Allianz FL D1: Kerry take the points at Croke Park

Allianz National Football League Division One

Kerry 1-16 Dublin 1-10

By Paul Keane at Croke Park

A six-point win over Dublin at Croke Park, Kerry's first there in the League in almost a decade, and top gear not even required.

The All-Ireland champions certainly would have taken that outcome beforehand as they flexed their muscle by leading the old enemy from start to finish in front of 25,027.

Tony Brosnan's 57th minute goal was the game-clinching score as Kerry picked up a second Division 1 win to keep their title hopes very much alive.

There were important cameos too from Footballer of the Year David Clifford and Seán O'Shea, both of whom grabbed crucial two-pointers, contributing 0-8 between them.

Mark O'Shea was man of the match at midfield and the return of Paudie Clifford and Tom O'Sullivan bodes well with 0-3 between the two subs.

Struggling Dublin raised a gallop late on with a Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne goal five minutes from time cutting the gap to three points.

But late scores from O'Sullivan and Seán O'Shea sealed it for Kerry who will face Monaghan next weekend in Killarney.

As for Dublin, their third loss from four outings means they're stuck in a relegation battle and will feel they must beat Roscommon in Round 5.

Kerry went with just seven of their All-Ireland final team though the introductions of Paudie Clifford and O'Sullivan from the bench, for their first activity of 2026, strengthened their hand considerably.

The Kingdom twice opened up big first-half leads on Dublin, firstly surging 0-7 to 0-2 ahead and then 0-9 to 0-3 approaching the half hour.

Two-pointers from Sean O'Shea, the very first score of the game, and David Clifford helped the Munster champions to build up a big lead.

Tony Brosnan, Graham O'Sullivan and Cillian Trant were on the mark too with singles as Jack O'Connor's side asserted their superiority.

Goalscsorer Ó Cofaigh Byrne was a late addition to the Dublin team in place of Luke Breathnach and enjoyed his first start of the season at midfield.

But it was old reliables Ciaran Kilkenny and O'Callaghan that hauled Dublin back into it, a 28th minute Kilkenny two-pointer followed by an O'Callaghan point from a free.

That was O'Callaghan's third score of the half, all from placed balls, but also his last as he made way at half time due to an apparent hamstring tweak.

Kerry deserved their 0-9 to 0-6 interval lead and extended the lead back out to four with third quarter scores from David Clifford and Brosnan.

The latter should have struck for a goal in the 49th minute when Kerry turned over a Dublin kick-out, allowing Paudie Clifford to play in Brosnan.

But the Dr Crokes attacker opened out his body and slotted his left footed kick just beyond Evan Comerford's far post.

Two minutes later, he wasn't as wasteful. Once again, his goal opportunity came from Kerry winning a Dublin kick-out, David Clifford this time hand-passing over the top for the onrushing Brosnan to strike to the net.

Kerry's 1-12 to 0-08 lead didn't flatter them with a brilliant Jason Foley block on Quigley summing up their strength at either end of the pitch.

Dublin have been playing in patches so far in the League and crafted another purple patch in the closing 10 minutes to give themselves some hope.

Paddy Small landed a two-pointer and then Kilkenny set Seán Bugler free who was able to pick out Ó Cofaigh Byrne for a 65th minute goal.

From nowhere, Dublin were suddenly just three points behind again. Ó Cofaigh Byrne had two more half attempts for goals but couldn't get a shot away while sub Breathnach palmed a goal chance straight at the goalkeeper.

Kerry scorers: Tony Brosnan 1-2, David Clifford 0-4 (1 tp, 0-1f), Sean O'Shea 0-4 (2 tp), Tom O'Sullivan 0-2 Cillian Trant 0-1, Graham O'Sullivan 0-1, Tadhg Morley 0-1, Paudie Clifford 0-1.

Dublin scorers: Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne 1-0, Con O'Callaghan 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 45), Paddy Small 0-3 (1 tp), Ciarán Kilkenny 0-2 (tp), Ross McGarry 0-1, Niall Scully 0-1.

Kerry: Shane Murphy; Evan Looney, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Armin Heinrich, Tadhg Morley, Graham O'Sullivan; Joe O'Connor, Mark O'Shea; Cillian Trant, Seán O'Shea, Micheál Burns; Tony Brosnan, David Clifford, Keith Evans.

Subs: Paul Murphy for Looney h/t, Paudie Clifford for Burns h/t, Tom O'Sullivan for Graham O'Sullivan 54, Donagh O'Sullivan for Trant 54, Liam Smith for Mark O'Shea 63.

Dublin: Evan Comerford, Eoin Murchan, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Seán Bugler, Charlie McMorrow, Alex Gavin; Brian Howard, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne; Ross McGarry, Ciarán Kilkenny, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Con O'Callaghan, Lorcan O'Dell.

Subs: Seán MacMahon for Doran 33, Joe Quigley for O'Callaghan h/t, Luke Breathnach for O'Dell 43, Killian McGinnis for McGarry 45, Conor Tyrrell for Gavin 62.

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).