When Samuel Aladesanusi headed Kerry FC level in the 86th minute one wondered if Finn Harps could hold on for a draw.
Kerry FC…1 Finn Harps…2
(Pictures by Joe Boland of Northwest Newspix in Kerry)
However, Harps substitute BJ Banda hadn’t read that script and as often in the past when a winner was required the Letterkenny man produced the drama with an 94th minute winner, heading home from close range to make the return trip to Donegal much shorter than it might have otherwise have seemed.
The two previous meetings between these bottom pair in the table had both ended in draws and neither could be considered classics.
Kerry FC have struggled to adapt to the senior level, picking up just one win and three draws in their twenty-three games to date ,while Harps new-look squad had also found the going tough.
The introduction of a number of new players to Finn Park in recent weeks had improved Harps recent performances and they were hoping to build on that despite the long journey to the Kingdom.
Not much goalmouth action in the opening twenty minutes at Mounthawk Park in Tralee, yellow cards for Harps Sean O Donnell and Kerry’s Cian Barrett , both for clumsy challenges.
Harps had the better of things after this , Kerry keeper Lee Axworthy saving well from a Tony McNamee free-kick and Semi Scott Wara heading just over from the resulting corner.
In the 31st minute Axworthy denied Patrick Ferry as Harps bossed possession but couldn’t break the deadlock. Ferry did have the ball in the net in the 35th minute but was flagged offside, it remained scoreless at half-time.
That changed very quickly after the break as the start of the second-half produced goalmouth action at both ends. Kerry had the first chance but Rory Kelly denied Sean McGrath with a super save.
Three minutes later Harps were ahead , who else but Ryan Flood with an excellent finish to make it 0-1 to Harps.
The visitors continued to be the better team and Jamie Watson had a shot from the edge of the box blocked as they pressed for a second goal with BJ Banda and Aaron McLaughlin being introduced in a bid to find that bounty.
Kerry FC had to push forward and substitute Cian Brosan went close with a header in the 73rd minute, a warning for Harps that they needed a second goal to close out the game.
They got another scare in the 82nd minute when Sean McGrath shot just wide but finally paid the price for not closing out the game in the 86th minute as Kerry FC equalised, Samuel Aladesanusi heading home Cian Brosnan’s corner.
It now seemed a case that Harps would do well to hold on for the draw, with four minutes to be added and the wind in Kerry’s sail.
They could do better than that though, as BJ Banda popped up to head home a dramatic winning goal in the 94th minute to give Harps all three points, their third win in a row and a move up the table just three points outside the play-off places.
In tonight’s other Division games , leaders Galway Utd beat Bray Wanderers 3-0 , Athlone Town drew 1-1 with Waterford Utd while Wexford Youths beat Trearty FC 1-0.
Longford Town host Cobh Ramblers tomorrow evening.
Kerry FC ; Lee Axworthy , Rob Vasiu , Sean O Connell , Samuel Aladesanusi , Ethan Kos , Kevin Williams , Sean McGrath , Martin Coughlan , Cian Barrett , Leonardo Gaxha , Ryan Kelliher . Subs used ; Matt Keane , Cian Brosnan , Ronan Teahan ( all 62mins),
Finn Harps ; Rory Kelly , Semi Scott Wara , Daithi McCallion , Matthew Makinson, Jamie Watson , Max Hutchison ( Caoimhin Porter 87mins ), Ryan Flood , Tony McNamee , Stephen Doherty , Sean O Donnell ( B J Banda 69mins), Patrick Ferry ( Aaron McLaughlin 69mins),
Referee ; Jason Moore .
