Six point defeat for Roscommon
Allianz Football League Division One
Kerry 1-17 Roscommon 1-11
By Ian Cooney at Dr Hyde Park
Kerry remain in the hunt for a place in the Allianz Division One League final after Jack O’Connor’s men produced a polished performance at Dr. Hyde Park.
The Kingdom were always able to keep the Rossies at arm’s length, with David Clifford contributing 0-6, including a point from a first-half penalty, and midfielder Joe O’Connor finding the net in injury time.
The visitors had 10 different scorers and kicked 1-16 out of their 1-17 from play, highlighting the ease at which they were able to manufacture their scores.
Roscommon improved in the second half, having trailed by four points at the break after playing with the aid of the breeze.
Cathal Heneghan’s 54th minute goal left just three points between them, but Kerry closed out the game comfortably to join Dublin on eight points on the league table.
Kerry kept possession for the opening two minutes without a Roscommon player touching the ball, which ended with a fisted point for O’Connor.
Kerry were content to probe for any available space against a packed Roscommon defence in an effort to get possession to their main shooters.
Ronan Daly, a late replace for the injured Eoin McCormack, did equalise for Roscommon, but points from David Clifford (2), Barry Dan O’Sullivan, Seán O’Brien and Darragh Roche pushed the Kingdom 0-6 to 0-1 ahead at the end of the opening quarter.
Roscommon goalkeeper Conor Carroll showed his forwards how to split the posts with an excellent 20th minute score.
Clifford added his third point of the afternoon before Enda Smith and Daire Cregg replied for Roscommon.
In the 31st minute, Kerry won a penalty, although Seán O’Shea, who was being pulled by David Murray, had diverted Darragh Roche’s crossfield attempt to the net.
Up stepped Clifford, but he blazed his effort over Conor Carroll’s crossbar to leave Kerry 0-8 to 0-4 ahead at half time.
Roscommon improved on the resumption, and two early points by Enda Smith and Daire Cregg hinted at a comeback.
But Kerry were always able to move the Roscommon defence out of position to generate the space they needed for scores.
Substitute Cathal Heneghan’s goal, after good work by Diarmuid Murtagh, left three points between them. That was as close as Roscommon came as substitutes Stephen O’Brien and Paul Geaney kicked points after being introduced before O’Connor found the net in injury time.
Scorers for Kerry: David Clifford 0-6 (0-1 penalty), Joe O’Connor 1-1, Barry Dan O’Sullivan 0-2, Paul Geaney 0-2, Seán O’Brien 0-1, Darragh Roche 0-1, Dara Moynihan 0-1, Seán O’Shea 0-1, Stephen O’Brien 0-1, Paudie Clifford 0-1
Scorers for Roscommon: Enda Smith 0-3, Donie Smith 0-3 (2fs), Cathal Heneghan 1-0, Ronan Daly 0-2, Daire Cregg 0-2, Conor Carroll 0-1
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Graham O’Sullivan, Jason Foley, Paul Murphy; Seán O’Brien, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White; Barry Dan O’Sullivan, Joe O’Connor; Adrian Spillane, Paudie Clifford, Dara Moynihan; David Clifford, Darragh Roche, Seán O’Shea.
Subs: Stephen O’Brien for Spillane 51, Paul Geaney for Roche 57, Dylan Casey for O’Brien 58, Armin Heinrich for Foley 59, Keith Evans for Moynihan 67.
Roscommon: Conor Carroll; David Murray, Brian Stack, Niall Higgins; Niall Daly, Conor Hussey, Ronan Daly; Shane Cunnane, Tadhg O’Rourke; Ruaidhrí Fallon, Enda Smith, Dylan Ruane; Daire Cregg, Diarmuid Murtagh, Donie Smith.
Subs:Ultan Harney for O’Rourke 30, Conor Cox for Cunnane h-t, Patrick Gavin for Higgins h-t, Cathal Heneghan for Hussey 45, Cian Connolly for Murtagh 54.
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).