Superb Roscommon performance goes unrewarded in the Kingdom
Kerry's Dylan Casey is tackled by Roscommon's Paul Carey during Sunday's Division One League game at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
A magnificent Roscommon performance wasn’t enough to procure a famous win in Killarney as Tomás Kennedy’s fisted point on the hooter earned a fortunate one-point win for the Kingdom.
Mark Dowd’s new-look side had done magnificently to come from seven points down to lead by two points with just four minutes remaining.
But a David Clifford two-pointer levelled matters before Kennedy fetched a free in the dying seconds and fisted the winner just as the hooter sounded to break Roscommon hearts.
Daire Cregg was superb for the Rossies, hitting 0-9 and giving Jason Foley a torrid time.
Captain Diarmuid Murtagh landed 1-6, while there were also fine performances all over the field, especially from Senan Lambe who always tried to get Roscommon on the front foot.
Both sides shared the first four points — David Clifford and Micheál Burns on target for Kerry, while Enda Smith and Diarmuid Murtagh replied for Roscommon.
Kerry goalkeeper, Shane Murphy, made a smart save from Daire Cregg before Kerry hit six points in succession.
Roscommon began to struggle at midfield after Conor Ryan had made a bright start.
Clifford, Tomás Kennedy, Burns, Tadhg Morley, Kennedy (mark) and Clifford (an outrageous free from out near the sideline) put Kerry in the box seat but, to Roscommon’s credit, they responded magnificently.
A free from Cregg ended a 15-minute scoring famine for the visitors before Eoin Colleran split the posts to leave four points between them.
Then, Roscommon struck for a big score in the 26th minute. Senan Lambe overturned Joe O’Connor, and Darragh Heneghan’s searing place split the Kerry defence. Daire Cregg’s goal effort was blocked by Murphy, but Diarmuid Murtagh was on hand to force the rebound over the line.
But Roscommon weren’t finished. Cregg brought the sides level before a patient build-up procured a lead score for Keith Doyle.
But, with one minute remaining in the half, Kerry responded. Tony Brosnan’s effort for a point was fielded by Kennedy and, from a tight angle, the full-forward somehow squeezed the ball into the net.
There was still time for Brosnan to find the target just before the hooter as Kerry took a 1-9 to 1-6 lead into the half-time break.
A Diarmuid Murtagh two-pointer gave Roscommon encouragement on the resumption but Kerry hit another purple patch, and when a cheap turnover from Keith Doyle resulted in a penalty for the home side, Clifford held his nerve to rattle the net.
By the 52nd minute, Kerry were 2-14 to 1-10 ahead and nearly out the gap.
But Roscommon produced a revival to stir the soul. Cregg was at the epicentre with five points, including a two-pointer, while substitute Jack Duggan marked his introduction with a couple of points to move his side ahead, 1-18 to 2-14.
The mercurial Clifford levelled matters but a two-point free from Diarmuid Murtagh left Roscommon two points to the good after 66 minutes.
Clifford worked a brilliant two-pointer but Roscommon had the chance to win it, only for Paul Carey to blast wide.
Then came the winner from Kennedy that Kerry scarcely deserved, leaving Roscommon to lick their wounds.
But when the dust settles, Mark Dowd will glean plenty of encouragement from a performance that rattled the All-Ireland champions and hands the Rossies some momentum, irrespective of the result, ahead of the visit of Monaghan to King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park next weekend.
KERRY: S. Murphy; E. Looney, J. Foley, D. Casey; A. Heinrich (0-1), M. Breen, T. Morley (0-1); S. O’Brien, L. Smith; J. O’Connor (0-1), S. O’Shea (0-1, one free), M. Burns (0-2); D. Clifford (1-8, 1-0 penalty, one 0-2, one mark, one free), T. Kennedy (1-3, one mark), T. Brosnan (0-1). Subs used: D. Roche for Morley (blood sub, 21-23 mins), C. Trent for Smith (49 mins), K. Spillane for Brosnan (56 mins), R. Murphy for Burns (61 mins), D. O’Sullivan for O’Brien (67 mins), E. Healy for Morley (70 mins).
ROSCOMMON: A. Brady; P. Gavin, C. Keogh, E. McCormack; E. Ward, R. Daly, S. Lambe; K. Doyle (0-1), C. Ryan; D. Ruane, E. Smith (0-1), D. Heneghan; D. Murtagh (1-6, one 0-2, one 0-2 free, one free) D. Cregg (0-9, one 0-2, three frees), E. Colleran (0-1). Subs used: J. Tumulty for Colleran (46 mins), P. Carey for Ruane (54 mins), J. Duggan (0-2) for Doyle (56 mins), C. Lennon for Smith (61 mins), R. Hughes for Heneghan (63 mins).
Referee: B. Cawley (Kildare).
