Kerry picked up their second win of their NFL Division 1 campaign as Paul Geaney and James O’Donoghue racked up the scores at Dr Hyde Park.
Roscommon wing-back John McManus was sent off for striking 13 minutes from time, but his dismissal had little impact on the result as Kerry were too strong for their hosts.
A Ciaran Murtagh penalty three minute from time gave Roscommon hope of launching a comeback, but they fell just short after Paul Geaney’s injury-time goal sealed matters.
It was a brave comeback from Roscommon as Diarmuid Murtagh made a big impact after his half-time introduction, while Tadhg O’Rourke also impressed at midfield for Kevin McStay’s side. But ultimately they lacked a small bit of composure in the first-half especially when they conceded six points in an 11-minute spell with just one score in return.
After a difficult start to their league campaign the last thing Roscommon needed was an in-form Jame O’Donoghue to show up in Hyde Park, but it was his full-forward line partner Paul Geaney who got his side off to a bright start with two points in the opening three minutes.
Despite the slow start, McStay would have been delighted to see his side level by the sixth minute after Fintan Cregg’s point off his left and Cian Connolly’s fisted effort.
Both sides experienced decent periods of dominance and three points in a row from Kerry in two minutes – two from Paul Geaney and a third from Barry John Keane – saw them into a decent lead, but they could never really pull far enough clear of the Roscommon challenge.
But this was a spirited display from Roscommon and after Donie Smith added two close range frees, Connolly made it 0-5 each with a great score on the turn after 17 minutes playing into the wind.
But between the 19th and 30th minutes, Kerry upped their intensity and reeled off a series of good points. With Jack Savage getting off the mark, Paul Geaney, Paul Murphy and David Moran also found the target as Kerry threatened to run riot.
The only Roscommon score in that spell came from Darren O’Malley from a long range free, which was earned after a clash between Donnchadh Walsh and Enda Smith, and the Kerry man was also black carded in the incident.
Ciaran Murtagh cut Kerry’s lead to four two minutes from the interval, but Kerry took a 0-12 to 0-7 lead into half-time when skipper Peter Crowley crept in for a good point when he benefited from a good switch in play
Savage added his second point shortly after the restart to stretch Kerry’s advantage and on a few occasions they led by six points in the second-half. O’Donoghue reeled off three points in a row midway though the half, but despite McManus’ red card Roscommon rallied.
Diarmuid Murtagh pointed two frees after his brother Ciaran also found the target, and when Tadhg Morley was deemed to have fouled Enda Smith in the big rectangle the captain’s penalty put just a point between the sides.
But in the end Geaney was cool under pressure and his goal brought the comeback to an abrupt end as Kerry eased to the win they deserved.
Kerry: B Kealy; S Enright (0-01), K Young, R Shanahan; T Morley, P Crowley (c) (0-01), P Murphy (0-01); D Moran (0-01), J Barry; K McCarthy, J Savage (0-02), D Walsh; BJ Keane (0-02), P Geaney (1-06, 0-04f), J O’Donoghue (0-04, 0-01f)
Subs used: S O’Brien (0-01) for Walsh (26 BC), A Maher for Barry (31), M Griffin for Crowley (42), D O’Sullivan for Savage (52), J Lyne for Young (56), M Geaney for Keane (69).
Roscommon: D O’Malley (0-01, 0-01f); D Murray, S Mullooly, N McInerney; C Devaney, S McDermott, J McManus; E Smith, T O’Rourke; F Cregg (0-02), R Stack, Shane Killoran; D Smith (0-03, 0-03f), C Murtagh (c) (1-02, 1-00 pen), C Connolly (0-02).
Subs used: C Cafferkey for McDermott (32), D Murtagh (0-03, 0-02f) for Connolly (h-t), N Kilroy for D Smith (44), B Murtagh for Cregg (58), P Brogan for Murray (65)
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).
