Kerry have secured an unprecedented fifth All-Ireland MFC title in-a-row thanks to a thrilling four-point win over a gallant Galway side in today's Croke Park curtain-raiser.

The Kingdom maintained their vice-like grip on the Tom Markham Cup with a 0-21 to 1-14 success over the Tribesmen.

The Paul O'Shea captained side were made to sweat for their victory by a Galway team that had led by seven points at one stage in the first-half.

Half-forward Killian Falvey contributed 0-4 to Kerry's winning tally and was a deserving recipient of the 'Player of the Match' accolade.

Falvey's half-forward line colleague Paul Walsh also sent over four points for the winners while substitute Ruaidhri O Beaglaoich made a telling impact off the bench with three second-half scores.

At the opposite end of the field, goalkeeper Marc Kelliher made a number of vital interventions for the Kingdom.

The Munster champions shaded the early exchanges and were 0-4 to 0-3 to the good after 15 minutes of play but the second quarter belonged to the Tribesmen.

The team in maroon and white enjoyed a purple patch that yielded 1-7 without reply.

Centre-back Tony Gill netted the game's only goal in the 24th minute when finishing soccer style past Kelliher to boost his team in to a 1-7 to 0-4 advantage.

Kerry goalkeeper Marc Kelliher and Paul O'Shea lifts the Tom Markham Cup. ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.

Liam Judge made it an answered 1-7 for the Donal O Fatharta managed side before Falvey registered the Munster champions' first score in 16 minutes.

The Tribesmen's dominance was reflected in their 1-9 to 0-8 half-time lead but late scores from Walsh and Falvey gave Kerry a badly needed injection of confidence going in at the break.

Whatever manager Peter Keane said to his troops in his half-time team-talk had the desired effect as they resembled a different side in the second-half.

Four points on the trot had the Kerry Group sponsored outfit back on level terms within seven minutes of the resumption.

A point from corner-forward Dylan Geaney then edged them ahead in the 43rd minute but the end result was very much in the melting pot as the game entered the home straight.

The sides were deadlocked with two minutes of normal time remaining but a string of late scores from Walsh, Falvey (2), O Beaglaoich and Jack O'Connor saw Kerry take the spoils and enter the record books.

Kerry - M Kelliher; C Flannery, O Fitzgerald, D Mangan; C Moriarty, D McCarthy (0-1), D Murphy; D Rahilly (0-3), D Lyne; P Walsh (0-4, 1f), P O'Shea (0-2, 1f, 1'45), K Falvey (0-4); D Geaney (0-2), P D'Arcy, M Lenihan (0-1). Subs: R O Beaglaioch (0-3) for P D'Arcy, K O'Donoghue for D Mangan, J Kennelly for M Lenihan, J O'Connor (0-1f) for P Walsh.

Galway - D Halloran; E Walsh, S Black, C Deane; R Monahan (0-1), T Gill (1-0), C Sweeney; P Kelly (0-1), C Raftery (0-2); L Judge (0-1), A Halloran, S Horkan (0-1); E Tinney (0-1), D Cox, M Cooley (0-5, 4f). Subs: O McCormack for S Horkan, T Culhane (0-1) for D Cox, O Gormally (0-1) for A Halloran, C Halbard for C Sweeney, C Hernon for L Judge, E McCormack for M Cooley.

Referee - S Hurson.

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