Kerry had the scoring edge on Cork, 0-11 to 2-02, despite leaking two goals to their old rivals at Austin Stack Park in their National Football League Division 1A clash.
In wet conditions, Kerry relied on two scorers – Declan Quill (0-06) and skipper Bryan Sheehan (0-05) – to secure their first league win.
Pat O'Shea's men led 0-06 to 1-02 at the break, with Kieran Donaghy dominant at full-forward. Daniel Goulding netted on 34 minutes for Cork.
In a scrappy second half, Sheehan and Cork defender Noel O'Leary were both dismissed for their second yellow cards.
And even though Cork’s Donnacha O'Connor scrambled home a 61st-minute goal, there was no denying Kerry.
