Killarney

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LOI First Division



Kerry FC v Treaty United



Friday at 7.45pm



Mounthawk Park



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Kerry FC will play their second ever home match in the League of Ireland tonight (Friday), still searching for that first ever win in the second highest tier of Irish football.



Billy Dennehy’s side were valiant in defeat against Cobh Ramblers on opening night a fortnight ago and they registered a historic first goal last Friday when Leo Gaxha slotted home in a 3-1 defeat to Bray Wanderers.



Next on the checklist will be getting some points on the board, and on paper tonight’s match is a decent opportunity to do so.



Limerick outfit Treaty are also relatively new to the league having joined in 2021 and after opening this campaign with two defeats, they find themselves joint bottom with Kerry, Wexford and Finn Harps.



Having said that, the Shannonsiders will surely be targeting a victory in this one themselves and they will go into this match as slight favourites, despite their uninspiring start.



Last season Treaty reached the First Division promotion playoffs before bowing out to Waterford at the semi-final stage. They also reached the semi-final of the FAI Cup where they just came up short against eventual winners Derry City.



It will be an interesting fixture for Kerry captain Matt Keane. The Killarney man played for Treaty for two seasons in 2021 and 2022 before returning to the Kingdom for the county’s first venture into the League of Ireland.



Meanwhile, Killarney Advertiser sports editor Adam Moynihan has singled out Leo Gaxha as a key player for Kerry in 2023. Speaking on Sporting LK’s Soccer Scene podcast, Adam suggested that Gaxha will be “massive”.



“Gaxha is really good. He was on the books at Sheffield United for five years and in the first game-and-a-half that he’s played, he looks like someone who has been on the books of a Premier League or Championship club for the last few years.



“As soon as he came on against Cobh, he was jinking past fellas and he was getting shots off. He was very unlucky not to score in that match. And then against Bray he showed good composure to take a touch and slot it home.&nbsp;



“He’s going to be a massive player for Kerry. There’s no doubt about it. He just has that spark, that ability to go by players. He’s a real livewire.”



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<strong>Kerry to host Treaty in Munster derby</strong>

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