Finn Harps back to winning ways with big three points away to Kerry FC

Kieran Cooney’s second-half header was enough to give Finn Harps all three points against ten-man Kerry FC in Mounthawk Park on Friday evening.

Daniel Okwute had picked up a yellow card in the second half, which was already set to earn him suspension as it was his tenth yellow of the campaign, but was given a straight red card in additional time for lashing out at a Harps defender.

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The points heading back to Ballybofey means that at the end of the third quarter of the 2025 campaign, Kerry sit eighth in the First Division, three behind the side they fell to on the night.

Colin Healy’s side came into the game with a strong record at home against the Donegal side, but were second best in the tie, with Harps creating more clear-cut chances, mainly from dead-ball situations.

The opening chance of the game fell the way of the visitors after a breaking ball sat kindly for Oran Brogan at the edge of the area, whose subsequent effort stung the palms of Matthew Connor in the Kerry net.

It was only after the quarter mark of the tie that Kerry started to find their footing in the tie. Although they could’ve and probably should’ve taken the lead, Ronan Teahan delivered a lovely cross from the left wing, which split the centre halves, but Robbie Cleary did not get enough purchase on the headed effort to beat Piaia in the Harps' net.

The Donegal side responded with a chance of their own, another headed effort from a cross from the wing. This time, it was Conor Tourish on the end of the delivery who directed towards the bottom corner, but Connor produced his second stop of the game.

The home side were dealt an injury blow just after the hour mark. Shaunie Bradley’s tackle caught Seán McGrath late, which forced the Kerry captain to be substituted by Joe Adams.

Colin Healy’s side started the second half well, aided by the introduction of Daniel Okwute for Amechi at half-time, but despite dominating the ball, couldn’t muster up a shot on target, and just a few minutes later, the hosts fell behind.

Finn Harps broke the deadlock just before the hour mark, and it came from a set piece. The corner was sent in from Gavin McAteer and found the head of Kieran Cooney, who rose highest to head into the far corner of the Kerry net.

Healy looked to his bench once more as his side were attempting to get back into the game. The Kerry manager introduced Cian Brosnan for Cleary, but Harps were looking comfortable sitting back on their lead.

Kerry’s attempt to throw the kitchen sink at Harps in the closing stages of the tie was lacking any real vigour. Lorenzo Piaia in the Harps' net didn’t have to make a single save with the back four in front of him looking impenetrable.

To add to the Kerry woes, Daniel Okwute picked up a booking, his tenth yellow card in the league this season, which was set to earn him a one-game suspension.

That was until the 90th minute of the tie when the Kerry attacker saw red mist and got himself sent off for a retaliation incident, which rather summed up the Kerry performance on the night.

Kerry FC: Matthew Connor; Finn Barrett, Samuel Aladesanusi (Carl Mujaguzi, 69), Chris McQueen, Niall Brookwell, Sean O’Connell; Oran Crowe, Sean McGrath (Joe Adams, 32), Ronan Teahan; Kennedy Amechi (Daniel Okwute, ht), Robert Cleary ( Cian Brosnan, 64) 

Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia; Oran Brogan, Conor Tourish, Joel Bradley-Walsh, Kieran Cooney (Tony McNamee, 71); Max Hutchinson, Josh Cullen (Hans Mpongo, ht); Mikey Place (86)., Shaunie Bradley (Gradi Lomboto, ht), Gavin McAteer, Idir Zerrouk 

Referee: Daryl Carolan