Kerry kept themselves in contention for a place in the Allianz Football League final after comfortably getting the better of Roscommon at Dr Hyde Park.
Jack O'Connor’s men were the best team by some distance, and Joe O’Connor’s injury-time goal sealed a deserved victory for the visitors.
David Clifford hit 0-06 over the 70 minutes, including blasting a first-half penalty over the crossbar.
From the opening whistle, Kerry kept possession for over two minutes without a Roscommon player touching the ball, which ended with a fisted point for O’Connor.
That set the template for the opening half, with Kerry probing for the space against a packed Roscommon defence in an effort to get possession to their shooters.
Ronan Daly did equalise for Roscommon, but points from David Clifford (0-02), Barry Dan O’Sullivan, Seán O’Brien and Darragh Roche pushed the Kingdom 0-06 to 0-01 ahead at the end of the opening quarter.
Roscommon goalkeeper Conor Carroll showed his forwards how to split the posts with an excellent 20th minute score — a rare highlight for the Rossies during the opening 35 minutes.
Clifford added his third point of the afternoon before Enda Smith and Daire Cregg replied for Roscommon.
In the 31st minute, Kerry won a penalty, although Seán O’Shea, who was being pulled by David Murray, had diverted Darragh Roche’s crossfield attempt to the net. Up stepped Clifford, but he blazed his effort over Conor Carroll’s crossbar to leave Kerry 0-08 to 0-04 ahead at half time.
Roscommon improved on the resumption, and two early points by Enda Smith and Daire Cregg hinted at a comeback.
But Kerry were always able to move the Roscommon defence out of position to generate the space for scores, ending with 1-16 out of their 1-17 coming from play.
Cathal Heneghan’s 54th minute goal, after good work by Diarmuid Murtagh, left three points between them, and roused the home crowd.
But that’s as close as Roscommon came as substitute Paul Geaney kicked two points after being introduced before O’Connor found the net in injury time.
Roscommon, who are two points behind Galway but have a better scoring difference, must beat Derry in Celtic Park next weekend and hope that Kerry do them a favour by getting the better of the Tribesmen in Killarney to have any hope of preserving their Division One starts.
Roscommon: Conor Carroll (0-01); David Murray, Brian Stack, Niall Higgins; Niall Daly, Conor Hussey, Ronan Daly (0-02); Enda Smith (0-03), Tadhg O'Rourke; Ruaidhrí Fallon, Shane Cunnane, Dylan Ruane; Daire Cregg (0-02), Diarmuid Murtagh, Donie Smith (0-03, 0-02 frees).
Subs: Ultan Harney for O’Rourke (30), Conor Cox for Cunnane (h-t), Patrick Gavin for Higgins (h-t), Cathal Heneghan (1-00) for Hussey (45), Cian Connolly for Murtagh (54).
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Graham O'Sullivan, Jason Foley, Paul Murphy; Seán O’Brien (0-01), Tadhg Morley, Gavin White; Barry Dan O’Sullivan (0-02), Joe O’Connor (1-01); Adrian Spillane, Paudie Clifford (0-01), Dara Moynihan (0-01); David Clifford (0-06, 0-01 penalty), Darragh Roche (0-01), Seán O’Shea (0-01).
Subs: Stephen O’Brien (0-01) for Spillane (51), Paul Geaney (0-02) for Roche (57), Dylan Casey for O’Brien (58), Armin Heinrich for Foley (59), Keith Evans for Moynihan (67).
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)
