Kerry had too much firepower for Fermanagh as a 39th-minute goal from Eoin Brosnan inspired the hosts to deserved 1-17 to 0-13 Allianz NFL Division 1 victory in Killarney.
Jack O'Connor's side picked up their second win in Division 1A as they broke free of the visitors in the second half. The lively Colm Cooper was central to that, with the corner-forward scoring five points in an impressive display.
However, Tom Brewster got the Ernesiders off to a great start with a point after 70 seconds. Full-forward Jonathan McGurn added another before Brosnan and Cooper levelled up matters at 0-2 apiece by the tenth-minute.
White flags from Paddy Kelly and Mike Frank Russell pushed the Kingdom two points clear. Kerry maintained that gap before the Ernesiders earned a penalty chance on the half-hour.
McGurn and Cooper had swapped points. Then a foul by Kelly, which earned him a yellow card, in the square saw Mark Little step up to take the spot kick. Little was stung, however, when his weak effort was palmed away by Kieran Cremin. The Dr Crokes 'keeper, deputising for Diarmuid Murphy, got down well to his left.
Fermanagh did not lose heart. McGurn hit his third point from play to shore up the difference to 0-5 to 0-6 at half time.
Brewster sent over an excellent point early in the second half to push the visitors in front for a while, but four minutes in Brosnan struck for the crucial goal.
Kieran Donaghy rose highest to claim the ball in midfield, it was worked through to skipper Declan O'Sullivan and he fisted a pass to Brosnan who finished to the net with aplomb.
That was the turning point. At 1-7 to 0-8 in front, Kerry added points from Cooper, Eamonn Fitzmaurice and substitute Ronan O'Connor to push ahead.
Overs from man of the match McGurn, kicking his fourth of the afternoon, and Peter Sherry briefly got it back to a two-point game - 1-10 to 0-11 - near the hour mark, but Kerry finished the stronger.
In the closing stages, sub Sean O'Sullivan notched two points from play, Cooper added two more to his tally, and Aodhan MacGearailt and Dara Ó Sé both found their range to help end Fermanagh's 100% record in the league.
