A successful first visit to the Kingdom for Longford Town saw them head home with the three points tonight as Kerry’s wait for a first win goes on.

Kerry started the brighter of the sides but a failed clearance lead to the Longford opener with Meaney slotting home after just 8 minutes, with captain Elworthy doubling their advantage just before the break.

Sean McGrath did get one back midway through the half to give the hosts some life but captain Matt Keane scored a freak own goal trying to clear a cross with his head to knock the wind out of the hosts and give Longford the two goal advantage once more.

Kerry never sat back and let this game play out though as they got within one again with 15 to go with Kelliher heading home this time.

This was a real kick start week for Longford Town’s season with wins over Galway and now Kerry. Treaty United are the visitors to Bishopsgate next week meanwhile Kerry make the trip to the midlands to face Athlone.

Kerry got the brighter start of the two sides with a succession of corners early on, one of which Sean O’Connell played onto the head of Trpimir Vrljicak at the back post who headed back across the goal but Brady was equal to the effort to tip it over.

Moments later Longford broke, with Dervin playing the ball down the right to Giurgi who capitalised on a mistake from O’Connell to gain possession and with space pull the ball into the box to striker Meaney who slotted past Scully into the far corner to give the away side a 1-0 lead.

Kerry responded well to going behind but were just missing that final pass or touch in the box to get a decent effort on goal but the press on Longford playing out was effective in turning over possession. As it ticked past the half hour mark Dennehy would be pleased with his side but once again for Kerry it was a silly individual error that left them trying to recover from the start.

Longford took a major stranglehold on the game starting from a counter attack. They seemed to work at least a set piece from every break on the turnover in midfield and this time it proved to be crucial. Aodh Dervin stood over a corner from the left and Kerry fell asleep as Dervin played a one-two short to work a better angle, with his right footed cross finding the unmarked head of Shane Elwrothy who headed home to give the away side a major advantage heading in at the break two to the good.

Kerry made a triple change at the break as they looked to get one back early to have a chance. Kevin Williams did have their first effort on goal with an acrobatic effort back across goal that Giurgi did well to clear off the line.

The Kingdom were rewarded for a decent second half start with a cracking counter attack of their own. A four on two developed with Kelliher playing Gleeson in down the right who shot but Brady could not parry the effort away from danger with Sean McGrath pouncing on the rebound to give the hosts and the crowd a well needed boost.

The wind was taken out of Kerry just minutes later, as Adam Verdon crossed from the right and as Matt Keane tried to clear, his header ended up flying backwards over the helpless Scully in net.

Kerry once again showed some great fighting spirit as they got back to within one with 15 to go. Leo Gaxha did well to take the ball past the keeper who tried to dispossess him and dink the ball back into the box, which Kelliher rose highest to head into the empty net.

The hosts did push on late for the equaliser but despite all their pressure did not create another opportunity to get the point but it was a fantastic second half performance from a side that desperately needed it after their last two outings.