Relieved Fitzmaurice puts Dublin’s Mannion on his Christmas card list

Eamonn Fitzmaurice could afford to offer up a wry smile in Healy Park yesterday when it had been confirmed Kerry’s win was worth something.

It was never going to be enough though and their third victory in a row was immediately met with a bittersweet reaction by officials and management as news came through that Mayo had beaten Cork and Donegal were leading Dublin by a point.

Paul Mannion, though, turned out to be Kerry’s saviour with his equalising point for Dublin in Ballybofey and Fitzmaurice was delighted to have some good fortune.