Wexford’s Late-Late Surge at Mounthawk Park Takes Sting Out of Kerry’s Campaign

A pair of goals in three explosive minutes transformed a tepid contest into a statement win for Wexford, who left Mounthawk Park on Friday night with a 2-0 victory that underlines their First Division ambitions and leaves Kerry’s campaign limping toward its close.

For more than an hour, neither team seemed willing to risk the kind of error that has cost them points in recent weeks. The tension that hung over the stadium reflected two squads searching for clarity in the murky depths of Ireland’s lower-tier table: Kerry, drifting on a sequence of winless results, and Wexford, eager to reassert themselves after a humbling home defeat.

That caution dissolved abruptly when Wexford found the breakthrough in the 70th minute. From a scramble in the penalty area—its origins rooted in a precise diagonal cross—the visitors capitalized on Kerry’s inability to clear, with an unnamed Wexford forward stabbing home from close range. The goal sparked chaos in the home defense and, more importantly, shifted the narrative of the evening. Less than three minutes later, Wexford doubled their advantage via another clinical finish, this time stemming from quick transitional play that caught Kerry flat-footed. The scorer, again uncredited, capped a swift counterattack with a crisp, low shot that beat the Kerry goalkeeper at the far post.

If the match’s first hour was defined by restraint, the final half-hour was a masterclass in momentum. Wexford, suddenly brimming with confidence, played with fluidity and bite. Kerry’s response was urgent but ultimately toothless. The hosts lacked clear invention in the final third, managing few chances and failing to trouble the opposition keeper with conviction.

The result speaks volumes about both teams’ current trajectories. Kerry, now mired in 9th place with 32 points from 33 matches, have collected only eight wins all season and are winless in their last five contests. Their recent form—a heavy cup defeat at Shamrock Rovers (1-6), draws with Treaty United and Athlone Town, and an agonizing late collapse at UCD—has sapped the optimism that briefly surfaced with a frenetic 3-3 draw against Sligo Rovers last month. Tonight’s defeat, arriving after 70 minutes of competitive parity, stings not because of its margin, but because of its familiar script: promising resistance undone by defensive lapses and a lack of clinical edge.

Wexford’s fortunes, by contrast, are on a subtle upward curve. They sit 6th in the table with 41 points and have now rebounded from last weekend’s harsh 0-3 loss to UCD with a result that feels bigger than the score line. Their September run—three straight victories and a draw—had briefly raised expectations, only for a stumble to rekindle doubts. Tonight’s win settles nerves, reaffirms their credentials, and—crucially—extends daylight between themselves and the chasing pack.

Both teams have spent the season playing close, often tense matches against one another, with head-to-head encounters marked more by frustration than free-flowing football. Wexford’s victory tonight continues a trend of tight contests where decisive moments, rather than sustained dominance, tip the scales.

No red cards marred proceedings; the battle, physical at times, remained largely within the limits set by the referee. Kerry’s defense was brave but brittle when it mattered, and their attack—missing the directness of Adams Joe, who scored in their recent cup tie—failed to find a consistent threat.

As the season wends toward its conclusion, the stakes sharpen for both clubs but in sharply divergent ways.

For Kerry, the challenge is psychological as much as tactical: to end a difficult campaign with dignity, to answer questions about their defensive frailties and develop a formula for greater consistency. With just eight wins and a growing deficit to escape the bottom, their focus will shift to rebuilding trust and resilience as much as hunting points.

Wexford, meanwhile, hold hope of climbing higher, perhaps nudging into playoff contention if results elsewhere break their way. Tonight’s sharpness in front of goal—anonymous as the scorers may be—signals a squad capable of seizing critical moments, a trait that will serve them well as pressure mounts. Their next fixtures will test whether this late-season surge can crystallize into a lasting legacy.

Friday night at Mounthawk Park did not offer a dazzling display, nor did it provide the catharsis either side craved. But as Wexford’s players celebrated at the final whistle, the verdict was clear: in the tense margins of the First Division, it is not beauty that counts, but the resolve to pounce when opportunity finally arrives. Kerry, searching for answers, must wait another week for redemption.