The Kingdom made the early running with Kieran Donaghy and Colm Cooper both influential and although Down got back on terms, the hosts managed to edge ahead again for half-time – 0-08 to 0-05.

Substitute Bryan Sheehan set up Darran O’Sullivan for a goal, just after the break, and he pointed Kerry to victory number five despite the concession of a Benny Coulter goal.

However, with Cork managing to beat Armagh, Kerry have been pipped to a league final berth by their Munster rivals.

Both sides started today's clash at Fitzgerald Stadium with hopes of qualifying for the Division 1 decider, but they needed Cork to slip up at home to Armagh.

This was Kerry and Down's first meeting since last July's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final win for the Mourne men at Croke Park. There were ten survivors each from that game in the starting line-ups.

In bright and sunny conditions, Kerry made early headway and a Colm Cooper double and points from Donnchadh Walsh and Kieran Donaghy had them leading by 0-04 to 0-00.

Donaghy popped up in midfield and full-forward and Down needed a good save from goalkeeper Declan Alder to keep Jack O'Connor's men out as they pressed for a goal.

Down were sluggish in attack but gradually improved in the second quarter with Conor Maginn, Mark Poland and James Colgan registering points. Poland had opened the visitors' account in the 14 minutes, settling for a point after being played in by Benny Coulter.

Darran O'Sullivan and Anthony Maher, who did well at midfield, added their names to the scoresheet to help Kerry move back ahead for the interval after Down had briefly been on terms at 0-05 apiece.

Bryan Sheehan, who replaced an injured Paul Galvin, also got on target before the break, along with Declan O'Sullivan.

Darran O'Sullivan, the former captain, took a pass from Sheehan and finished to the net to give Kerry an ideal start to the second half, making it 1-08 to 0-05 on the scoreboard.

Down replied with a Poland free and the sides shared out the next four points as Sheehan and Declan O'Sullivan, who was enjoying his roving role, scored for the hosts and Conor Garvey and Clarke landed points for James McCartan's charges.

Poland narrowed the gap to four points - 1-10 to 0-09 - only for Kerry to hit back with probably the score of the day. Marc O Se left his defensive station on a terrific solo run from deep and laid off for Darran O'Sullivan to split the posts.

Eoin Brosnan was inches away from scoring Kerry's second goal. Instead, he watched his thunderbolt of a shot smack back off the crossbar and Down immediately got a goal of their own.

With just over 15 minutes remaining, the match seemed to swing in Down's favour with a goal from Coulter and the sending-off of Kerry defender Tom O'Sullivan. The resulting free was knocked over by Clarke, leaving it 1-11 to 1-10.

The heat was on Kerry now and they responded with an excellent pointed effort from Sheehan. Seamus Scanlon, Adrian O'Connell and Kieran O'Leary were introduced in the ensuing minutes and the fresh legs aided the hosts in their push for victory.

Sheehan and Clarke swapped final points in a well-contested final six minutes and while the spoils deservedly went to Kerry in the end, Down can also take some positives from this performance into the summer.