Kerry 0-11 Cork 2-2, Tralee
Kerry had the scoring edge on Cork despite leaking two goals to their old rivals at Austin Stack Park.
In wet conditions, Kerry relied on two scorers - Declan Quill (0-6) and skipper Bryan Sheehan (0-5) - to secure their first Division 1A win.
Pat O'Shea's men led 0-6 to 1-2 at the break, with Kieran Donaghy dominant at full-forward. Daniel Goulding netted on 34 minutes for Cork.
In a scrappy second half, Sheehan and Cork defender Noel O'Leary were both dismissed for their second yellow cards and though Donnacha O'Connor scrambled home a 61st-minute goal, there was no denying Kerry.