2024 First Quarter Review

[legendz]

The Munster Cup run has been great. Clubs have different priorities etc. Kerry have applied themselves right in the MCS, getting past top fellow First Division rivals.
Cork City was always going to be a tough opener but Kerry competed really well. The losses to Treaty and Bray were frustrating. A throw back to last year's frustrations. A very harsh and incorrect sending off against Bray. At least a point, if not 3, were left behind against Treaty. Ballooning a last minute penalty over the bar summing up that particular evening.
The run of five draws then turning a corner. Becoming hard to beat. The 3-0 home win over Longford then being the icing on the cake. A fully deserved win.
Kerry are 5th in the goals against column. If the Bray game was excluded, top 3. There has been a big improvement in defence. It was a major focus during the off season. There have been a few shaky moments in the opening games but it has improved immensely in recent games.
Kerry are joint 8th in the goals scored column. Generally been scoring 1 goal or none. They have had to get the defensive setup right first to be fair. Now that there should be more confidence in the defensive structure, hopefully the 3 goals against Longford is the start of more to come.
The coaching staff have assembled a good squad. Tuta has improved in some earlier games. The Starting XI against Longford was a settled lineup with a good blend of experience and the addition of the two loannees from Galway. Very little has been said of the loss of Gaxha. Everyone has just gotten on with it.
Of the opposition, Cork seem to be a step above everyone. Finn Harps and UCD are hard to beat. I don't think there is a whole lot between the rest.
Cork City, Finn Harps, UCD and Kerry are unbeaten in their last 5 league games. Wexford are unbeaten in their last 4. How this form progresses over the second quarter will be interesting. The form of that 5 in recent games is a good indication of good consistency.

[culloty82]

The importance of a solid pre-season can't be understated - as you say, the MSC games were huge in terms of building the squad's confidence, and the Cork match was the only one where we were totally outplayed, as points were certainly there for the taking against both Bray and Treaty. All the new signings have slotted in seamlessly, with Tuta and Spain bolstering the defence, Daire McCarthy performing brilliantly in the holding role for a 19-year-old, and Healy alternating with Teahan in linking up play. Equally important is that the local lads have all taken on the experience from last season, showing a lot more composure on the ball, and very much comfortable in possession. Also, with all due respect to Billy, it seems he's much more effective as a sporting director than on the sideline, could have been daunting for Conor and James to take over the coaching reins, but they certainly haven't put a foot wrong so far.

[Zico]

A very satisfying first round of fixtures that keeps the team well on track for 30+ points and 9th place (or better) finish. Teams will get stronger as new squads for a lot of teams start to gel, however we have gotten to here with Kavanagh, Dolia not playing yet and Gleason only played in first 3 games (arguably our most improved player too). When the 3 of them come back over the next few weeks the competition for places will really heat up - even to make match day squads. We will have real options of the bench to freshen things up when needed.

Hopefully as the weather improves and the team continues to pick up points we will see crowds getting back closer to 1,000 (I expect City game to sellout in a few weeks). Realistically only city look much better than us, we should have taken points off Bray and Treaty and obviously picked up results off everyone else.

Would be great to still be within touching distance of play off spots come half way point. With transfer window opening it would be a nice dilemma for the club to have - bring in 1-2 more players to push us on?? Either way I agree with the point earlier of a blend of local lads and outsiders - at least 6 Kerry born players have started in everyone of opening round fixtures. That model is now working well.

[culloty82]

Further to that dilemma - Leo has hardly played any minutes since joining Galway, but if you bring him back on loan in the summer, Galway would undoubtedly look for one of their lads back in return, so would hardly be worth the disruption to how well the squad has gelled!

[legendz]

A solid preseason was very important. Lessons were learned from last year. They had a clear picture of what had to be out right. Kerry were very competitive last summer. I'd be hopeful, as we've seen in recent weeks, that it's Kerry who will be among the teams getting better as the season progresses.
The two Galway lads will benefit from a year with Kerry. I'd say they won't be going anywhere, even if Gaxha was allowed to return. I'm not seeing a standout reason for squad changes but Gaxha would provide some competition for places for sure!

