Boyle hat-trick edges emphatic Kerry closer to Christy Ring Final
SHARP SHOOTER: Padraig Boyle Kerry. Pic: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD .
Christy Ring Cup favourites Kerry made in three wins from three with an emphatic victory over a gutsy Roscommon at St Aidan’s Ballyforan on Saturday afternoon.
Kerry now face Wicklow at home in their next game and victory in two weeks time should secure their place in the Christy Ring Cup final while Roscommon have a fight on their hands to stave off relegation with their final games away to Donegal and Wicklow.
Kerry displayed much more intensity and energy in this game but they found Roscommon difficult to shake off in the opening half and retired to the dressing rooms leading by only five points at half time, 1-15 to 1-10.
A second half hat-trick from Podge Boyle, for a second week in a row, ensured that there were going to be no slip ups, as the Ballyduff sharpshooter ended with a game-high 3-9 to his name.
Roscommon tried hard but they lacked the slickness and speed in striking of a team playing in a higher division before they eventually ran out of puff.
In fact the Kingdom never trailed after Micheal Slattery found the Rossies net inside the opening 20 seconds. Cian Bowles and Eamon Mulry replied for Roscommon but the Kerry defence, superbly led by Eric Leen and Seanie McGrath, were constantly repelling the sporadic Rossies attacks.
Four unanswered points from Tom Doyle, Jordan Brick, Podge Boyle and Evan Murphy saw Kerry move five clear but Conor Mulry and Adam Donnelly kept the home side in touch with points from play.
Jordan Brick then cut lose as the Kingdom raced 1-10 to 0-5 in front and it appeared as if Roscommon had accepted the inevitable.
But then in the 18th minute a high centre from Adam Donnelly was dropped into his own net in the glare of sun. This appeared to give oxygen to the home side and they enjoyed a decent 10-minute spell approaching half time thanks to points from Eamon Mulry, Conor Morris and the impressive Sean Canning as Kerry led 1-15 to 1-10 at the interval.
Despite two early second-half points from Morris and Cian Murphy, Kerry assumed complete control thanks to Hugh Lenihan, Kevin Goulding and Jordan Brick and a hat trick from Boyle put the game beyond the Rossies' reach.
P Boyle 3-9 (7fs), J Brick (0-6), M Slattery (1-1); E Murphy and T Doyle (0-2 each); K Goulding and I Conway (0-1)
C Morris (0-6, 4fs, 1 s/l), A Donnelly (1-1), S Canning (0-3), K Feehily and E Mulry (0-2 each), K Ryan, C Murray, C Bowes, and C Mulry (0-1 each)
E Lawless; M Hussey, J Dillon, J Dowling; K Ryan, T Morris, D Finn; C Mulry, C Murray; A Donnelly, C Bowes, S Canning; C Mulry, P Fallon , C Morris.
R Finn for P Fallon, 42, J Martin for C Morris, 52, K Feehily for J Dowling, 60, B Mannion for C Mulry, 67, B Lawlor for T Morris, 67
C Bohane; E Leen, S McGrath, K O’Connor; J O’Connor, J Diggins, J Segal ; K Goulding, H Lenihan; J Brick, E Murphy, T Doyle; G Dooley, P Boyle, M Slattery.
C Walsh for E Murphy (inj), half-time, I Conway for C Walsh (inj), 47, D Kearney for E Leen, 61, L Rochford for M Slattery, 61, D O’Sullivan for J O’Connor, 64
C Daly (Kildare)
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
