Tomás Ó Sé came of the bench to kick the winning point for Kerry and then laid on the insurance score for Tom O’Sullivan, as Peter Keane’s side maintained their perfect start to their Division 1 campaign at Tuam Stadium.
Danny Cummins looked to have been the hero for the home side when he too came of the bench and found the net with five minutes remaining, but three points in a row for Kerry earned their fourth win on the bounce as they return to the top of the standings.
Stephen O’Brien was sent off in the final minute for Kerry after he added a yellow card to his earlier black, but the Munster side had the win in the bag at that stage.
The late inclusion of Sean Andy O Ceallaigh to the Galway full-back line was a lift for the home side, and despite his return Kerry elected to attack via the aerial route more often than not, although they often overcooked their final ball into Tommy Walsh and Stephen O’Brien.
Galway also selected Michael Daly and Barry McHugh in the forward line just before throw in, but it was Antaine Ó Laoí that started the scoring for the Tribesmen with a fifth-minute point.
But Kerry were the brighter team and after Sean O’Shea kicked his first pointed free after eight minute he soon landed one from play and a 45 in the 11th minute to underline Kerry’s dominance.
Ó Laoí was Galway’s brightest attacker in that first quarter and he was fouled after 13 minutes and Barry McHugh converted to trim Kerry’s lead to one point.
Kerry received a setback when Stephen O’Brien was black carded following a tussle with Eoghan Kerin after 17 minutes, but the damage could have been far greater had Sean Kelly found the net for Galway after McHugh’s quick free moments later.
Michael Daly levelled matters with a good point from the right nine minutes from the interval, but Kerry totally bossed the rest of the half, and kicked five unanswered points to lead 0-8 to 0-3 at the interval.
O’Shea pointed a free, but Dara Moynihan, Gavin O’Brien, Shane Enright and Stephen O’Brien all pointed from play as Kerry’s attack took control.
With the wind picking up in galway’s favour in the second-half, they got off to a great start when Shane Walsh pointed from the corner, but he followed it up with two wides as Galway sought to close within four points of their visitors.
The next point fell Kerry’s way though with Gavin O’Brien on target, but with McHugh finding his form up front for Galway they kicked three of the next four to make it 0-10 to 0-7 with 16 minute to go.
After Michael Geaney fisted a point for Kerry, Padraig Cunningham and McHugh hit back for Galway, which cut Kerry’s lead to two points, but Cummins palmed to the net for Galway with five remaining to give them the lead.
Sean O’Shea’s free levelled the game two minutes later, before Ó Sé and O’Sullivan kicked Kerry to the win, while Stephen O’Brien was sent off late on as he added a yellow to his earlier black card.
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Peter Crowley, Jack Sherwood, Shane Enright (0-01); Gavin Crowley, Paul Murphy, Tom O'Sullivan (0-01); Jack Barry, Mark Griffin; Diarmuid O'Connor, Sean O'Shea (0-05, 0-03f, 0-01’45), Gavin O'Brien (0-02); Dara Moynihan (0-01), Tommy Walsh, Stephen O'Brien (0-02).
Subs: Michael Geaney (0-01) for O’Connor (half-time), Jonathan Lyne for G O’Brien (59 mins), Tadhg Morley for Walsh (67 mins), Tomás Ó Sé (0-01) for Enright (70 mins).
Galway: Ruairí Lavelle; Eoghan Kerin, Sean Andy O Ceallaigh, David Wynne; Gary O’Donnell, Gareth Bradshaw, Johnny Heaney (0-01); Thomas Flynn, Ciarán Duggan; Shane Walsh (0-01), Jonathan Duane, Seán Kelly; Michael Daly (0-01), Barry McHugh (0-05, 0-03f), Antaine Ó Laoí (0-01).
Subs: Liam Silke for M Daly (46 mins), John Daly for Bradshaw (48 mins), Padraig Cunningham (0-01) for Duane (51 mins), Danny Cummins (1-00) for Walsh (58 mins), Finnian Ó Laoí for Kelly (62 mins).
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan).
