Strand Road FC

⚽️ STRAND ROAD FC – PRE-SEASON RETURNS! ⚽️

The wait is over! Pre-season training kicks off Monday night at 7:00pm in the KDL as we get ready for the new season.

We’re also on the lookout for new players to join the squad. Whether you’re returning to football or looking for a new club, we’d love to have you along.

Come down, meet the team, and get involved. All abilities are welcome!

📍 KDL
🗓 Monday
🕖 7:00pm

A huge thank you to Howdens Tralee for their generous sponsorship of our League Final and for providing Strand Road with a fantastic new set of jerseys.

The support from local businesses like Howdens means so much to our club and players, and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment to the community.

A special word of thanks to Michael Gallagher, Manager of Howdens Tralee, for his support and dedication in making this sponsorship possible.

We are proud to wear our new jerseys and look forward to representing Strand Road with pride. Thank you again to Howdens Tralee and Michael for your continued support Howdens

League Final Match Report

Strand Road 2–1 Kerry Blues

Strand Road were crowned league champions after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Kerry Blues in a hard-fought final that was settled in the closing minutes.

The first half was a tight and competitive affair, with Strand Road creating several promising opportunities through TJ, Aaron, Dara and Daryl. Despite some excellent attacking play, they were unable to find a way past the Kerry Blues goalkeeper, who was in superb form throughout the night and kept the sides level going into the break.

Strand Road went into half-time full of confidence, but suffered an early setback in the second half when Kerry Blues took the lead through a well-worked move. While it was a quality goal, Strand Road would have been disappointed to concede and now faced another test of character.

This group has faced plenty of setbacks both on and off the pitch throughout the season, and the question was whether they had the mentality to respond once again.

The answer was emphatically yes.

Strand Road quickly regained control of the game, moving the ball well and showing great composure. The back four of Choggy, Duggan, Luke and Milos were outstanding all night. After the goal they settled quickly, defended resolutely and provided the platform for the comeback.

In midfield, Lee and Tommy battled tirelessly and were determined not to let the final slip away. On the right-hand side, Daryl produced arguably his best performance of the season. Back to his very best, he caused endless problems for the Kerry Blues defence and on another night could easily have found himself on the scoresheet after creating two excellent chances.

The equaliser finally arrived from a set piece — something discussed at length during the half-time team talk. A long ball from Tommy towards TJ led to a corner, and Strand Road made it count.

Lee stepped up and delivered a superb corner with his trademark left foot. Sean Duggan timed his run perfectly from the back post and powered a bullet header across the goalkeeper and into the net to make it 1-1.

Game on.

Another key moment came from the management team of Ken and Stuart, who switched Aaron out to the left wing. Their most creative player had been excellent throughout and the move gave him even more opportunities to influence the game. Aaron was outstanding from start to finish, while the switch also allowed TJ McMahon — “Mr Goals” as he likes to call himself — to operate more centrally where he continually troubled the Kerry Blues defence.

As the clock ticked down, extra time looked inevitable, but this final still had one more twist.

In the 88th minute, goalkeeper Gavin launched a long ball into midfield. Pup won the initial challenge before linking up with Lee. Once again, Lee’s sweet left foot produced a moment of quality, threading a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Strand Road’s number seven.

TJ McMahon needed just one touch.

Cool, composed and clinical, he slotted the ball beyond the advancing goalkeeper to send the Strand Road supporters into celebration and put his side 2-1 ahead.

Substitutes Bowler, Cian Eamon and Darrion were introduced to help see out the game, and all four made a huge impact. Their energy, commitment and fearless challenges helped Strand Road withstand the late pressure as Kerry Blues pushed desperately for an equaliser.

There was still time for one final scare when Kerry Blues earned a late corner. The delivery caused chaos in the box, but Gavin produced a massive save before Cian threw himself in front of the rebound with a crucial block to preserve the lead.

Moments later, the final whistle blew.

A tremendous team performance, full of character, resilience and determination, saw Strand Road complete a memorable comeback and lift the league title. Every player played their part, and after overcoming so many challenges throughout the season, this victory was thoroughly deserved.

