Kerry strolled through this game, played before 2,000 spectators at Ruislip, with such ease that their 19-point victory margin over a poor London side scarcely reflected their all-round superiority. The Kerry forwards seemed determined to make amends for their lack of firepower in their last game against Limerick - all but Eamon Fitzmaurice figuring on the scoresheet and Maurice Fitzgerald showed good form when he replaced the injured Dara O Cinneide three minutes before the interval.
Besides contributing 1-1 to the winning tally Fitzgerald succeeded in opening up play with his best touches and ability to lay on pinpoint passes for his colleagues.
A penalty scored by O Cinneide after goalkeeper John Collins pulled down John Crowley in the seventh minute paved the way for an avalanche of scores. Kerry are clearly keyed up for their crucial game against Wicklow in two weeks time.
The only redeeming feature from London's point of view was the determination of their backs to stand their ground against ever-mounting pressure, with main honours going to Conor Wilson and Tommy Feehan.
KERRY: D O'Keeffe; C Burns, B O'Shea, M Hassett; W O'Shea, S Moynihan, E Breen; D O Se, D Daly; J McGlynn (0-3), P Sullivan (0- 5), E Fitzmaurice; G Murphy (0-1), J Crowley (0-1), D O Cinneide (2-3). Subs: L Hassett for J Crowley; M Fitzgerald (1-1) for O Cinneide; J Ferriter for P Sullivan.
LONDON: J Collins; S Gaffney, P Rafter, J McNabb; T Feehan (0-1), C Wilson, B McDonagh; N Harrington, J Gormley (0-1); A Carr, A Dillane, P Coggins (0-1); M Galvin, J Ryan (0-1), J Grimes. Sub: B Bolger for McNabb.
Referee: W Joyce (Galway).
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