Kerry fielded a shadow team for this Division 1A opener at a near-deserted Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney on Saturday afternoon and Louth took full advantage, scraping home by a single point. Kerry may have been suffering from an All-Ireland hangover, but Louth and their manager Paddy Clarke were celebrating a famous victory in their first game back in the top flight for 30 years.

Kerry only started five of their All-Ireland 15. but last year's Division Two champions tore their reserves to shreds in the first half to lead 0-11 to 0-3 at half-time. Kerry resumed in the second half with two more of their championship side on duty, Tom O'Sullivan and Aodhan Mac Gearailt, and fought back well. However, Louth scored a well-worked goal from JP Rooney in the 66th minute to deny Kerry.

The visitors played with the howling gale and rain in the first half and took full advantage. They kicked four points in a row, two from Christy Grimes and splendid long-range efforts from J P Rooney and impressive midfielder Martin Farrelly, in the opening 13 minutes. Enda Galvin opened Kerry's account a minute later, but Louth were in control.

Kerry's lethal corner forward duo of Mike Frank Russell and John Crowley kickstarted the second half revival that should have resulted in victory. Points from Crowley and Russell reduced the deficit to 0-12 to 0-6 when Kerry struck for a goal in the 54th minute. Crowley found Gene Farrell and when Russell was put through, he made no mistake.

Russell, with two points (the first a magnificent effort from the sideline), and one from Crowley put the sides level with eight minutes to go. Louth then attacked down their right and Cathal O'Hanlon's cross was left by Peter O'Leary and Killian Burns to allow Rooney to punch to the net.

KERRY: P O'Leary; K Burns, M McCarthy, M Lyons; S O'Sullivan, N Sheehy, S Hegarty; D Daly, K Dillon; E Brosnan (0-1), L Hassett, E Galvin (0-1); MF Russell (1-5, 3 frees), G Farrell, J Crowley (0-4). Subs: T O'Sullivan for N Sheehy, A MacGearailt for K Dillion, G Walsh for S O'Sullivan, J Cahilane for M Lyons, J O'Connor for E Galvin.

LOUTH: C Nally; B Philips, Denis Reilly, S Gerard; A Hoey, S Melia (0-1), J Neary; K Reilly, M Farrelly (0-2); C Grimes (0- 3), S O'Hanlon, M Stanford (0-4); David Reilly, D Kirwan, JP Rooney (1-2). Subs: C O'Hanlon for A Hoey, B Reilly for C Grimes, P McGuigan for J Neary, C Kelly for D Kirwan.

Referee: M Ryan (Limerick).