Mayo stun champions Kerry

Kerry 0-10 Mayo 2-11

Mayo secured the result of the Allianz Football League’s opening round as they overcame understrength All-Ireland champions Kerry by 2-11 to 0-10 in Killarney.

Goals in each half from Alan Freeman and Kevin McLoughlin made all the difference for Mayo who led 1-7 to 0-4 after the Kingdom had struggled for scores in the first half.

The introduction of Tommy Walsh into the Kerry midfield helped them get back within a goal, as points from the likes of Michael Geaney, Barry John Keane and David Moran built some much-needed momentum.

However, just when Mayo’s lead was being threatened, McLoughlin found the top left corner with a classy goal finish, and further points from Michael Conroy, Jason Doherty and substitute Diarmuid O’Connor sealed a deserved away victory.

Kerry started six players from last year's All-Ireland final-winning side - Fionn Fitzgerald, Paul Murphy, Moran, Johnny Buckley, Stephen O'Brien and Paul Geaney - while Mayo had a more settled look to their team for the first league game of Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly's managerial reign.

Mayo debutant Evan Regan had an eventful if shortlived spell on the Fitzgerald Stadium pitch, exchanging early points with Barry John Keane before colliding accidentally with Kerry's John Buckley and being forced off in the eighth minute.

Conroy came on in his place and made a four-point contribution.

The home side did have the better of the opening quarter, helped by the solid midfield pairing of Moran and Bryan Sheehan. Further points from Kieran O'Leary and Keane gave them a 0-3 to 0-1 lead before Mayo really took over.

Mayo tightened up in defence and Seamus O'Shea and Kevin McLoughlin muscled in on more ball in centre-field as the first half progressed.

Their first goal arrived in the 24th minute when Freeman broke away from Mark Griffin, cutting in along the end line and shooting low to the net past Brendan Kealy.

A lone Keane score was then dwarfed by a neat spread of Mayo points as Conroy pointed three times, Doherty swung over a free and Donal Vaughan chipped in with a point from play.

That left Eamonn Fitzmaurice's experimental charges 1-7 to 0-4 adrift.

The imposing figure of Walsh, making his return to inter-county football after a five-year spell in Australia, greeted the Mayo team on the resumption and he did exert some influence with a series of fine high catches.

Seamus O'Shea restarted the scoring for Mayo, but Michael Geaney and Keane answered back for Kerry and the margin was down to 1-8 to 0-8 after Moran ('45') and Keane (free) converted a couple of placed balls.

The inexperienced Kerry defence was ruthlessly exposed in the 50th minute, though, as Mayo carved through with McLoughlin leading the charge and finishing smartly at the end of a crisp attack.

Aidan O'Shea also came on for the closing 20 minutes and Mayo had little difficulty in seeing out a valuable win on the road, with Kerry's woes compounded by a leg injury that forced the returning Walsh off late on.

KERRY: B Kealy; P Kilkenny, M Griffin, J Sherwood; J Lyne, F Fitzgerald, P Murphy; D Moran (0-2, 0-1 ‘45’), B Sheehan; M Geaney (0-1), K O’Leary (0-1), J Buckley; S O’Brien, P Geaney (0-2, 0-1f) , BJ Keane (0-4, 0-1f).

Subs used: T Walsh for Sheehan (half-time), P O’Connor for O’Leary (50 mins), C Keane for BJ Keane (56), B McGuire for P Geaney (60), D Casey for O’Brien (65), A Fitzgerald for Walsh (69).

MAYO: R Hennelly; S Coen, K Keane, K Higgins; L Keegan, C Barrett, P Durcan; S O’Shea (0-1), D Vaughan (0-1); K McLoughlin (1-0), A Gallagher, J Doherty (0-3, 0-2f); E Regan (0-1), A Freeman (1-0), M Ronaldson.

Subs used: M Conroy (0-4) for Regan (8 mins), D O’Connor (0-1) for Gallagher (42), A O’Shea for Freeman (49), M Sweeney for Ronaldson, C Boyle for Barrett (both 58), B Moran for S O’Shea (69).

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois).