Kerry 1-10
Roscommon 0-14
Barry John Keane speeds away from his marker. Photo by Dermot Crean
PLENTY to think about for the next three weeks then.
Kerry were beaten fair and square today by a game Roscommon outfit, who adapted better to the poor footballing conditions in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.
The rain and wind kept the fans away too, as just 4,507 paid in to see the proverbial ‘bad day at the office’ for a Kerry side looking bereft of ideas.
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A solid second half performance from the Connaught side, playing against the wind, propelled them to victory and Eamonn Fitzmaurice is faced with an uphill battle now for the rest of Kerry’s league campaign.
Kerry, playing against the wind in the first half, started well and were 0-3 to 0-0 up in the first eight minutes thanks to Barry John Keane’s frees.
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Stephen O’Brien scores his first half goal. Photo by Dermot Crean
Roscommon came back though and hit the next eight points without reply, but Kerry hit back with points from Barry John Keane and Tommy Walsh and then a goal on 31 minutes.
Stephen O’Brien picked up the ball 35 yards out, sped down left wing leaving two defenders for dead, before cutting back across in front of goal and slotting it past the Roscommon goalkeeper.
A fine Johnny Buckley point put Kerry ahead 1-6 to 0-8 up at half-time.
Killian Young looks for options. Photo by Dermot Crean
Logic dictated that a Kerry side playing with the wind in the second half would kick on and secure the points.
Roscommon though had other ideas. They were tenacious and stuck with Kerry score for score until the 22nd minute when they went ahead 0-13 to 1-9 and never lost the lead again.
Kerry weren’t at the races at all and couldn’t muster a decent challenge in the last 15 minutes to close the gap.
David Moran rises highest for a kick out. Photo by Dermot Crean
Enda Smith put Roscommon two clear with time almost up and despite an injury time point from Conor Cox, Kerry slumped to their second defeat of the league and problems ahead for the rest of the campaign. The huge crowd of travelling support in the stands erupted at the final whistle and the journey home for them won’t seem as long.
It’s hardly panic stations for Kerry though, with so many players to come back from injuries, but it was still a very poor performance from players capable of so much more.
Cathal Shine celebrates at the final whistle. Photo by Dermot Crean
More photos below…(we’ll have match analysis and action photos tomorrow)
Kerry: B Kelly; B O Beaglaoich, M Griffin, S Enright; P Murphy, A O’Mahony, K Young; D Moran, J Buckley (0-2); J Lyne, D O’Sullivan, D Walsh; BJ Keane (0-5 4fs), T Walsh (0-1), S O’Brien (1-1). Subs: T O’Sullivan for Lyne inj (12), A Fitzgerald for D Walsh (48), C Cox (0-1) for Keane (57), F Fitzgerald for Enright (59), Barry O’Sullivan for Buckley inj (63), Brendan O’Sullivan for Walsh (69).
Roscommon: D O’Malley; S McDermott, N Collins, N McInerney; N Daly, D Murray, R Stack; E Smith (0-3), I Kilbride; F Cregg (0-2), C Cregg (0-4), C Daly; C Connolly (0-1), C Devanney (0-2), C Murtagh (0-1). Subs: C Shine for Kilbride (54), S Purcell for C Daly (58),R Daly for Cregg (59), C McHugh for Connolly (63).
Tommy Walsh struggles to find space for a shot. Photo by Dermot Crean
Stephen O’Brien speeds away from his markers. Photo by Dermot Crean
There was no crock of gold for Kerry at the end of the rainbow at Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday. Photo by Dermot Crean
