The opening score of the game came for Derry after 1 minute, and doubled it after 6 minutes with Kerry yet to get going.
Cillian Burke landed Kerry’s first point after 7 minutes before Cian McMahon leveled.
Kerry were firing, with Darragh O Sullivan putting Kerry in front after 8 minutes, with Keith Evans doubling Kerry’s lead after 10 minutes.
A point from the dead ball for Derry cut the gap to 1 at the first water break, 4 points to 3
Oisin Maunsell got the first point after the water break and William Shine meant Kerry lead by double scores after 23 minutes.
A Derry point on 27 minutes cut the gap to 2, before Keith Evans cancelled out the score 2 minutes later to make it 7 points to 4 at the interval.
An early free from Cian McMahon got Kerry off the mark in the second half.
A Derry free was quickly cancelled out by Oisin Maunsell, 9 points to 5 after 36 minutes in Tullamore.
Lorcan Murray got Derry back to within 3 points on Kerry just seconds later before a Derry goal after 38 minutes levelled the game, 0-9 to 1-6.
Derry went into the lead with a point with 40 minutes on the clock.
Cillian Burke levelled matters again before Oisin Maunsell put Kerry back in front.
1 more point for Derry was enough to ensure they led by 1 at the water break, 0-11 to 1-9.
Derry pushed on after the water break with 2 points before Seán Brodrick slotted over a 45 to bring it back to a 2 point game.
A point a piece before a Cian McMahon point brought it back to a 2 point game with 4 minutes to go.
But a red card for substitute Thomas O Donnell meant Kerry would end the game with 14 men.
Cian McMahon pointed from a tight angle made sure Kerry only trailed by the minimum with a minute to go.
But then, a goal for the kingdom. Maurice O Connell pounced on a scrappy goal kick and soccer style finish to put Kerry in front by 2.
But as we ticked to the 60 minute mark, a Derry penalty was converted to put the northerners back into a 1 point lead. 2-12 to 1-14.
Here's how both goals were scored:
And that’s how it ended, a heartbreaking 1 point defeat for the Kingdom.
Our match analyst Ambrose O Donovan gave his verdict after the final whistle:
