This was a highly competitive encounter at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, yesterday, and the home side looked in deep trouble in the 40th minute when Wicklow scored a goal to take the lead. But Kerry demonstrated great character and resolve in the final quarter to emerge clear winners.

Kerry's defence coped well, with young player Michael McCarthy nullifying the threat of Wicklow's Kevin O'Brien; however Trevor Doyle gave young Tomas O Se a torrid time on the left wing and it was only when Eamon Breen was shifted to mark him that his threat was curbed.

The game opened with John McGlynn registering Kerry's first point after 20 seconds and Liam Hassett found the target two minutes later. Maurice Fitzgerald, with a classy left-footed effort from near the sideline, saw Kerry move three points in front. However, Wicklow soon began to find their feet and Kerry's lead was cut to a single point following scores from Brian Whelan and Damien McMahon.

Two frees from Dara O Cinneide saw Kerry move three points clear again, but the visitors hit back with points from Keith Byrne and Trevor Doyle that saw Kerry lead 0-5 to 0-4 after 20 minutes. Kerry hit a purple patch just before the break and unanswered points from McGlynn, O Cinneide and Liam Hassett left the home side leading 0-8 to 0-4 at the break.

Kerry played against the breeze in the second half and when O Cinneide extended their lead in the first minute, Wicklow looked in trouble. However they upped the tempo of their game and dominated the next 14 minutes. Doyle scored two points and Byrne narrowed the gap to a single point. Then the large Wicklow following were on their feet in the 39th minute when O'Brien set up Doyle for a goal from close range and when Darren Coffey extended Wicklow's lead a minute later with a fine point, the home side looked in trouble.

However Kerry showed true grit and driven from the back by the inspirational Seamus Moynihan, and O Se at midfield, Kerry thundered back into the game. O Cinneide levelled matters with two frees in the 15th and 16th minutes. Fitzgerald then flicked the ball over the bar to give Kerry the lead before McGlynn extended it to two points in the 24th minute. It was all Kerry from there to the end, with Moynihan setting up Fitzgerald for a magnificent point from 50 yards, and in the 26th minute O Cinneide got the insurance point from a free for the home side.

KERRY: D O'Keeffe; M McCarthy, B O'Shea, M Hassett; T O Se, S Moynihan, E Breen; D O Se, D Daly; N Kennelly, L Hassett (0-2), J McGlynn (0-3); G Murphy, M Fitzgerald (0-3), D O Cinneide (0-7). Subs: W Kirby for Daly; B O'Shea for Murphy; E Fitzmaurice for D O Se.

WICKLOW: T Murphy; M Coffey, D McMahon (0-1), B Brady; B Whelan (0-1), B O Donobhan, B O hAnnaidh; D Coffey (0-1), F Daly; C Daye, S Byrne, T Doyle (1-3); K Byrne (0-2), R Coffey, K O'Brien. Subs: A Foley for O hAnnaidh; J Behan for O'Donovan; T McGivern for McMahon.

Referee: M Collins, Cork.