09-05-2025
Hiemer heroics gives Colin Healy a winning start
SSE Airtricity First Division: Kerry 1 (McQueen 17') Treaty Utd 0
Despite serving a one match touch line ban for an indiscretion dating back to Cork City in 2023, Colin Healy saw his Kerry FC side complete back-to-back wins for the first time since joining the LOI.
It was a back-to-back wins for the first time as well for Kerry FC but it was a win that was fortunate because Treaty Utd deserved at least a point in the second half but for second week in a row German born keeper Tim Oliver Hiemer gave an awesome display making at least six stunning saves.
After initial Kerry pressure that yielded only a volley from Carl Mujaguzi as early as the fifth minute from a Daniel Okwute free kick, Treaty then got on top for a 10 minute spell, forcing fours corner thanks to some excellent work by their captain Lee Lynch along with Lee Devitt.
Treaty should have taken the lead in the ninth minute when a sweeping move saw Lynch turn his marker and his strike from just inside the box, was brilliantly turned behind by Kerry keeper Hiemer. The visitors forced three successive corners with no return and Kerry began to trouble the visitors despite the fact of having only attacker Daniel Okwute up front in the absence of strikers, the injured Ryan Kelliher and suspended Luke Palmer.
Ronan Teahan was dominant at midfield and with Kerry playing the ball on the deck, the style definitely had Healy's imprint on it. Kerry made a crucial breakthrough in the 17th minute when Teahan forced a corner on the left. Oran Crowe floated it in to the danger zone and it was centre back Chris McQueen who rose highest and powered a header to net.
This goal appeared to deflate the visitors as Kerry's new formation of five at back was rock solid and Treaty did not trouble Hiemer for the rest of the half.
The home-side continued to play attractive attacking football but despite forcing a couple of corners and free kicks, they failed to add to McQueen's goal as Kerry retired 1-0 in front at the interval.
Treaty resumed a transformed side and should have leveled within two minutes of restart when Ben Lynch crossed and Mark Byrne volleyed wide of an open goal. Karl O'Sullivan was pulling the strings for Treaty and Kerry were on the back foot. Treaty were denied a goal when O'Sullivan floated in a dangerous corner but McQueen powerfully headed off his goal line.
Former Kerry striker Trip Vrljicak should have equalised in the 72nd minute but Hiemer made a stunning instinctive save.
But Treaty were throwing the kitchen sink at Kerry and Hiemer was like the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dam as he made incredible save after save. Despite 11 minutes of added time Treaty could not blow Kerry's house down and Kerry have posted back to back wins.
KERRY FC: T-O Hiemer; K Williams, S Aladesanusi, C McQueen, N Brookwell, A Dunne; O Crowe, C Mujaguzi, O Crowe, R Teahan, S McGrath; D Okwute. Subs: N Gleeson for Crowe (67), A Alabi for Teahan (inj 78), J Adams for Mujaguzi (88)
TREATY UNITED: C Chambers; E O'Connor, E Martin, R Lynch, B Lynch; K O'Sullivan, L Lynch, S Healy, M Byrne, L Devitt; D Tarmey. Subs: T Vrljicak for Tarmey (h/t), N Kozlowski for O'Connor (80), D Owens for Byrne (80) V Dolia for Healy (90)
Referee: Robert Dowling
