Kerry kept the pressure on Donegal at the summit of Allianz NFL Division 1A as Mike Frank Russell's late goal proved crucial in their 1-10 to 0-10 victory over Limerick in Killarney today.
Limerick fought back to level at 0-08 apiece before Russell was played in one-on-one on Sean Kiely and made no mistake with a smart 67th-minute finish.
Stand-in captain Ronan Hussey was amongst the scorers as Kerry led 0-05 to 0-04 at the break. Michael Crowley, Shane Gallagher, Micheal Reidy and Jason O'Brien pointed for Limerick.
Kerry midfielder Darragh Ó Sé was shown his second yellow card on 42 minutes for striking James Galvin, but the Kingdom still held on.
Crowley opened the scoring in the tenth-minute for Limerick, who made two changes to the side that lost to Mayo with Gallagher and Diarmuid Carroll starting.
Declan Quill replied for Pat O'Shea's visitors within 40 seconds before Gallagher raced up from his defensive position to slot over with aplomb from 40 metres out.
Kerry fought their way into a 0-03 to 0-02 lead by the half's midpoint with wing-forward Hussey, who was making his first league start, and Russell adding to the champions' tally.
Donnacha Walsh then landed two points before Limerick had a late revival with Reidy and O'Brien, which Currow clubman Seamus Scanlon, who started at full-forward in the suspended Kieran Donaghy’s absence, replied to.
Mickey Ned O'Sullivan's hosts managed to get a head-start on the visitors when James Ryan (37 minutes) and Reidy (39) grabbed a point apiece as the underdogs hit the front for the second time in the match.
Ó Sé and Galvin fought a torrid battle all afternoon, and the former let his frustrations get the better of him, three minutes later, when he lashed out at the Limerick centre-fielder and became the third Kerry to be sent off in three games.
The 14 men of Kerry raised their game and points from Quill and Tommy Griffin saw them nose into a 0-07 to 0-06 lead.
The momentum swung back in Limerick's favour when Reidy helped his side get back on terms, but Russell took the wind out of the Shannonsiders’ sails when he planted home his goal.
Seamus Scanlon swapped points with Garrett Noonan before Ryan cut the deficit for Limerick to two points but Russell had the final say – he swung over the clinching point in injury-time.
Laune Rangers forward Russell had to be at his influential best in what was a considerably inexperienced Kerry attack.
Sean O'Sullivan (quad muscle) and Darren O'Sullivan (broken hand) are out injured, Donaghy is suspended and Paul Galvin and Declan O’Sullivan are away travelling in Australia.
Meanwhile, Dr Crokes' players Colm Cooper and Eoin Brosnan are busy preparing for next Saturday’s All-Ireland Club SFC final.
