Survival is on line for O’rourke
Roscommon Kerry Tomorrow, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm
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CONOR COX will be looking to preserve Roscommon’s top flight status by outwitting his former Kerry teammates in Hyde Park.
A Listowel native, Cox transferred to his father’s county this year after his Kerry senior career, which encompassed seven
League appearances from 2013-16, had run aground.
Indeed, what proved to be his final game for Kerry was against Roscommon three years ago when the Division One newcomers scored a surprise win in Killarney.
Kerry avenged that defeat with a League semifinal trouncing of Roscommon later in the year but Cox was struggling to break into a talented forward line at that stage and his Championship appearances for the county were limited to junior level, a grade at which he won All-irelands in 2012, 15 and ‘17, along with minor and under-21.
Teammates on the last of those success included current Kerry seniors Tomas O Se and Tadhg Morley, who he’s likely to encounter at Hyde Park tomorrow. David Clifford is also set to start for the first time this year.
While it’s still early days, Cox’s acquisition appears to have been a good one for Roscommon with the talented forward having hit 1-21 in five appearances.
For Roscommon to avoid relegation, they need a win or draw if Monaghan lose to Mayo. If Monaghan were to draw, Roscommon would have to win to stay up.
A Monaghan win would render events in Hyde Park meaningless in a relegation context. Kerry are not yet certain of a final spot and that might ensure they don’t show any mercy to fellow countyman Cox. NFL DIVISION 1 TABLE P W D L +/- Pts 6 5 0 1 11 10 6 4 0 2 0 8 6 4 0 2 7 8 6 3 1 2 5 7 6 3 0 3 17 6 6 2 0 4 -7 4 6 1 1 4 -20 3 6 1 0 5 -13 2 Kerry
Galway
Mayo
Tyrone Dublin Monaghan Roscommon Cavan