Kerry 1-13 Mayo 0-8 After a match played in appalling conditions at Tralee's Austin Stack Park, Kerry eased their way to another league match success with eight points to spare over Mayo yesterday.
The sides faced into this tie with both sides needing the win if they were to entertain hopes of qualifying for the next stage of the league but Kerry were on eight points while Mayo were hoping for a boost after last week's reverse at home to Tyrone.
The win means Kerry are through to the semi-finals of the league, while Mayo's hopes of progress in the competition were almost certainly ended.
Kerry boss Jack O'Connor was pleased with the win: "We played well against the wind, although I was not entirely happy at the interval leading 0-7 to 0-2 after playing with the gale.
"However, the lads are playing well and showing a good hunger and we finished the stronger but it is early days yet and hopefully Darragh Ó Sé will resume training on Tuesday night while the other An Ghaeltacht lads are carrying injuries and we will just wait and see."
Mayo boss John Maughan kept his side in the dressingroom afterwards for over a half an hour and he was very disappointed. "We were happy at half-time and if Trevor Mortimer had scored that goal just before the break, it might have been different.
"We thought we were making progress up to last Sunday when Tyrone hammered us and now Kerry gave us a lesson today. I just don't know where to turn, we were blitzed in the second half and just look at the appetite of Séamus Moynihan, it's frightening."
Both sides had difficulty coping with the wind and the conditions meant that both goalkeepers had trouble getting distances into their kick-outs and on the day, the short kick-out was the best option.
Kerry won because they coped better against the breeze. They were always in control at midfield where man-of-the-match William Kirby and Eoin Brosnan formed a successful partnership.
Both players had their scoring boots on and contributed 0-6 of the final tally between them, with Kirby, who is making a fine comeback following a career-threatening knee injury a couple of seasons ago, accounting for four excellent points and with Darragh Ó Sé to return, manager O'Connor certainly appears to have options here.
Kerry were also rock-solid in defence with Mike McCarthy, Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Moynihan all playing vital roles.
The home team played with the breeze in the first half and led by 0-7 to 0-2 at the break.Kirby and Mike Frank Russell accounted for three points apiece.
Ironically, the best score of the half was from Mayo when Billy Joe Padden lofted over a mighty score from long range into the wind just before the break.
It was worrying for the home fans that Kerry's forwards failed to score from play in that first half. But upon the changeover, the home side adapted better to the conditions and Liam Hassett became the first home forward to score from play when he pointed in the 48th minute.
This set the scene for yet more Kerry pressure and substitute Colm Cooper announced his return with a textbook goal four minutes from the finish, after a sublime ball from Russell.
This score certainly proved to be the final nail in Mayo's coffin, but in truth the issue was over long before that goal arrived.
KERRY: D Murphy; B Guiney, M McCarthy, T O'Sullivan; S Moynihan, E Fitzmaurice, T Griffin; W Kirby (0-4), E Brosnan (0-2); P Galvin, D O'Sullivan, L Hassett (0-1); MF Russell (0-5, frees), R O'Connor (0-1), J Crowley. Subs: A O'Mahony for Guiney C Cooper (1-0) for Crowley, D Quill for O'Connor; J Sheehan for Griffin; and S O'Sullivan for Galvin.
MAYO: D Clarke; D Geraghty, G Ruane, F Costelloe; D Sweeney, P Kelly, G Mullins; R McGarrity, M Moyles; BJ Padden (0-2), T Mortimer (0-1), M McNicholas (0-1); A O'Malley (0-3, free), D Munnelly (0-1). Subs: L O'Malley for F Costello; N Moran for G Mullins; C Moran for D Heaney; S Mallee for BJ Padden.
Referee: B White (Wexford)
