Kerry scrape past Dublin
Kerry 2-13 Dublin 2-11
Kerry crept closer to the top of the Allianz NFL Division 1A standings tonight, as they edged Dublin in a tight Tralee tussle.
First-half goals from man-of-the-match Declan Quill (1-04) and Paul Galvin saw the home side turn at 2-07 to 0-06 in front.
It was the Quill and Ronan O'Connor show in the opening as together, they hit 1-02 to Dublin's no score in the opening five minutes.
Quill's second minute goal - set up by a combination of newcomer Kieran Donaghy and Paddy Kelly - had Kerry hitting the heights, and their flowing football saw Paul Galvin end his league woe on the half-hour with an unstoppable goal finish.
The 2004 All-star - yellow-carded in both of Kerry's opening league games - took a Kelly hand pass, overlapping brilliantly, and blasted a right-foot shot over the dive of the rooted Stephen Cluxton, and in off the cross bar.
However the joy was short-lived, as a yellow card for wing forward Kelly before the break and some harsh words from Dublin boss Paul Caffrey, saw the visitors on song on the restart.
Ciaran Whelan goaled after just fourteen seconds - ending a quick hand pass move with a smart finish - and a Shane Ryan point brought them back to within three points.
While they also had Peadar Andrews and substitute Darren Homan carded, Caffrey's men kept in touch with Whelan and sub Mark Vaughan (0-02) pointing.
Another replacement Jason Sherlock helped them reduce the arrears to just a point - 2-12 to 2-11 - on 61 minutes, when he set up Declan Lally for their second goal.
Nonetheless, following a hatful of misses - with the Dubs wayward with 14 chances - Eoin Brosnan held his cool in injury time to point the winner, profiting from a lacklustre Stephen Cluxton kick-out.
Kerry: D Murphy; M O Se, T O'Sullivan, M Lyons; A O'Mahony, E Fitzmaurice, S Moynihan; K Donaghy, T O Se; P Galvin, E Brosnan, P Kelly; D Quill, R O'Connor, C Cooper. Subs used: L Hassett for Kelly (yellow card) (35 mins), W Kirby for Donaghy (55), B Sheehan for Hassett (68)
Dublin: S Cluxton; P Griffin, P Christie, S O'Shaughnessy; P Casey, B Cullen, P Andrews; C Whelan, S Ryan; D Lally, L Og O hEineachain, S Connell; D O'Callaghan, C Keaney, T Quinn. Subs used: M Vaughan and C Moran for O'Callaghan and Casey (both half-time), C Goggins for Andrews (yellow card) (42), Jason Sherlock for Og O hEineachain (54), B Cahill for O'Shaughnessy (yellow card), D Homan for Quinn (both 64).
Scorers:
Kerry: D Quill 1-04, R O'Connor 0-05 (3f), P Galvin 1-00, Eoin Brosnan 0-03, L Hassett 0-01 each
Dublin: C Whelan 1-02, D Lally 1-01, C Keaney, M Vaughan, T Quinn (1f) 0-02 each, L Og O hEineachain, S Ryan 0-01 each
Referee: M Deegan (Laois)
