An injury-time point from Colm O'Shea ensured that a resilient Kerry earned a draw against Mayo in the first All-Ireland MFC semi-final at Croke Park.
Mayo led by 1-04 to 0-05 at the interval thanks to a 13th-minute goal from Sean McHale, despite Kerry taking an early 0-02 to 0-01 lead with BJ Keane and Cian Tobin on target.
The Kingdom emerged a stronger force in the second half, holding Mayo to just three points on the restart as they battled back to force a draw.
Mayo manager Ray Dempsey certainly got his attack motoring well early on and although Barry John Keane took the first point of the contest for Kerry after 49 seconds, the Westerners were most impressive in the opening quarter.
It was McHale's 13th minute goal that proved to be the difference between the sides at that stage, as Aidan Walsh gave the vital pass before the Breaffy clubman slotted the ball past Brian Kelly in the Kerry goalmouth.
A resilient Kingdom side failed to give up with defenders Fionn Fitzgerald and Jonathan Lyne capturing a point each within a two-minute spell as a three-point Mayo advantage was whittled down to the minimum by the 24th minute.
Leading by just 1-03 to 0-05 at this stage, Mayo finished the half strongly with Cafferty taking his second point, following a block by Kerry half-forward Daithí Casey who tracked back to marshal the talented midfielder.
Kerry's frustrations set in before the interval with Mike Tim O'Sullivan picking up a yellow card, as Mayo held a 1-04 to 0-05 half-time lead.
Jack Sherwood was introduced for midfielder Jamie O'Sullivan for Kerry at half-time, but Sherwood played a more attacking role and was involved in supplying Barry John Walsh for a 38th minute goal chance, which the full-forward and captain failed to convert.
The sides had already traded points at this stage, with Mayo taking the first score of the second half, following a Cathal Freeman point after 21 seconds, but the Westerners failed to score again until the 50th minute, as Kerry showed firm dominance.
Walsh was just one of the Kingdom forwards causing huge problems for the Mayo rear-guard, as the Kearns O'Rahilly's player was reasonably confident from placed balls, while also heavily involved in support play to his fellow attackers.
This good work ensured the sides were level at 0-08 to 1-05 by the 48th minute, but the introduction of Dean Gavin for Corduff on the Mayo side, helped to open up their options once more.
This switch provided the springboard for the Mayo attack to rekindle the positive form shown in the opening stages of the first half as Aidan Walsh took two quick points, one from a free and another from a placed ball.
But Kerry were not to be denied a crack at salvaging something from this game and finished the contest strongly.
Points from Barry John Walsh and Colm O'Shea ensuring these sides must meet again for a replay to decide who will face either Tyrone or Meath in the All-Ireland decider on 21 September.
Kerry: B Kelly; P Reidy, B Shanahan, F Fitzgerald (0-01); P Crowley, J Lyne (0-01), M Hickey; J O'Sullivan, W Guthrie; M T O'Sullivan, D Casey, C O'Shea (0-02), BJ Keane (0-01), BJ Walsh (0-04, 4f), C Tobin (0-01).
Substitutes: J Sherwood for J O'Sullivan (HT); J O'Donoghue for Tobin (43); N O'Shea for MT O'Sullivan (45); P Geaney for Keane (52).
Mayo: R Hennelly; D Dolan, K Keane, J Broderick; C Freeman (0-01), E Reilly, S Nally, J Cafferty (0-02), A Corduff (0-01); S McHale (1-00), A O'Shea, R Geraghty; D O'Hara, G McDonagh, A Walsh (0-03, 2f).
Substitutes: L Cawley for O'Hara (30); D Gavin for Corduff (49).
Referee: Martin Higgins (Fermanagh).