[kingdomkerry]

A few good results on the trot now will help build up the interest. We should be aiming to sell out MP on a regular basis and hope the demand leads to better facilities. Extension of stand, fan zone, regular buses.

Bars still not showing KFC games. I was in Killarney and Ireland U20 rugby was on ?

[legendz]

Kerry will have to respond to Longford's win tonight, to avoid the final quarter of the season being a disaster.

[Martinho II]

Kerry will have to respond to Longford's win tonight, to avoid the final quarter of the season being a disaster.

In fairness to us we have being playing very well since the new signings came in. Still no guarantee yet for us though right now.

[Zico]

Unfortunately while most teams have strengthened since the window we are weaker without KW and McCarthy. It’s not to say that the players that have come in are not up to it either, it’s more the consistency and physicality both players added to the team. That said - we threw wins away against Bray, Athlone (both 2 goal leads) and the last minute draw to Treaty. Defensively we have been poorer in 2nd half of season.

We badly need a win before the season end though otherwise what has been a massive improvement will feel like a disappointment.

[legendz]

Kerry currently heading in the direction of a disappointment despite the early season improvement.

[Martinho II]

Kerry currently heading in the direction of a disappointment despite the early season improvement.

Interesting to see how we manage against Cobh and UCD. Whats yer final two games?

[legendz]

Interesting to see how we manage against Cobh and UCD. Whats yer final two games?
Kerry usually play on Friday nights. One game left and that is at home against Athlone.
If UCD and Athlone value avoiding Wexford in the playoff semi-finals, they both have something to play for in targeting third.

[Martinho II]

Commiserations on gettin wooden spoon as for majority of season imo based on our performances we were awful and deserved to stay bottom. There was so much doom and gloom around the place. Our boss Wayne Groves have done a brillant job since he came in.

[Zico]

Unfortunately we fell apart defensively in the league - loss of key players and not getting able reinforcements in. Before the break we conceded 26 goals in 21 games (avg. of 1.23 goals a game) and since the break we conceded 29 in 14 league games (avg. of 2.07)..: only 6 points in the last 14 games tells its own story.

[legendz]

Good to end the season with a win. Pity to lose out on 9th over recent weeks. For the second season in a row, things kind of drifted a bit after the cup exit.
A very respectable improvement on points from last season. Left many points behind earlier in the season. I suppose if the squad can be improved upon over the off season, hopefully next season getting towards 40 points will be achievable, if not more and challenging for those playoffs.
Will have a new opponent in the shape of Dundalk next season.

[Zico]

Good to finish with a win and good performance. Looked like a very healthy crowd also despite nothing to play for.

Now the fun off the LOI offseason begins with huge player turnover etc. critical we resign the key local players, we should not lose any to another first division club (Premier - yes).

Interesting comments from JS over the last week about sitting with the club in the coming weeks to decide future and then last night talking about need to put up money to get a few experienced players in to push for play offs next season. Good to see management put pressure on, but clubs model is all about sustainability. No guarantee either that spending money on players will work, of this years additions Spain and Tuta worked out well, but Dolia and Kavanagh must have cost a fortune between housing and medical bills - barely played 5 games between them!!!

Overall good progress this season and critical further progress next year.

[legendz]

Good to finish with a win and good performance. Looked like a very healthy crowd also despite nothing to play for.

Now the fun off the LOI offseason begins with huge player turnover etc. critical we resign the key local players, we should not lose any to another first division club (Premier - yes).

Interesting comments from JS over the last week about sitting with the club in the coming weeks to decide future and then last night talking about need to put up money to get a few experienced players in to push for play offs next season. Good to see management put pressure on, but clubs model is all about sustainability. No guarantee either that spending money on players will work, of this years additions Spain and Tuta worked out well, but Dolia and Kavanagh must have cost a fortune between housing and medical bills - barely played 5 games between them!!!

Overall good progress this season and critical further progress next year.
The second half of the season fade out was disappointing, after many points were left behind earlier in the season.
Looking at Finn Harps 6th, Treaty 7th and Cobh 8th, the next step in terms of recruitment etc. is to be in that mix for battling for the playoffs. Bray 5th are looking forward to a promotion relegation playoff against Drogheda. It offers hope for all clubs challenging for that 5th spot.