Kerry on course for three-in-a-row

Kerry 0-13 Roscommon 0-12

John Meyler’s side were arguably the better team but they were made to fight all the way by a Roscommon outfit that refused to throw in the towel even when it appeared their challenge had waned mid-way through the second-half.

Kerry started brightly with Sean Weir opening their account straight from the throw-in before Shane Nolan tapped over a close-range free. Roscommon were back on terms by the 11th minute though thanks to successive John Coyne frees but Nolan responded with a brace from placed balls to restore the Kingdom’s two-point advantage.

Roscommon battled to break down a Kerry defence led by the impressive Brian Murphy at full-back but despite the best efforts of Roscommon’s danger man, John Coyne his side trailed by three with five minutes to the break.

Coyne cut the gap to two on the stroke of half-time with a sweet strike — his second from play, and should have knocked over a close-range free deep in injury time but fired wide to leave his side trail by 0-4 to 0-6 at the break.

Kerry restored their three-point advantage three minutes after the break thanks to a Shane Nolan free before Nolan and Coyne once more exchanged frees as both sides battled to gain a foothold.

Roscommon again cut the gap to two with another John Coyne free in the 37th minute but Causeway’s Colm Harty replied in style with a well-taken 40th minute effort.

Substitute, Stephen Leen fired Kerry four clear moments later, but back came Roscommon with renewed vigour. Successive points from Eamon Kenny and John Coyne coupled with a Coyne free from close-range whittled the deficit to just one with 15 minutes remaining.

With Roscommon in the ascendancy, Kerry were forced into a rearguard action but crucially picked off two points thanks to Shane Nolan (free) and Pa Joe Connolly. John Coyne fired over two frees in reply but Connolly broke Roscommon hearts with a sublime 59th minute point to put two between the sides.

Roscommon replied with a late Eamon Mulry point but Kerry’s rearguard defended stoutly in injury time to maintain their slender advantage and secure an All-Ireland final appearance.

Impressive for Kerry were James O’Connor, Brian Murphy, Jason Bowler, Brendan Brosnan, Pa Joe Connolly, Shane Nolan and Colm Harty while John Coyne, Brian Donnelly, Alan Moore and Eamon Mulry caught the eye for Roscommon.

Scorers for Kerry: S. Nolan 0-8 (0-7f); P Connolly 0-2, S. Weir, S. Leen and C. Harty 0-1 each.

Scorers for Roscommon: J. Coyne 0-10 (0-6f); E. Mulry and E. Kenny 0-1 each.

KERRY: M. Stackpoole; J. O’Connor, B. Murphy, J. Bowler (C); P. O’Keefe, A. Fealy, J. Leahy; PJ Keane, B. Brosnan; S. Weir, R. Kenny, C. Harty; P Connolly, S. Nolan, B. Leen.

Subs: S. Leen for B. Leen (25); S. Dowling for Kenny (54).

ROSCOMMON: C. Fitzgibbon; K. Dowd, P. Kelleghan, D. Leonard; D. Dowling, B. Donnelly, N. Keenan; A. Moore, G. Gill; E. Mulry, J. Coyne, E. Bannon; J. Lawlor, N. Connaughton, E. Kenny.

Subs: C. Kelly for Connaughton (24); C. Egan for Gill (40).

Referee: M. O’Connor (Limerick).