Late goal seals Kerry victory

Kerry 1-10 Limerick 0-10, Killarney

Kerry had their third player sent off in two National League matches but they still came out on top against Munster rivals Limerick in Killarney today.

Kerry kept the heat on Donegal at the business end of Division 1A as Mike Frank Russell's late goal proved crucial in their 1-10 to 0-10 victory.

Quite credibly, Limerick bounced back from a disjointed first half to level at 0-8 apiece before Russell was worked into a one-on-one situation with Sean Kiely in the 67th minute and he decisively found the net.

Russell, the Laune Rangers clubman, had a big game and it was needed as Kerry, with Tomás Ó Sé top of their injury list and Kieran Donaghy out suspended, lost influential midfielder Darragh Ó Sé to a 42nd-minute sending-off.

There were some bright points for Kerry boss Pat O'Shea in this performance. Stand-in captain Ronan Hussey was amongst the scorers in an opening half that ended with the Kingdom holding a 0-5 to 0-4 lead.

Donnacha Walsh also raised two white flags, and Seamus Scanlon showed up well too for the defending league champions.

Michael Crowley, Shane Gallagher, Micheál Reidy and Jason O'Brien all pointed for Limerick in the opening half.

Crowley opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Declan Quill replied at the other end within 40 seconds.

Gutsy defender Gallagher went on a solo run to slot over with aplomb from 40 metres out.

Kerry barged their way into a 0-3 to 0-2 lead by the 18th-minute with wing forward Hussey, who was making his first league start, and Russell adding to their total.

Donnacha Walsh landed two points before Limerick had a late revival with scores from Reidy and O'Brien, which Currow's Scanlon, who started at full-forward with Donaghy ruled out, replied to.

Mickey Ned O'Sullivan's hosts managed to get a head start on the visitors when James Ryan (37 minutes) and Reidy (39) grabbed a point apiece. With that, Limerick were ahead for only the second time.

Ó Sé and James Galvin were at each other's throats all afternoon, and the former let his frustrations get the better of him when he lashed out at the Limerick centre-fielder and was dismissed.

The sending-off seemed to galvanise Kerry and points from Quill and Tommy Griffin saw them nose into a 0-7 to 0-6 lead.

Reidy helped the Shannonsiders get back on terms before Russell's goal rocked the hosts.

Scanlon exchanged points with Garrett Noonan before Ryan cut the deficit for Limerick to two points.

There was still time for Russell to add the insurance point in injury time in what was a battling win for Kerry.