At the bottom of Division 2A, Derry were relegated after they lost to Carlow 2-21 to 0-16.
Down remain in Division 2A for next year. Kerry came from behind late on to defeat Down at Austin Stack Park.
The Mourne Men, who needed a victory to be certain of safety before throw-in, were three points up at half time, and would still have that advantage with 15 minutes to play after Tom McGrattan's goal. There were times in the second half when Down looked to be streaking clear, particularly after a second half goal for Tom McGrattan helped them to a five-point advantage.
Having shot three unanswered up the seventh minute, Kerry were outscored by Down eight points to one over the following eleven minutes to leave it a double score game, 0-4 to 0-8 with Dáithí Sands and Pearse Óg McCrickard really coming into their own for the Mourne men.
A pair of points on 24 and 27 minutes from Jason Diggins, brought the home side back into the tie. Down, however, still managed to outscore Kerry four points to three to leave the half-time score Kerry 0-09 Down 0-12.
Down manager Ronan Sheehan would have been quietly confident that his charges could push on in the second half but Kerry started with something of a bang, Pádraig Boyle hitting the crossbar with a goal-scoring chance before Jordan Conway got his first point of the afternoon.
By the 43rd minute Kerry were back level at 0-13 each, with Dan Goggin shooting a pair of points in quick succession. It was still level pegging ten minutes later – 0-15 apiece – before Down put on something of a spurt, starting with a shot at goal by Tom McGrattan, which stuck the upright on 53 minutes.
Tim Prenter assisting McGrattan for a classy goal just a minute later, 0-15 to 1-15. The Mourne men extend their advantage to five points by 62 minutes in the wake of a Paul Sheehan free. Within a couple of minutes Kerry were back to within a score. A Shane Conway free on 62 minutes followed by a Jordan Goal and a point from the goal-scorer a minute later brought the Kingdom back level – 1-18 to 1-18.
Sheehan responded with a Down point from play, but from there on, Kerry took control with points from Goggin and Philip Lucid to take the victory by the narrowest of margins.
Despite the loss Down stay up following Carlow’s victory over Derry in Dr Cullen Park. Both sides Down and Kerry will meet in teh coming weeks in the Joe McDonagh Cup clash in Ballycran.
KERRY: John Brendan O’Halloran, Jason Diggins (0-2), Eric Leen, Eoin Ross, Evan Murphy, Mikey Boyle, Paudie O’Connor, Daniel Collins (0-1), Gavin Dooley, Kyle O’Connor, Fionán Mackessy (0-1), Michael Leane, Shane Conway (0-9, 6f, 1 ‘65), Dáithí Griffin, Pádraig Boyle (0-1) Subs: Cillian Trant for F Mackessy (inj), 15, Jordan Conway (1-2) for D Griffin, 30, Dan Goggin (0-3) for G Dooley, half-time, Philip Lucid (0-1) for P Boyle, 51, Conor O’Hare for E Leen (inj), 60
DOWN: Stephen Keith, John McManus, Tim Prenter (0-1), Tom Murray, Niall McFarland, Caolan Teggart, Mark Fisher, Matt Conlon, Liam Savage, Dáithí Sands (0-3), Paul Sheehan (0-6, 5f), Stuart Martin, Pearse Óg McCrickard (0-3), Chris Egan (0-2), Tom McGrattan (1-3) Subs: Barry Trainor for T Murray, 29, Finn Turpin (0-1) for C Egan, 46, Ryan McCusker for S Martin, 62, Jordan Doran for T Prenter, 67
REFEREE: Patrick Murphy (Carlow)
By Mon 20th Mar
