Kerry hang on for first points win in group stage as Cork pay penalty

Kerry clutched onto two precious points on Leeside to get their All-Ireland defence back on track, albeit without showing the class that got them up the steps of the Hogan Stand.

They led from pillar to post but Cork never stopped nibbling away at them, with David Clifford's 47th-minute penalty, after Seán Powter was sent to the sin bin, giving Kerry enough of a cushion.

Clifford outscored the Rebels by 1-02 to 0-01 in that 10-minute spell with an extra man and ended with 1-05.

The sides' first meeting back at Páirc Uí Chaoimh since Mark Keane’s shock strike knocked the Kingdom out of the Covid Championship in 2020 ended with another high ball raining down on the Kerry defence. This time, 14,081 fans were present to see them hold out.

They join Cork and Mayo on two points in Group 1, with the Westerners to meet winless Louth tomorrow.

Seán O’Shea showed sparks of his 2022 form from the off. He was well up for this one, fist-pumping after his first from play in the seventh minute (one of three early points set up by Paul Geaney) before adding two more. Maurice Shanley was soon switched to pick him up.

Shanley’s run had created Cork’s opener for Chris Óg Jones, with Brian O’Driscoll and Brian Hurley (free) keeping them in touch.

Kerry kicked three in a row thereafter to push them four up, with Adrian Spillane, Paudie Clifford, and O’Shea keeping them in control.

Powter was deployed as the Cork sweeper, while Paul Murphy took up the free role at the other end. Powter did advance with a skillful give-and-go for a deflected point as both defences denied goal chances.

Daniel O’Mahony was trusted with tagging David Clifford and they shared an engrossing duel. Clifford got off the mark in the fifth minute but O’Mahony dispossessed him