no time changing the shape, introducing Brosnan, Amechi, and McGrath to try and get back level.
Despite the attacking changes, their best chance of the game fell to centre-half Ewan Lee. Kerry once again used the drifting around the back tactic from a set piece, this time from an Oran Crowe free kick, but once again the resulting effort drifted just past the post.
Just six minutes from time, Kerry found the equaliser. It was clear that set pieces would be their route back into the tie, and on the third major chance from dead-ball situations, they converted.
A long throw from Samuel Aladesnausi caused chaos in the box, with Ewan Lee eventually managing to bundle the ball home for his first Kerry goal in front of the travelling support.
Tensions began to spill over towards the end of the game, it was a Munster derby after all, but both sides committing tactical fouls to stop counterattacks within thirty seconds of each other saw the yellow cards fly in injury time.
All in all, a fantastic weekend for Colin Healy's Kerry FC side, who return home to face Finn Harps in Mounthawk Park on Friday night.
KERRY FC: Matthew Connor; Kevin Williams, Samuel Aladesanusi, Chris McQueen, Ewan Lee, Sean O'Connell; Oran Crowe, Carl Mujaguzi, Ronan Teahan; Daniel Okwute, Robert Cleary Subs: Joe Adams for Robbie Cleary (58), Kennedy Amechi for Carl Mujaguzi (66), Sean McGrath for Daniel Okwute (66), Finn Barrett for Kevin Williams (72), Cian Brosnan for Sean O'Connell (72)