Kerry secured a third league win with a narrow victory against Donegal at Austin Stack Park this afternoon.

A David Moran penalty six minutes from time was needed to secure victory.

Eamonn McGee committed the foul on Paul O'Donoghue and the Kerry midfielder slotted the resulting spot kick.

Kerry's second goal moved them 2-12 to 1-10 in front, but the home outfit were forced to sweat out the late exchanges as Michael Murphy nailed a Donegal penalty on 66 minutes.

Murphy, Paddy McBrearty and Colm McFadden had steered Donegal into the ascendancy early in the second-half. Kerry regained control through a Barry John Keane goal on 45 minutes and a string of points from Buckley, Keane and Paul Geaney.

Kerry, determined to work possession down the wings as opposed to navigating the central channel, opened in brighter fashion.

The accuracy of Bryan Sheehan’s right boot (0-3, 0-1 free and 0-1 ’45) edged the home outfit in front, but their early dominance was undone by a sweeping passage of play from Neil Gallagher’s charges on 10 minutes.

Hugh McFadden, Michael Murphy and Martin O’Reilly combined in putting through Ryan McHugh and the Donegal centre-back slotted the ball into the corner of Kealy’s goal.

Kerry continued unperturbed and would render Donegal scoreless in the ensuing 12 minutes, while, at the other end, tallying four on the hop.

Paul Murphy, David Moran, Barry John Keane and a superb Sheehan free returned Kerry to pole position and it was a lead they would carry to the interval break despite Hugh McFadden, Michael Murphy (free) and Martin McElhinney splitting the posts.

Scorers for Kerry: B Sheehan (0-6, 0-1 ’45, 0-3 frees); D Moran (1-0), BJ Keane (1-1 each); P Murphy, P Geaney, J Buckley, S O’Brien A Fitzgerald (0-1 each).

Scorers for Donegal: M Murphy (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-1 ’45, 0-2 frees); P McBrearty (0-4); R McHugh (1-0); C McFadden, M McElhinney, N Gallagher, H McFadden (0-1 each).

Kerry: B Kealy; P Kilkenny, M Griffin, P Murphy; J Lyne, P Crowley, K Young; A Maher, D Moran; S O’Brien, B Sheehan, J Buckley; P Geaney, K Donaghy, BJ Keane.

Subs: A Fitzgerald for Sheehan (HT, inj), S Enright for Kilkenny (47), T Walsh for Geaney (54), P O’Donoghue for Keane (63), F Fitzgerald for P Crowley (66), K O’Leary for Buckley (68).

Donegal: P Durcan; P McGrath, E McGee, N McGee; K Lacey, R McHugh, E Doherty; H McFadden, N Gallagher; M McHugh, M McElhinney, C Toye; M O’Reilly, M Murphy, P McBrearty.

Subs: C McFadden for McElhinney (HT), A Thompson for Doherty (56), M McElhinney for H McFadden (63, inj), E McMugh for O’Reilly (66), G McFadden for M McHugh (70). D McLaughlin for Toye (70).

Referee: R Hickey (Clare).