Kerry clawed back a four-point deficit to come away from Breffni Park with a hard-fought 0-16 to 0-13 victory.

Twelve points from Sean O’Shea – two of them from play - were key to the Kingdom’s success as they outscored the border county by nine points to two after the restart, consigning the hosts to their second narrow top-flight defeat in a row. Peter Keane’s charges, meanwhile, who didn’t lead until the 67th minute, preserve their 100% record.

The Breffni boys produced a stunning first-half display to deservedly lead by 0-11 to 0-7 at the break and the four-point cushion did not flatter them as all but one of the Kingdom’s first-half points came from O’Shea frees.

Conor Madden and goalkeeper Raymond Galligan (free) pointed for the hosts inside the first three minutes and Madden slotted his second after O’Shea posted the Kingdom’s opening score from a free.

A second O’Shea free had the Munster champions back within the minimum but Mickey Graham’s men had the bit between their teeth early on and a brace from centre back Ciaran Brady followed by another point from wing back Niall Murray left them four clear after 15 minutes, 0-6 to 0-2.

O’Shea popped over his third free midway through the first half, his fourth had the gap down to two by the 19th minute, and he converted his fifth on 21 minutes. Martin Reilly nailed a free at the other end but O’Shea replied ten minutes from the break with his sixth of the game.

Paul Geaney equalised but quickfire points from Dara McVeety and Conor Rehill restored the purposeful hosts’ two-point advantage, Madden and Jack Brady (free) on hand to leave four between the teams at the short whistle.

O’Shea’s seventh free flew between the posts in the first minute of the second half and he slotted another one on 50 minutes. Nineteen minutes after the restart, Reilly’s free presented the hosts with their first score of the second half, O’Shea replying with his first from play – 0-12 to 0-10.

Stephen O’Brien became the third Kerry player to register with 15 minutes remaining and the Kingdom were temporarily reduced to 14 men at a crucial juncture when Tom O’Sullivan was black-carded with just twelve minutes remaining.

Seven minutes from the end, however, O’Shea tied the scores up with his tenth point (free) and substitute Mark Griffin was on hand to point the visitors ahead for the first time with 32 minutes on the clock.

O’Shea pointed yet another free in the first of eight additional minutes and Geaney added his second two minutes later to make it 0-15 to 0-12. Reilly fisted a dropping ball inches over the Kerry crossbar as the hosts almost drew dramatically level at the death but Kerry held on, O’Shea swinging over his tenth pointed free deep into added time.

Kerry - S Ryan; P Crowley, J Sherwood, B O Beaglaioch; T Morley, P Murphy, T O'Sullivan; J Barry, A Spillane; D O'Connor, S O'Shea (0-12, 9f, 1'45), J Lyne; K Spillane, P Geaney (0-2), S O'Brien (0-1). Subs: D Moynihan for K Spillane, T Walsh for J Lyne, M Griffin (0-1) for D O'Connor, M Geaney for P Crowley, D Moran for S O'Brien.

Cavan - R Galligan (0-1'45); J McLoughlin, P Faulkner, C Mackey; N Murray (0-1), C Brady (0-2), C Rehill (0-1); P Graham, K Clarke; P Smith, D McVeety (0-1), M Reilly (0-3, 2f); J Brady (0-1m), T Galligan, C Madden (0-3, 1m). Subs: L Fortune for D McVeety, S Smith for J Brady, S Murray for C Brady, M Argue for P Graham, K Tierney for C Mackey.

Referee - F Kelly.

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