Kerry are into the Joe McDonagh Cup Final by the tightest of margins.
They lost at Meath but still qualify for a decider against Westmeath next Saturday.
Twice in the opening 3 minutes Kerry had to come from behind, with points from Shane Conway and Padraig Boyle bringing them level. After Meath went ahead by double scores Shane Conway hit back for the Kingdom to make it 4 all inside 9 minutes. Kerry were ahead by 6 points to 5 after 13 minutes after a 5th point of the encounter from Shane Conway. The Kingdom were ahead 0-7 to 0-5 at water break. Two points in a minute upon the resumption had Meath on level terms. After Meath went ahead Shane Conway once more had Kerry on level terms. Then it was Daniel Collins's turn to draw the Kingdom level; 9 all after 25 minutes. After the sides swapped points Cian Hussey netted for the Kingdom in the 27th minute. Kerry led by 1-11 to 0-10 after 28 minutes. Meath were awarded a penalty in the final minute of the half but spurned the chance to move within a point of the Kingdom due to a superb John B O'Halloran save.
A 9th point of the period meant the Kingdom led at the break; Kerry 1-13 Meath 0-13.
Meath started the second period stronger and led 0-18 to 1-14 ten minutes into the half. Shane Conway then pointed the Kingdom level before Mikey Boyle had the Kingdom ahead after 16 minutes of a low scoring half. At the water break Kerry led 1-16 to 0-18. Maurice O'Connor then doubled the Kingdom advantage before Michael made it a 3 point game. 2 quick points by Meath and it was a 1 point game at 1-18 to 0-20. Meath were level 11 minutes from time at 1-18 to 0-21 and were soon ahead by a point. They quickly doubled that advantage at 0-23 to 1-18. Shane Nolan halved that deficit but Meath pointed next to restore that 2 point advantage. Three minutes from time Padraig Boyle brought Kerry to within one again. However, it was Meath who scored next and they led again by 2. In the first minute of added on time Meath went 3 up, a gap that then rose to 4 and was quickly up to 5. James Toher was red carded for Meath in the final minute. Kerry got a point back through Padraig Boyle but lost 0-28 to 1-21. That Boyle point proved decisive to level up the scoring difference and Kerry go through by virtue of scoring more goals than Down in the group.
Kerry manager Fintan O'Connor
