2025 Season

It has been confirmed that the 17th of December is the League of Ireland fixture release day. Cobh are up first in the Munster Senior Cup - Round of 16, as mentioned in the main forum.
The early part of the 2024 season was very positive between the cup run and an early decent unbeaten run in the league.
Not sure what to expect in 2025. The second half of the season was disappointing. Getting the right blend of experience costs money. Less money available, if any, from UEFA solidarity payments. The off season recruitment will determine if a challenge for the playoffs can be realistic.
PFAI Transfer List: Ryan Kelliher, Antonio Tuta, Samuel Aladesanusi, Ethan Kos, Seán O’Connell, Andy Spain, Graham O’Reilly, Daniel Okwute, Togor Silong, Ronan Teahan and Cian Brosnan.

Hopefully we retain most of last seasons squad, get another 1-2 academy players to progress through and add 2/3 more experienced players - will cost money for sure, but pays for itself in terms of increased crowds if we are competing for 5th and playoffs. Even making play offs guarantees another big home gate and bit more prize money (although not massively significant). I guess it’s risk and reward.

Will the new Astro be laid for start of next season. Any word on what other improvements around the ground?

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Originally Posted by Zico

Will the new Astro be laid for start of next season. Any word on what other improvements around the ground?

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Culloty had posted the following. Haven't heard anything myself TBH.

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Originally Posted by culloty82

Perhaps, but they recently received a grant of circa €300k, so more renovations are planned prior to the new season, mostly on replacing the astro turf, but also at the away end, I believe.

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Both seasons so far have faded away after the cup. It will take another 17 point improvement to challenge 6th to 8th to put things in some perspective of chasing the playoffs. That's a big gap. Seems beyond the second half of the season squad.
There was quiet confidence that there was big potential within the group for improvement from the first season from the experience gained. I think there was a reality check this year on how much they could improve. Sugrue was honest in his assessment that the club needs to ‘fork out for experienced players’ in order to improve more.

I would agree somewhat when Sugrue says the club has to "fork out" to improve the squad. That squad at full strength is god enough to challenge for a playoff spot. Where was the accountability also on the coaches side, with 1 league win from July - October. Hopefully we can hold onto the core lads and add in 5/6 more players if the club can afford too! The club had a house for the players too so at least they are showing ambition.

All that being said, its been a bit quiet right now in terms of new or returning signings. With Gaxha available now to return after a disappointing spell away at Galway and then to Athlone, if the club has ambitions the should be looking at getting him back.

100% agree we need Gaxha back, club needs to aspire to having the best local talent here and not at any other first division club (premier clubs - no problem) and pay them the market rate for it..

We are geographically challenged I guess when it comes to attracting more experienced players unless they come from
cork or Limerick (and even then we are competing with Cobh and Treaty). The midlands clubs, bray, Dundalk and even Wexford can pick up very good Dublin based players, pay them a decent sum, train 1 or 2 times a week, no housing costs etc.. for us to attract similar players we are basically at full time salary otherwise they are not giving up work to move down. I do like and agree with the clubs policy of players based in Tralee / Kerry with housing etc.. It just makes the pool available smaller for us (and Harps also, although the North West is a bit of a football hot bed so talent pool would be deeper).

We just need to keep building and progressing on and off the field each year - progression and 10-15 year plan / vision - The academy and community involvement / initiatives are key.

Perhaps and if one thing is evident, is that in such a short space of time, I would consider Kerry FC on a par with Cobh & Treaty and when you see the Cork lads, (Oran Crowe & Amechi) choosing Kerry, its a good sign.

Kerry is one of the attractive counties to live in and agree, the club need to spend more on established lads to get them down.

Going into year 3, a very good off season with player recruitment, retain our best and a few statement singings would be a great build up to what is most likely going to be the most open 1st Division in a long long time. There wont be any runaway leaders, the Dundalk exodus continues and they wont have a big budget and could also face points deduction yet!

If we can go from 5 home wins to 9 (that's half home games), pick up a few wins away (4-6), I wouldnt see any reason we couldnt make the playoffs and back to selling out Home Games again.

The points total doesn't back it up and some will scoff at it but I would see Kerry on a par with Treaty and Cobh. The solution isn't complicated but is expensive. It'll cost money to bring in the experience needed to kick on and challenge for the playoffs. The current group have reached a ceiling. The spine of team needs experience.

Worryingly enough, it's all relatively too quiet with the players in or out! The Kerry FC Camp are keeping their cards close to their chest, not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

Fixtures just out, and Dundalk are the second visitors to Mounthawk Park on the 28th of February:

What's the expectation for ye this year? Just hope to avoid last place again or maybe push on for 5th? Guess it depends on the signings first

Looks like Dolia has signed for Treaty and Tutta off also. Given the club have always been very proactive in announcing player transfers etc. the silence this offseason is very worrying. Not a word on any player retention or transfer. Not a good omen I’m afraid!!!

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Originally Posted by Zico

Looks like Dolia has signed for Treaty and Tutta off also. Given the club have always been very proactive in announcing player transfers etc. the silence this offseason is very worrying. Not a word on any player retention or transfer. Not a good omen I’m afraid!!!

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Not a good omen - as in possibly going with an amateur only setup? There has been media reports of a cut in UEFA solidarity payments.

https://www.businesspost.ie/news/us-...e-in-kerry-fc/

Looks like they have been working on getting the t's crossed and the i's dotted on this deal in the background before getting the squad sorted. €1.5m investment should secure club financially for the medium term but worrying to have lost €200k in last season.

Had a feeling something was going on behind the scenes with ownership.

This is a very healthy investment, but agree losing nearly €200k per year won’t be sustainable either, but not unexpected for a new club. I just hope that a large part of this investment goes into infrastructure, academy etc. and secures the club long term rather than wages for first team.

Former team manager Billy Dennehy has been appointed the club's CEO while Tralee native and US-based John Wall is the club’s new co-owner and chairperson, having invested €1.5m into the club. Interesting developments after a quiet off season so far!

Kelliher and McGrath, the highest performers, signing new deals does bode extremely well for 2025. Looking back on the Kerry FC twitter post of Kelliher's goals, the club and the players involved have gained invaluable experience over the last two seasons. High performers like Kelliher and McGrath will have to bring the leadership now to drive on standards within the group. The right blend of experience, if the resources are there, should tee things up to challenge for the playoffs. Third day in golf is moving day. Hopefully the third year is moving year! ;)

Interesting move by Gaxha to Dundalk. A massive opportunity for him to play his way into their expected Premier Division plans. Another interesting sub plot to Dundalk's first visit to MH Park.

2025 FIRST QUARTER REVIEW

The season started positively with the win over Finn Harps that has turned into a false positive by the ineptness of the FAI. The draw away to Cobh was a decent result.
I've mentioned Dundalk and Bray plenty enough already. Just couldn't hit the back of the net but were creating chances.
Longford away was like WTF?! Longford improved a bit since then. Wexford was a great result. First win on grass! UCD and Treaty were terrible performances. A lot of positives then in the win over Athlone.
3 wins is good return but the inept FAI are cancelling the first win. 5 losses is poor though. Not going to get into the playoffs with that kind of loss record.
A big problem in the first quarter has been having Sam or Alabi on the park alongside McQueen. Taking Brookwell out of midfield hadn't worked. Ryan Kelliher getting injured was always going to be a nightmare. Palmer took his goals well against Athlone. Positive signs. McGrath and Okwute need to stick away more chances. Adams has done reasonably well. Hopefully Adams will contribute more.
Hopefully over the second quarter we will see an improvement in consistency. Backing up a league win with another league win is a must. It is time for a positive run. Good momentum. No more giving away an easy 3 points. The ingredients are there for a very good season. MH will be rocking!

Between 45 - 48 points might good enough for playoffs based on first round of fixtures (subject to points deduction appeals). Kerry had 10 points (before deduction) and should have got at least 12 if not 13 or 14 with 4 defeats by one goal (Bray and Longford games in particular). We will probably need to average 14 per round of fixtures now if appeal is rejected.

This team is capable of getting that points tally in my opinion. The bank holiday round of fixtures is huge though, need to pick up at least 3 points from 2 games to stay in touch otherwise gap can open up to 5th spot and psychologically becomes harder to close.