Kerry 1-9
Mayo 0-8

Kerry registered a late unanswered flurry of 1-2 to oust Mayo in Castlebar.

It was 0-5 each at the break and the first four points of the second half were also shared before the hosts edged in front, but the decisive moment in this game arrived seven minutes from the end when Bryan Sheehan ruthlessly despatched a penalty.

That was only Kerry's third score of the second period but they tagged on two more points to prevail by four in the end. It was tough luck on Mayo who competed well and might feel that a number of decisions went against them today.

Kerry's David Geaney slotted over an excellent opening point into the wind from the right wing.

Darran O'Sullivan and Colm Cooper added to the winners' tally before Ronan McGarrity pulled a point back - 0-3 to 0-1 after 21 minutes.

Aidan Campbell and Mark Ronaldson were also on target for Mayo, while Aidan O'Shea and Geaney hit the last two points of the opening half.

Wing back Ken McLoughlin put Mayo ahead for the first time before Geaney (free) made it 0-6 each after 41.

The sides had been level on five occasions before Mayo moved ahead by 0-8 to 0-7 with ten minutes left, Neil Douglas stroking over an excellent lead point for the home team.

Kerry had managed just two points in the second half through Darran O'Sullivan and Geaney but they were awarded a 63rd-minute penalty, which Sheehan drilled emphatically into the bottom right corner of the net: 1-7 to 0-8.

Sheehan and Kieran O'Leary added to the winning tally late on.

Mayo: R Hennelly; T Cunniffe, A Feeney, R Feeney; P Gardiner, G Cafferkey, K McLoughlin (0-1); J Gibbons, R McGarrity (0-1); A Campbell (0-2, frees), A Moran (0-1), A Dillon; A O'Shea (0-1), A Kilcoyne, M Ronaldson (0-1, free). Subs : N Douglas (0-1) for Ronaldson (41 mins), T Parsons for Gibbons (55 mins), J Doherty for Douglas (61 mins).

Kerry: B Kealy; P Reidy, M Ó Sé, S Enright; A O'Mahony, E Brosnan, J Lyne; S Scanlon, D Moran; G O'Driscoll, Darran O'Sullivan (0-2), D Walsh; C Cooper (0-1, free), K Donaghy, D Geaney (0-4, 0-2 frees). Subs: A Maher for Moran (43 mins), D Casey for O'Driscoll, K Young for P Reidy (both 50 mins), B Sheehan (1-1) for Geaney (57 mins), K O'Leary (0-1) for O'Sullivan (70 mins).

Referee: M Deegan (Laois). Tweet

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