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With Kerry still one up early in the second half, Con O'Callaghan thundered a shot off the crossbar for Dublin before Paudie Clifford and Geaney stretched Kerry's lead to three.

And while Colm Basquel responded, a fine David Clifford effort kept Kerry three ahead before the holders gifted Dublin a way back into the game. Gavin White coughed up possession to Basquel, who found Small, the Dublin number 10's deflected effort beating Shane Ryan in the Kerry goal.

Small's goal levelled the game at 1-8 apiece, and while Kerry looked as though they had pulled away by reeling off an unanswered trio of scores, Dublin hit the next four to edge back in front.

In a gripping conclusion, Killian Spillane's brilliant score levelled the game before Small tapped over a point after a fine pass inside by substitute Jack McCaffrey.

Kerry levelled again when Sean O'Shea stroked over a free from close range after David Clifford won a free off Michael Fitzsimons having shot wide.

But it was Dublin who finished strongly, with Mannion capping an excellent individual performance to edge his side back ahead after Dean Rock's effort had been beaten away by Shane Ryan before Basquel picked up the pieces and fed the onrushing Mannion.

Kerry's fate was sealed when David Clifford's difficult afternoon was capped by him passing up an opportunity to level with his fourth wide of the game before Dean Rock knocked over a free in the dying seconds to confirm Dublin's return to the summit and spark jubilant scenes among those in blue at Croke Park.

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton (0-2, 1f, 1 '45); Eoin Murchan, Michael Fitzsimons, David Byrne; James McCarthy, John Small, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton (0-2), Brian Howard (0-1); Paddy Small (1-1), Paul Mannion (0-5, 1f), Ciaran Kilkenny; Cormac Costello (0-1, 1f), Con O'Callaghan, Colm Basquel (0-2).

Subs: Jack McCaffrey for Gannon ('49), Niall Scully for Costello ('55), Sean McMahon for Howard (63), Cian Murphy for Murchan (66), Dean Rock (0-1) for P Small (68).

Kerry: Shane Ryan; Graham O'Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White; Diarmuid O'Connor, Jack Barry; Dara Moynihan, Sean O'Shea (0-5, 4f), Stephen O'Brien; Paudie Clifford (0-3), David Clifford (0-3, 1f), Paul Geaney (1-1).

Subs: Brian O Beaglaioch for Murphy (56), Adrian Spillane for Moynihan (58), Micheal Burns for O'Brien (58), Killian Spillane (0-1) for Geaney (63), Mike Breen for Barry (67).

Referee: David Gough (Meath)

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