Kerry boss, Maurice Leahy, was hoping that his side could build on their opening league win against London but it was not to be as Keith Higgins seven-point salvo in awind-assisted second half ultimately proved decisive as Mayo secured their first win of the league campaign.

They had faced into the gale from the throw-in and despite a concerted Kerry onslaught, a tremendous display from the home side ensured that they were well in-touch at the short whistle.

Then with the elements on their back after the resumption they quickly pulled level before slowly moving clear as the final whistle neared.

Mayo’s second half display mightn’t have been as impressive as the first

35 minutes but an eight-point victory over Kerry will set them upnicely for the challenges to come.

Kerry had started the match in impressive fashion and were five points up inside nine minutes - Mikey Boyle and Aidan Healy landing singles before Michael Conway punished hesitancy in the Mayo rear-guard by smartly blasting to the net.

The home side were under severe pressure at that stage but with Higgins leaving his forward role to act as a seventh defender and the rest of the Mayo rearguard beginning to boss their opponents, the home side grew in stature with every passing minute.

Derek McConn illustrated this new confidence when firing over a smart point in the 13th and when Paul Broderick sent Rory Campion through on goal three minutes later, the young Ballina star smashed the leather to the roof of the net.

Kerry were rocked by that score and tried desperately to reopen the lead they would need as a second-half buffer but all they could muster were points from Conway, Bobby O‚Sullivan and Ivan McCarthy. Mayo’s captain,

Stephen Broderick, replied with a 34th minute point to leave the hosts well-positioned at the interval as the Munster men went to the dressing room 1-6 to 1-2 in front.

Kerry knew they faced a huge challenge in the second half and began in determined fashion but once Higgins got into his stride there was going to be only one winner.

Three early white flags from the number eleven had cut the gap to a single by the 43rd minute but Kerry edged clear once again when O’Sullivan converted a close-range free.

The visitors were fighting hard for possession at that stage but Mayo were much slicker and were soon in front thanks to two more Higgins strikes and a smart point from Kevin Healy.

Wing-back Ger Whyte popped over two long-range points as Mayo pulled clear and when Kilmacud Crokes clubman, Niall Murphy, ran fifty yards before knocking over another score and Higgins landed a beauty from the sideline, the Connacht men were cruising.

Coyne, Hunt, Walsh. Morley, Barrett and Whyte were battling hard in front of Tom Duffy in the Mayo goal and Kerry couldn’t find any available scoring avenue.

All they could muster was another O’Sullivan pointed free as the home side poured forward.

Paul Broderick almost had Mayo’s second goal in the 68th minute but Tadgh

Flynn pulled off a stunning double save to keep the deficit manageable.

Unfortunately for the Kerry net-minder he wouldn’t be so lucky three minutes later when McConn’s line-cut found Broderick in the goalmouth and the big man smashed the ball to the roof of the net to bring the curtain down on a deserved win for the men in green and red.

Kerry: T Flynn; A O’Connor, A Healy (0-1), M Quilter; C Harris, L Boyle, T Murnane; J Bergin, J Griffin; M Conway (1-2), I McCarthy (0-1), B O’Sullivan (0-3, 0-2 frees); M Boyle (0-1), JM Dooley, M Slat-tery.

Subs used: G O’Brien for Boyle, K Hannifin for McCarthy, B O’Donovan for Griffin. Mayo: T Duffy; D Walsh, P Hunt, S Morley; S Coyne, P Barrett, G Whyte (0-2); S Broderick (0-1 free), D McConn (0-1); N Murphy (0-1), K Higgins (0-7, 0-4 frees), S Hunt; K Healy (0-1), P Broderick (1-0), R Campion (1-0). Subs used: A Healy for Campion, S Leneghan for Hunt, J Duffy for Kevin Healy.

Referee: Ger Hoey (Clare).

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