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Relegation looms large for Kerry

All-Ireland champions Kerry look destined to drop to Division Two following yet another defeat yesterday, this time at the hands…

Mon Feb 26 2001 - 00:00

All-Ireland champions Kerry look destined to drop to Division Two following yet another defeat yesterday, this time at the hands of a young Roscommon side who were fired up for the occasion.

However, Roscommon gave home supporters among the attendance of about 3,500 at Dr Hyde Park more than a few anxious moments before finally securing a deserved win over the All-Ireland champions. The home side actually failed to score for a 42-minute spell after a very impressive start, before going on to score three points within as many minutes in the closing stages.

Roscommon were 0-4 in front after nine minutes when Kerry failed to answer points from Nigel Dineen, John Hanley, Alan Nolan and Jason Neary. However, four minutes later, full-forward Liam Hassett turned the Roscommon defence inside-out before giving Donal Daly a close-range shot on goal, which the big midfielder clinically executed. However, the home side resumed their early good work and a string of unanswered scores from Stephen Lohan, Nolan and Dineen put them 0-8 to 1-0 in front. Amazingly a converted free from Dineen 12 minutes before the break was to be Roscommon's last score until six minutes from full time.

Kerry stepped up a gear and points from Aodan MacGearailt and Michael Frank Russell left the home side leading 0-8 to 1-2 at the interval. Kerry had to substitute Hassett before the break after an earlier heavy tackle.

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Kerry continued to eat away at Roscommon's lead and Russell tied the scores midway through the half. Both sides failed to score during a tense 15 minute period until man-of-the-match Francie Grehan broke the deadlock with a point from 40 metres. Roscommon enhanced their position with further points from Lohan and Dineen to record victory.

ROSCOMMON: S Curran; D Gavin, J Whyte, M Raftery; B Burke, F Grehan (0-1), P Noone; F O'Donnell, P Mahon; D Connellan, J Hanley (0- 1), A Nolan (0-2); N Dineen (0-4, 3 from frees), S Lohan (0-2), J Neary (0-1). Subs: D Kelly for Mahon, L Dowd for Neary.

KERRY: D O'Keeffe; M McCarthy, S Moynihan, M Lyons; T O Se, E Fitzmaurice, K Scanlon; D O'Shea, D Daly (1-0); B Sheehan, N Kennelly , D O'Dwyer; MF Russell (0-3, 1 from free), L Hassett, A MacGearailt (0-2). Subs: J Moroney for Hassett, T O'Sullivan for Sheehan, J McGlynn for O'Dwyer.

Referee: J Smith (Meath).