It makes the achievement even more special when you consider that Strand Road had to do it all without their skipper, Alan Quirke, a true club legend and the heart and soul of this group of players. They were also without the players’ favourite, Seanie Mahoney, who at just 18 years of age has established himself as one of the finest wingers in the league and has been outstanding all season. The determination shown by those on the pitch was clear for all to see, as there was no way they were going to let this final slip away and let down two teammates who mean so much to the club. The victory was as much for Alan and Seanie as it was for everyone else involved.

Champions.

After a long and hard-fought season, Strand Road FC have earned their place in the Division 4 League Final. Important victories over Tralee Bay, Lenamore, Killorglin and Lisard helped keep us at the top of the table and put us in this position.

Everyone has played their part throughout the campaign, and now it all comes down to one final game.

This Friday, we face a strong Kerry Blues side in what promises to be a tough and competitive final. We know the challenge ahead, but the lads are ready to give everything.

We would love to see as many supporters as possible in Mounthawk Park on Friday evening. Your support means alot to the the team.

Get behind the lads, make some noise, and let’s finish the season together.

⚫ ⚪️Strand Road FC vs Kerry Blues FC
🏆 Division 4 League Final
📍 Mounthawk Park
🕢 Kick-Off: 7:30 PM
📅 This Friday

Come up and support the lads and help drive them over the line!

€5 entry on the night

Strand Road 5 Killorglin C 2

Strand Road produced a superb comeback to defeat Killorglin C 5–2 in a thrilling encounter.

The away side found themselves in early trouble, going 2–0 down after a shaky start. Killorglin C took their chances well, but Strand Road showed great character and belief to fight their way back into the game.

The comeback began when Seanie pulled one back, giving Strand Road a lifeline. Momentum quickly shifted, and Choggy calmly slotted home from the penalty spot to make it 2–2.

In the second half, Strand Road took full control. Daz produced the moment of the match with a brilliant strike from outside the box, firing past the keeper to put his side ahead. TJ, known as “Mr. Goals,” then added a fourth with a clinical finish, before Seanie grabbed his second of the game to seal an impressive 5–2 victory.

At the other end, Pup was outstanding in goals, making crucial saves to keep Strand Road in the game, especially when they were under pressure early on.

From 2–0 down to 5–2 winners, it was a performance full of resilience, quality, and determination from Strand Road.

MOTM John Griffin

Strand Road face a huge test in the Greyhound Bar Cup quarter-final as they come up against a strong Killarney Celtic side. It’s set to be their toughest challenge yet, with a place in the semi-finals on the line.

They also have a big clash ahead in the Celsius Cup semi-final, where they’ll meet high-flying Emerald Eagles.

Two tough games, but a great chance for Strand Road to prove themselves against top opposition.

Strand Road 4–3 Mastergeeha
Greyhound Bar Cup – First Round Match Report

Strand Road kicked off their Greyhound Bar Cup campaign in style with a thrilling 4–3 win over Mastergeeha in a first-round tie packed with drama from start to finish.

The game started brightly for Strand Road, who took an early lead through Aaron after putting immediate pressure on the opposition. However, their advantage didn’t last long, as Mastergeeha responded almost instantly. A conceded penalty allowed them to draw level, and just before half-time they edged in front with a superb strike, sending Strand Road into the break trailing 2–1.

The response after half-time was exactly what was needed. Strand Road came out sharper, stronger, and full of intent. Their efforts were rewarded when skipper Alan found the net to bring the sides level once again.

From there, the game became a tight and hard-fought contest, with both teams battling for control. The score remained level for much of the second half, with neither side able to break the deadlock.

That changed when TJ, introduced from the bench, made a huge impact. With around 15 minutes to go, he fired Strand Road back in front, giving them a crucial edge in the tie.

Mastergeeha pushed hard for another equaliser and created a couple of late chances, but Strand Road stood firm under pressure. Then came a decisive moment—an interception late on set TJ through, and he coolly finished for his second goal of the game to make it 4–2.

There was still time for more drama, as Mastergeeha pulled one back late to make it 4–3, but Strand Road showed great composure in the closing stages, sticking together to see the game out.

All credit goes to the Strand Road lads—their work rate, resilience, and heart were clear to see throughout, and it was a performance that sets them up nicely for the next round.

MOTM Aaron