Dublin produced a determined performance to edge Kerry by 1-12 to 1-10 in the opening round of the league in Killarney.

This is the Sky Blues' first success on Kerry soil since the 1982/83 season - and they went on to win the All-Ireland that year.

The visitors produced a strong first-half showing to lead by 1-6 to 0-6 at the interval, with wing forward Paul Flynn firing the goal shortly before the break.

Dublin made a late change to their starting XV with Paul Conlon in at right corner back in place of Ross O'Carroll while Kerry lined out with the team named earlier in the week, though their manager Jack O'Connor was absent due to a family bereavement.

Impressive midfielder Eamon Fennell opened the scoring with a point for Dublin after just 15 seconds and he helped himself to another point as the sides were level on 0-3 each after 20 minutes, with the Dubs playing against the breeze in the first half.

A quick goal and point from Flynn made it 1-6 to 0-5 with half time approaching. Paul Galvin (3) and Paul O'Connor (2) had hit those early Kingdom points.

The All-Ireland champions pulled back a point to trail by a goal at the break.

The early stages of the second half were fractious with Flynn and Kevin McMenamin both on target for the Leinster champions, who stretched their lead to five with three-quarters of the game played.

With five minutes to go, the Dubs still led by five points, 1-11 to 0-9, having survived a goal scare when Declan O'Sullivan fired wide after good play by Kieran Donaghy.

Galvin brought his tally to 0-4 when his shot blazed inches over the crossbar

Barry John Walsh gave Kerry hope with a late goal which narrowed the gap to a single point but Dublin held on - aided by a late Darragh McAuley point - for a famous win.

Dublin - S Cluxton; H Conlon, R O'Carroll, P McMahon; P Griffin, C O'Sullivan, J McCarthy; E Fennell (0-3) , R McConnell; A Hubbard (0-1), M McAuley (0-1), P Flynn (1-2) ; D Henry, B Kelly (0-2, 2f), K McMenamon (0-2). Subs: B Brogan (0-1, 1f) for Kelly (49 mins), D Kelly for Hubbard (62 mins), T Diamond for K McManamon (68 mins).

Kerry - G Reidy; P Reidy, T Griffin, A O'Connell; M Corridan, A O'Mahony, K Young; S Scanlon, M Quirke; P Galvin (0-4) , D O'Sullivan, D Walsh; BJ Walsh (1-1, 1f) , K Donaghy, P O'Connor (0-5, 3f and 1 '45). Subs : A O'Sullivan for Quirke (48 mins), P O'Connor for Corridan (48 mins), J O'Donoghue for O'Connor (57 mins), BJ Keane for D Walsh (66 mins), K O'Leary for D O'Sullivan (70 mins).

Ref: R Hickey (Clare). Tweet

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