Resurgent Kerry have posted an All-Ireland warning after sweeping Mayo aside in Killarney.
A superb first half display from the Munster champions in front of 31,312 reduced the much-anticipated tie to a rather one-sided encounter with Mayo a beaten docket long before the finish.
David Clifford and Sean O’Shea both helped themselves to 0-7 each and Paul Geaney hit 1-2 while David Moran reclaimed his best form at midfield as Kerry gained a decisive foothold in the first half.
Although Mayo threatened a goal in the first minute, with Lee Keegan eventually settling for a point, it was the only period of ascendency they enjoyed in a first half where they were on the back foot throughout.
It was in part self-inflicted but also tactical expediency on Kerry’s part.
They pushed right up on David Clarke’s kickout and won a large share of Mayo restarts and with the visitors struggling for possession, they were extremely reckless when they managed to get hold of the ball.
Careless deliveries inside time and again fuelled the confidence of what had been a brittle Kerry rearguard coming into the game after an unconvincing Munster final display.
With Moran lording the midfield exchanges and Clifford razor sharp up front, Kerry punished a jittery Mayo defence with four pointed frees from O’Shea inside the first 11 minutes to lead 0-7 to 0-3.
Although Cillian O’Connor kicked a fine point for Mayo, Kerry then hit seven on the trot with James O’Donoghue denied a goal at the expense of a point by Clarke to start that sequence, while Paul Geaney scored a point via the crossbar to complete it after yet another Mayo kickout had gone awry.
Darren Coen ended a 16-minute scoring drought for Mayo and Stephen O’Brien and O’Connor (free) then swapped points to leave Kerry in a commanding position, leading 0-15 to 0-6 at half-time.
Kerry didn’t find the same fluency in the second half but were never in any danger. O’Connor hit the crossbar in the 51st minute when a goal would have reduced the deficit to six points but five minutes later Geaney slapped in the game’s only goal after O’Brien scorched through the Mayo defence.
It was a historic afternoon for O’Connor as he surpassed local hero Colm Cooper as the Championship’s all-time leading scorer though he saw a penalty pushed over the bar by Shane Murphy in the 67th minute to round out a largely forgettable afternoon for the Ballintubber man.
The final 10-point margin leaves Kerry top of Group 1 after the first round of matches, just ahead of Donegal on scoring difference as they prepare to face the Ulster champions at Croke Park next Sunday.
KERRY: S Ryan; T O’Sullivan, J Foley, T Morley; P Murphy, S Enright, G Crowley; D Moran (0-1), A Spillane; G White, S O’Shea (0-7, 0-6f), S O’Brien (0-3); P Geaney (1-2), D Clifford (0-7, 0-2f), J O’Donoghue (0-1).
Subs: D Moynihan for O’Donoghue (HT), G O’Sullivan (0-1) for Enright (51), D O’Connor for Spillane (58), B O Beaglaoich for Foley (63), M Burns for Geaney (69), M Griffin for Crowley (70+1).
MAYO: D Clarke; K Higgins, B Harrison, C Barrett; L Keegan (0-1), S Coen, C Boyle; D Vaughan, A O’Shea; F McDonagh (0-1), K McLoughlin, J Doherty; C O’Connor (0-6, 0-3f, 0-1 pen), D Coen (0-3), J Carr.
Subs: S O’Shea for McDonagh (HT), A Moran (0-2) for Carr (47), C Treacy (0-1) for McLoughlin (48), F Boland (0-1) for Coen (51), J McCormack for Keegan (61), E O’Donoghue for Barrett (66).
REFEREE: S Hurson (Tyrone).
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