.Declan, Daniel and Ray O’Brien at Kerry v Roscommon in Croke Park. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
WELL that’s one way to escape the rain!
Kerry fans who made the trip to Croke Park were rewarded for their loyalty with a terrific display of football from the Kingdom and some glorious sunshine too. While there was persistent rain in Kerry all day, it was dry for players and spectators at headquarters.
While many fans decided to “wait for the final”, there was a smattering of Kerry fans throughout the stadium who had plenty to cheer about as Kerry romped to victory over Roscommon – 3-15 to 0-14.
TraleeToday.ie caught up with a few of them before the game in the Croke Park Hotel. Scroll down for photos…
A contingent who came up with members of the Beale U12 team who played at half time during Kerry v Roscommon in Croke Park. Photo by Gavin O’Connor..Linda Lyons, Padraig Aherne and Bernadette Aherne at Kerry v Roscommon in Croke Park. Photo by Gavin O’Connor..Seamus, JJ, Assumpta and Bernadette O’Donoghue at Kerry v Roscommon in Croke Park. Photo by Gavin O’Connor..Joey and Adrian McCarthy at Kerry v Roscommon in Croke Park. Photo by Gavin O’Connor..Molly, Cliona, Donal and Tom Buckley at Kerry v Roscommon in Croke Park. Photo by Gavin O’Connor..Gerard and Sean Collins, Jerome Daly and Peter Enright at Kerry v Roscommon in Croke Park. Photo by Gavin O’Connor..Hazel Langan, Mary Dillane, Kieran Langan, Caroline Langan and John Langan at Kerry v Roscommon in Croke Park. Photo by Gavin O’Connor..
Johnny Buckley fields the ball in the league game against Roscommon back in February. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE Kerry team to face Roscommon in the Allianz League semi-final has been announced and there are four changes from last weekend’s game against Cork.
Brian Kelly starts in goal in place of Brendan Kealy, Aidan O’Mahony and Fionn Fitzgerald come into the half back line in place of Killian Young and Padraig O’Connor and up front Darran O’Sullivan returns to the full forward line in place of Alan Fitzgerald.
Continued below…
.
The Tralee midfield of Kieran Donaghy and David Moran remains in place while Barry John Keane and Tommy Walsh are on the subs bench.
Captain Bryan Sheehan who was injured in the Round 5 meeting with Mayo is on the bench for the clash in Croke Park which throws in at 2pm.
The team, captained by Aidan O’Mahony, is as follows:
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.
Continued below…
.
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.
Continued below…
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 CreanStephen O’Brien speeds away from his markers. Photo by Dermot CreanThere was no crock of gold for Kerry at the end of the rainbow at Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE Kerry team for Sunday sees Tommy Walsh named as full forward while his Strand Road team mates retain their positions in a side which has three changes in personnel from last week’s defeat to Dublin.
The team to play Roscommon in Round 2 of the Allianz League in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday sees Brian Kelly takes over from Brendan Kealy in goal, Aidan O’Mahony comes into the half back line for Dr Crokes Fionn Fitzgerald and Jonathan Lyne replaces Philip O’Connor.
Continued below…
.
Kerins O’Rahillys Barry John Keane stays in corner forward next to his clubman Tommy Walsh while David Moran will take up his usual midfield position.
Castlegregory’s Alan Fitzgerald is brought into substitutes list as is Barry O’Sullivan from Dingle who won an All Ireland Minor medal with Kerry in 2014.
The team, captained by Killian Young is as follows:
