Kerry Defeat Roscommon In The Allianz Football League

First Half

The conditions were perfect – no wind, the sun was behind the clouds on a dry afternoon in Dr. Hyde Park.

From the start, the referee, Joe McQuillan had to call for a blood substitution for David Moran who was replaced by Adrian Spillane for a nasty looking injury.

The early possession was with the home side after the resumption with the first scoring attempt coming from them being squandered with a shot into the hands of the Kerry goalkeeper, Kieran Fitzgibbon.

David Moran returned with a heavy bandage around his head just in time to see Donie Smith give Roscommon the lead from a free.

In a half that lacked intensity from both sides with Kerry’s defence overlapping and overcrowding the attack at times, Roscommon were guilty of being wasteful in possession.

It wasn’t until after the Water-Break that Kerry went into the lead and with first-half points from Paudie Clifford (2), Paul Geaney (2), Tony Brosnan (2) David Clifford (2), Ronan Buckley (1) and Diarmuid O’Connor, Kerry led 10-7 at half time.

Half-Time: Roscommon 0-07 Kerry 0-10

Once again, despite having the first scorable chance of the second half when Paul Geaney kicked wide, Kerry conceded the first score after the restart.

Kerry tightened up in the centre to keep the hosts at bay and while Roscommon looked relatively dangerous on the attack, they lacked potency.

On the contrary, Paudie Clifford only knows how to make a score and after he was fouled, Paul Geaney’s free put Kerry 3 points ahead after 41 minutes.

But Roscommon didn’t get the memo that said they’d fold against the Kingdom and three unanswered points brought the sides level.

Paul Murphy and Sean O’Shea joined the action in place of Graham O’Sullivan and Ronan Buckley.

The sides exchanged points to leave it at 0-12 apiece midway through the second half.

Diarmuid O’Connor’s second point, just before the Water Break was followed by a bizarre 30 seconds.

Tadhg Morley came on for Tom O’Sullivan and in his first involvement, the Templenoe man picked up a red card for a foul near the sideline.

Kerry led by a point at the Water Break – 0-13 to 0-12.

A goal from David Clifford, after a great pass from his brother Paudie, put Kerry 1-13 to 0-12 ahead as the clock ticked into the 56th minute.

Another Diarmuid O’Connor fisted point extended Kerry’s lead to 1-14 to 0-12, followed in the 64th minute by a fourth point from David Clifford.

Roscommon 0-12 Kerry 1-15

Kerry were caught napping with 7 minutes remaining when Roscommon sub Conor Devaney rifled a great shot to the net past Kieran Fitzgibbon to give the hosts a lifeline.

Roscommon 1-12 Kerry 1-15

A second yellow card for Roscommon Captain, Enda Smith levelled things in terms of personnel and it was followed within 30 seconds by a goal from Kerry debutant Joe O’Connor. The Austin Stacks man took the pass from Briain Ó Beaglaoich who’s incisive run created the opportunity. That was the last piece of action in a dull affair.