Roscommon survival chances have been dealt a major blow following a heavy defeat to Kerry in Allianz football league division one.
The Kingdom led for the majority of the contest and deservedly won out 1-17 to 1-11 at Dr. Hyde Park.
Superior accuracy imposed a front-foot start for Kerry. Jack O’Connor’s men leading four points to one after 13 minutes.
Ronan Daly opened Roscommon’s account while Joe O’Connor, David Clifford, Barry Dan O’Sullivan and Sean O’Brien were on target for the Kingdom.
The Rossies also registered four wides inside the opening quarter. Further points from Darragh Roche and Paudie Clifford left them five points down on 18 minutes.
Three minutes later Roscommon goalkeeper Conor Carroll ended a scoring drought spanning 16 minutes. David Clifford swiftly restored Kerry’s five point cushion.
Roscommon’s accuracy subsequently improved. Scores from Enda Smith and Daire Cregg made it a three-point game on 28 minutes.
60 seconds later, Sean O’Shea found the net. However, the Kerry forward was adjudged to have been fouled by David Murray.
From the resultant penalty, David Clifford blasted the ball over the bar as Kerry led 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time.
Roscommon showed plenty of urgency after the restart. Scores from Enda Smith and Daire Cregg made it a two-point game on 39 minutes.
Barry Dan O’Sullivan eventually opened Kerry’s second-half account 60 seconds later. Eight minutes later, Clifford made it a six-point game.
Enda Smith and Sean O’Shea subsequently traded points before Roscommon’s Cathal Heneghan found the net. Suddenly, it was back to a three-point game.
Kerry restored their four-point buffer on three further occasions, each time Roscommon brought it back to a three-point game.
Joe O’Connor’s goal pushed Kerry seven points clear four minutes into injury time. Donie Smith replied for Roscommon resulting in a six-point defeat.
