Kingdom rule roost over Mayo
Kerry 1-15 Mayo 2-9
REIGNING champions Kerry played the final 20 minutes with 13 men against Mayo but still left Castlebar last night with two crucial League points.
The Kingdom had both Ronan Shanahan and Gavin Crowley sent to the line during a fractious second half, but they still managed to hold out for a deserved victory.
A disappointing Mayo were unable to make their two extra men count during the dramatic last quarter, and only scored a solitary point — a free from sub Andy Moran.
Kerry were never behind during an action-packed match in front of 11,639 fans and they led at halftime by 0-10 to 2-3.
They would have been further in front had Mayo’s All-star goalkeeper, David Clarke, not saved a Seán O’shea penalty.
But 10 superb points from play had Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s new-look side in the driving seat as Barry John Keane (3), O’shea (2), Micheal Burns (2) and man of the match, Paul Geaney, all hit the target.
Star minor David Clifford also landed a point from play before limped off injured after only 17 minutes.
Mayo’s two first half goals came from Diarmuid O’connor in the 12 th and 34th minutes, the second from a well-struck penalty.
Kerry, who went into battle without almost 20 players due to injuries, responded in style though when Gavin Crowley hit the Mayo net two minutes into the second half.
The visitors stretched their lead out to five points with twenty minutes to play, and they kept Mayo at bay impressively after being reduced to 13 men. SCORERS: KERRY: G Crowley (1-0), BJ Keane (0-3), P Geaney (0-3), S O’shea (0-3, ‘45), M Burns (0-2), Barry O’sullivan (0-1), D Clifford (0-1), P Murphy (0-1), Brendan O’sullivan (0-1) MAYO: D O’connor (2-1, 1-0pen), C O’connor (0-2, 2fs), E Regan (0-1, 1f), B Moran (0-1), J Doherty (0-3, 3fs), A Moran (0-1, 1f).