National League Division 1 (South)

Dublin 4-9 Kerry 1-18

(HT: Dublin 3-6 Kerry 0-9)

David Clifford converted a 74th-minute penalty as Kerry secured a hard-earned draw with reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin in Thurles this afternoon.

After enduring a shaky first half, The Kingdom trailed by as many as seven points early in the second but Clifford's goal capped an impressive fightback.

The result leaves both footballing kingpins level at the top of Division 1 South on three points apiece.

GOALS

Dublin opened Kerry up for three goals in the first period and the warning signs were there from the opening minutes when Con O'Callaghan struck the outside of the post with a fisted effort following an overly unselfish pass from Niall Scully.

Playing with the wind at their backs, Kerry had numerous opportunities to power ahead early on but, remarkably, Peter Keane's side kicked five wides in the first eight minutes. Seán O'Shea's lone point was their only reward for a period of extended pressure.

Ciarán Kilkenny equalised in the ninth minute, and then Kerry found their feet. Diarmuid O'Connor, Dara Moynihan and David Clifford all pointed to make it 4-1 and the forwards, who earned so much praise for their showing against Galway last week, looked to be moving through the gears.

Dublin threw a spanner in the works when Con O'Callaghan ghosted in behind Tadhg Morley to register his first goal of the day but Kerry recovered well and scores by Paudie Clifford and O'Connor gave them a two-point advantage at the first water break.

The Dubs must have emerged from that break well-hydrated because they quickly rattled off 1-3 without reply, the goal coming from the boot of Cormac Costello following good work by O'Callaghan. It could have been worse for Kerry but for a fine save from Kieran Fitzgibbon to deny O'Callaghan his second, and David Clifford tagged on two points at the other end to make it a two-point game.

The lively Paddy Small missed a goal opportunity for Dublin in the 32nd minute, although he did get the consolation of a point when his shot flew high over Fitzgibbon's crossbar.

Then came the biggest talking point of the first half. After receiving the ball from Gavin White in a wide position, Dara Moynihan skinned his man, Robbie McDaid, with a lovely sidestep before bearing down on goal. McDaid held Moynihan but the Spa man powered through the tackle and slipped a neat finish past Comerford into the bottom corner. However, referee Seán Hurson called the play back for the foul on Moynihan, denying Kerry a goal that would have levelled the sides at a crucial juncture.

The decision left Moynihan and his fellow Kerry forwards visibly furious.

O'Shea tapped over the free to make it 0-9 to 2-5 but any hopes Kerry had of keeping it tight until half-time were dashed when Small burst through a gap to score his third point from play. The Dubs now led by three and they doubled that lead two minutes into stoppage time when Paul Murphy failed to deal with Scully's long ball, allowing O'Callaghan to gather, round the keeper, and finish from close range.

Kerry trailed by six at half-time (0-9 to 3-6) and by this stage the match was in danger of getting away from them.

RUN

Costello widened the gap to seven in the 39th minute with a score that was far too easy from Kerry's point of view, but then came the comeback.

Paul Geaney kicked Kerry's 10th point (his last action of the game) with 44 minutes on the clock and subsequent scores by Moynihan and David Clifford (three) cut the deficit to just two. Costello fisted over to break the run but when Paul Murphy did likewise at the other end, The Kingdom trailed 0-15 to 3-8 heading into the water break.

Kerry were putting pressure on the Dubs by this point and further points by O'Shea and Murphy drew the sides level for the first time in over half an hour.

Disaster struck for the defending league champions on the hour-mark, however, when Diarmuid O'Connor's high tackle on Con O'Callaghan resulted in a penalty. Costello emphatically applied the finish to swing the tie in the Leinster side's favour and, once again, Kerry had it all to do.

O'Shea pulled one back via a free following a foul on substitute Stephen O'Brien but the Dubs entered game management mode thereafter, retaining possession with ruthless efficiency as Kerry waited for their opportunity to strike. They got their chance in the 71st minute but corner back Jason Foley was foiled by Comerford. When O'Callaghan pointed at the other end to make it a three-point game, the result appeared to be out of reach.

There was still time for one final twist, however, and when O'Brien was felled in the area by Philly McMahon, it was left to Clifford to decide Kerry's fate. The Fossa superstar made no mistake from 11 metres, sending Comerford the wrong way and salvaging a point in the process.

KERRY SCORERS: David Clifford 1-6 (1f, 1p), Seán O’Shea 0-4 (2f), Diarmuid O'Connor 0-2, Dara Moynihan 0-2, Paul Murphy 0-2, Paudie Clifford 0-1, Paul Geaney 0-1.

DUBLIN SCORERS: Cormac Costello 2-3 (1p), Con O'Callaghan 2-1, Paddy Small 0-3, Ciarán Kilkenny 0-1, Brian Fenton 0-1.

KERRY: Fitzgibbon; Ó Beaglaoich, Morley, Foley; Murphy, Crowley, White; Moran, O'Connor; Moynihan, S O’Shea, Geaney; D Clifford, K Spillane, P Clifford.

Subs: Walsh for K Spillane (HT), Buckley for Geaney (45), A Spillane for Moran (45), O'Brien for P Clifford (50), Sherwood for White (57), G O'Sullivan for Ó Beaglaoich (57), Burns for Moynihan (62).

DUBLIN: Comerford; Murchan, Byrne, Fitzsimons; McCarthy, J Small, McDaid; Fenton, Lahiff; Scully, Kilkenny; S McMahon; P Small, O’Callaghan, Costello.

SUBS: Basquel for Lahiff (47), Mullin for P Small (55), Lowndes for McDaid (55), P McMahon for J Small (59), Bugler for Kilkenny (66), Cooper for S McMahon (66), Howard for Scully (71).