Roscommon outclassed in Killarney
David Clifford surveys his options with Brian Stack in close quarters. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Roscommon were put to the sword by a Kerry side who were far removed from their best.
Davy Burke’s men only trailed 0-12 to 0-8 after 47 minutes but Kerry eased through the gears as quickfire goals from David Clifford and Paul Geaney sealed Roscommon’s fate.
Although Roscommon will be judged by how they fare against Meath and Cork, Kerry looked pedestrian at times and struggled to a degree without Paudie Clifford pulling the strings in attack.
But after a promising start, Roscommon fell away as their worrying form, with just one win in their last six games.
Roscommon started the quicker of the two sides as they grabbed the opening two scores of the contest. Davy Burke’s men will feel they should have led by more with Ronan Daly opening the scoring while Roscommon squandered the biggest goal chance of the opening half.
After Diarmuid O’Connor coughed up possession, a probing Keith Doyle ball found Brian Stack who jinked inside David Clifford before firing over from point blank range.
Diarmuid O’Connor got Kerry off the mark while Paul Geaney slotted a tricky effort from a mark to equalise the contest. David Clifford slotted a two point free to give Kerry a 0-4 to 0-3 lead on 12 minutes and from there they never trailed.
A rousing Eddie Nolan score gave Roscommon hope but the pace of their attacks reduced in the second quarter as they slotted just two points in the second quarter. The industrious Joe O’Connor kicked two points during that period as Kerry outscored the visitors 0-7 to 0-2 in the second quarter.
Seanie O’Shea also bagged a pair of two point frees with the first coming after the ball was moved forward 50m as Senan Lambe tackled Gavin White after the Kerry captain called a mark. The second arrived when Roscommon breached the ‘three up rule’ in the final action of the half. This helped Kerry lead 0-11 to 0-6 at half time.
The third quarter was rather timid with both sides wasteful in attack. Kerry dominated possession in the early stages but two poor wides kept Roscommon afloat. Ciaráin Murtagh slotted over a free while Ben O’Carroll kicked a neat effort. David Clifford kicked a settling score but Roscommon only trailed 0-8 to 0-12 after 47 minutes.
Once Kerry began to find their range, they pulled clear as an excellent run from Brian Ó Beaglaoich saw him pick out Clifford, who barged through to slam home a decisive goal after 50 minutes.
Shane Ryan (a ’45) and O’Shea pushed out the Kerry lead before a misplaced kickoutfrom Conor Carroll was cut out by David Clifford as Sean O’Shea set up Paul Geaney to roll the ball home for Kerry’s second goal.
Ronan Daly kicked Roscommon’s first two pointer after 54 minutes but Kerry hit straight back as Gavin White palmed home Kerry’s third goal after an excellent ball across from Paul Geaney.
Conor Cox and Diarmuid Murtagh kicked a two pointer apiece as Roscommon began to make use of the wind advantage in the final stages. But, Kerry were always a few steps ahead as Roscommon must rebound for their home game against Meath in two weeks time.
KERRY: S. Ryan (0-1, 45); D. Casey, J. Foley, G. White (1-0); B. Ó Beaglaoich (0-1), M. Breen, T. O’Sullivan; D. O’Connor (0-2), B.D. O’Sullivan; J. O’Connor (0-2), S. O’Shea (0-7, two 0-2 frees, one free), M. Burns; D. Geaney, D. Clifford (1-3, one 0-2 free), P. Geaney (1-1, one mark).
Subs Used: T. Brosnan (0-1) for D. Geaney (47 mins), G. O’Sullivan for Burns (47 mins), K. Spillane for Clifford (61 mins), T. Morley for Ó Beaglaoich (62 mins), M. O’Shea for B. D. O’Sullivan (62 mins).
ROSCOMMON: C. Carroll; N. Higgins, B. Stack (0-1), D. Murray; S. Lambe, R. Daly (0-3, one 0-2), J. McManus; E. Nolan (0-1), K. Doyle (0-1); D. Ruane, C. Murtagh (0-2, one free), C. Hand; E. Smith, D. Cregg (0-1), B. O’Carroll (0-2).
Subs Used: D. Murtagh (0-3, one 0-2) for Doyle (41 mins), C. Neary for Ruane (52 mins), S. Killoran for Smith (54 mins), C. Lennon for Lambe (54 mins), C. Cox (0-3, one 0-2) for Hand (57 mins).
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).
Full report, reaction and analysis in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald
