Kerry 1-15
Dublin 0-11
A second-half fightback wasn’t enough as Dublin slumped to a second successive league defeat to Kerry in Tralee on Saturday night.
Dessie Farrell’s side were made to rue a sloppy first 35 minutes in which they shipped a black card and a goal and trailed by 13 points at the break.
The Kingdom led 1-14 to 0-4 at half time as they proved too clinical for a Dublin side whose preparation was disrupted by four late withdrawals, including Con O’Callaghan.
Dublin can bemoan a string of questionable early calls, including a mistaken black card for Niall Scully that saw a goal chalked off, but they can have few complaints with the outcome.
Kerry could even afford a missed penalty, courtesy of David Clifford, as they swamped Dublin in the early period and cruised to victory despite only scoring once in the second half.
If these sides are to meet further down the track in the All-Ireland, Dublin will need a lot of improvement to compete with Jack O’Connor’s well-drilled side.
The Kindgom led inside two minutes as Paul Geaney started as he meant to go on with a well-taken score and they never really looked back.
Dean Rock and Paudie Clifford exchanged points before Seanie O’Shea made it a two-point game for the home side.
Evan Comerford slotted over a free and Rock again responded to a Diarmuid O’Connor point to keep Dublin within striking distance during a competitive opening quarter.
David Clifford then missed a penalty after his brother was pushed in the area, but he made amends by slotting over a point moments later.
Then came controversy as Rock looked to have slotted home the game’s first goal off the crossbar, but the officials had spotted something in the build-up.
After much consultation, Niall Scully was deemed to have committed a foul in the run-up although it seemed to be a case of mistaken identity, and the goal was chalked off.
Two quick points from O’Shea and one from Dara Moynihan stretched the lead out to five points before David Clifford added three more in three minutes.
Moynihan then netted the first goal in injury time with an emphatic finish, though Dublin were right to be aggrieved as it came from a line ball incorrectly awarded to the hosts.
Geaney added another point soon before the break to take Kerry’s haul to 1-9 without reply and, despite a Jack Barry black card, the Kingdom took a 13-point lead into the break.
The second half was a non-event as a result and, despite points from Ciaran Kilkenny, Brian Howard, Brian Fenton, Ryan Basquel and Dean Rock (3), the game petered out.
Black cards for Tom Lahiff and Paudie Clifford mattered little as Dublin never looked like reeling in the considerable deficit.
Rock top-scored for Dublin with five points, four from frees, but there is plenty of work to do for the Boys in Blue.
With games to come against Mayo and Tyrone in the coming weeks, it could quickly become a relegation battle for Farrell’s Dubs.
Kerry: Shane Murphy, Dan O Donoghue, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan, Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Diarmuid O’Connor 0-01, Jack Barry, Adrian Spillane, Seán O’Shea 0-05 (0-03f), Dara Moynihan 1-01, Paudie Clifford 0-01, David Clifford 0-04, Paul Geaney 0-03 (0-01m).
Subs: Stephen O’Brien for A Spillane (54), Tony Brosnan for P Geaney (63), Micheal Burns for D Moynihan (65), Jack Savage for P Clifford (temp, 70), Gavin Crowley for T Morley (70), Killian Spillane for D Clifford (temp, 71), Dylan Casey for D O’Donoghue (72)
Dublin: Evan Comerford 0-01 (0-01f), Lee Gannon, David Byrne, Sean McMahon, Darragh Conlon, Brian Howard 0-01, John Small, Brian Fenton 0-01, Tom Lahiff, Sean Bugler 0-001, Ciaran Kilkenny 0-01, Niall Scully, Lorcan O’Dell, Cameron McCormack, Dean Rock 0-5 (0-04f).
Subs: Ciaran Archer for L O’Dell (50), Ryan Basquel 0-01 for C McCormack (50), Ross McGarry for N Scully (65), Killian McGinnis for J Small (67), CJ Smith for D Conlon (73).
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).
