Armagh came to Austin Stack Park and extended the courtesy of a guard of honour to the All-Ireland champions, and that was were the niceties ended.
In a tasty League opener between the reigning All-Ireland champions and the defending League champions, it was the latter that emerged four-point winners after hitting the home side for three goals – all in the second half – after Kerry had enjoyed a five-point, 1-7 to 0-5 lead at half time.
For Kerry, this was life after co-managers Darragh Long and Declan Quill on the sideline, and life after the retired Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh and plenty more players inside the whitewash.
Mark Bourke is the new manager, and through a combination of up to a dozen of last year’s squad players being unavailable for different reasons and, presumably, the new man wanting to put his own stamp on things, there was quite a new look to the Kerry team and bench for this league opener. And for three-quarters of this contest the Kingdom looked every inch the team that finished last season with the Brendan Martin Cup in their possession.
With 45 minutes gone Kerry were seven points ahead, 1-13 to 0-9, and looking a solid bet to kick off their Division One campaign with a win, and ease Bourke and the rest of the newcomers into inter-county life with a commendable victory. But then the wheels came off.
Goals from substitutes Blaithin Mackin and Rebecca Cunningham helped flip that six-point deficit into a one-point lead for the Orchard county with just about three minutes of regulation time to be played, and Roisin Mulligan iced the comeback with a third goal in the 62nd minute to seal the win for the league champions.
Kerry had the advantage of the wind in the first half but Armagh made the brighter start when late replacement Eimear McGeown pointed over in the first minute, although Kerry were soon on level terms when Síofra O’Shea slotted a free following a foul on captain Anna Galvin.
In a repeat of last year’s Division One final, and in the first competitive game between the counties since the 2024 All-Ireland semi-final, O’Shea put the Kingdom 0-2 to 0-1 to the good in the fifth minute but Niamh Reel showed her abilities when she replied two minutes later for the visitors to level matters.
Lavery then slotted a free that she earned herself and Armagh went two to the good with Reel again doing the damage, although Rachel Dwyer did get one back for the hosts after a fine run and assist by the marauding Aoife Dillane.
Lavery stretched Armagh’s advantage to two in the 18th minute but from here on Kerry dominated the half, with Síofra O’Shea striking for a brilliant goal in the 20th minute after excellent approach play from the impressive Niamh Ní Chonchúir and Jadyn Lucey.
Lucey followed up with a score of her own, but Armagh were still dangerous and Mary Ellen Bolger was forced into a brilliant one-handed save from McGeown as her shot was destined for the top corner
The rest of the half belonged to Kerry and Siofra O’Shea with two (one free) and Anna Galvin saw them take a 1-7 to 0-5 lead in at the half time break.
Galvin went on a fine run and score from the second half throw-in but Armagh struck for three points on the trot from Lavery, McGeown and Mackin, fresh off the bench, to make it a 1-8 to 0-8 game.
Carr made a fine double save from Síofra O’Shea and Lucey, but the latter then received a yellow card straight afterwards for a high challenge.
When O’Shea pointed for Kerry in the 45th minute to make it 1-13 to 0-9, it proved to be Kerry’s last score, as Carr made another fine save from Ní Chonchúir.
It was all Armagh from here on in. Reel with a brace of points was followed by a splendid goal from Mackin before Cunningham struck for a scorcher in the 53rd minute.
Armagh’s third goal came from Roisin Mulligan as the visitors had too much in the finish for a Kerry team that faded in the last quarter.
Kerry: M.E. Bolger; R Smith, D Kearney, F O’Donoghue; A O’Connell, K Cronin 0-1, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin 0-2; N Carmody, N Ní Chonchúir 0-1, C Evans 0-1; J Lucey 0-1, S O’Shea 1-6 (0-4f), R Dwyer 0-1. Subs: J Gill for C Evans (44), C McCarthy for R Smith (47), K Brosnan for R Dwyer (47), K O’Connor for N Ní Chonchúir (49), M Higgins for J Lucey (55), N Ní Chonchúir for M O’Connell (56), R Rahilly for F O’Donoghue (58)
Armagh: A Carr; M Ferguson, L Kenny, C Towe; E Druse, L McConville, R Mulligan 1-0; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon 0-1; A McCoy, M Feehan, E Lavery 0-3 (1f); N Reel 0-4, M Lennon, E McGeown 0-2. Subs: B Mackin 1-1 for L Kenny (33), C McNally for M Lennon (40), M McGann for E Lavery (40), R Cunningham 1-0 for E McGeown (52), N Henderson for N Reel (55), C Garvey for M Feehan (56).
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).