With celebrated marksmen of the calibre of David Clifford and Paul Geaney sitting side by side in the stand, and acclaimed goalpoacher Niall Quinn monitoring proceeds from elsewhere in Mounthawk Park, the irony wasn’t lost on some in the sell-out attendance of 1,200 that Kerry FC were finding it difficult to break down the resolute Cobh defence and eventually succumbed on a 0-2 scoreline.
But, for the night that was in it, that didn’t seem to matter one iota as aficionados of the beautiful game celebrated the long-awaited arrival of League of Ireland action to a traditional GAA stronghold and all the colour, excitement and sense of expectation it brought with it.
The result, for one night only at least, was secondary as the sense of occasion and the promise of greater things to come was what really mattered and the players and supporters realise that, given a little more experience at this level, Kerry certainly have the raw materials and the necessary tools required to make their mark on the first division.
Opening night visitors Cobh Ramblers put their own experience to good use and a goal in each half, courtesy of Tiernan O’Brien and the lethal Jack Doherty, settled matters.
Although they struggled significantly to make an offensive impression early on, Kerry settled as the game progressed, creating some chances and they had what looked like a legitimate penalty call ruled out.
Veteran goalkeeper Wayne Guthrie had to be alert more than once early on as Cobh sniffed fresh blood but skipper Matt Keane and exiting young star Ronan Teahan were beginning to make their mark around the middle, with Shane Guthrie and Graham O’Reilly doing likewise at the back, and the Cork side suddenly sat up and took notice.
Cobh put their big game know-how to perfect use in the 41st minute, however, with the hugely impressive Jack Doherty breaking free and setting up Tiernan O’Brien who finished to the net with considerable aplomb.
Trpimir Vrljicak, the big Croatian signed from Killarney Celtic, had a half chance for Kerry before the interval but it came to nothing and he and Sean McGrath made way for another Celtic old boy, Ryan Kelliher and former Sheffield United player Leo Gaxha, at the break.
Gaxha, in fact, had Kerry’s best chance in the 60th minute but he could only watch on agonisingly as he was foiled by a dramatic goal-line clearance.
The corner that resulted caused consternation with Kerry players and most of the vocal crowd at that side of the ground convinced the ball had struck the hand of a Cobh player but match official, Declan Toland, was having none of it.
Although they showed a vast improvement for the second half, making Cobh look quite ordinary, Kerry’s hopes of salvaging a dream first night share of the spoils all but ended after 70 minutes when Jack Doherty lifted a free kick over the wall and into Wayne Guthrie’s net and there was little the agile netminder could do to stop it.
Next up for manager Billy Dennehy and his charges is an away trip to Bray on Friday night and their next home tie will be against captain Matt Keane’s former club, Treaty United, on March 3.
Kerry FC: W Guthrie, Williams, S Guthrie, Spillane, O’Reilly, McGrath (Kelliher), Keane, Kennedy (Gleeson), O’Connell, Teahan (Amechi), Vrljicak (Gaxha).
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