KERRY 1-17

Kerry have all but qualified for their first Division 1 semi-final under Eamonn Fitzmaurice after an impressive show of strength in Clones.

Kerry manufactured this win on an excellent third quarter when they outscored the hosts 0-6 to no score although their efforts against a first half wind were key to the victory.

Colm Cooper helped himself to six points in his best Kerry performance since his return from cruciate and knee surgery last year.

A Darren Hughes goal against the run of play in the 57th minute, Monaghan’s first score from play in the second half, cut the gap to three points but Kerry kicked on with an unanswered 1-4, the goal coming from a David Moran penalty after Paul Murphy was brought down by Rory Beggan after snaffling a short kick-out.

There was never more than a point between the sides in the first half, which finished 0-6 apiece, the sides level on six occasions in the opening period. Kerry appeared to have a clear-cut penalty claim in the closing stages when Cooper’s jersey was clearly pulled back but David Coldrick chose not to spread his arms.

The quality of football was of a mediocre nature for a lot of the half where Monaghan, despite boosted by the wind, chose to refrain from committing players forward. Kerry lorded the possession and territory stakes and were only too happy to recycle ball in the hope of creating chances.

Kieran Donaghy cultivated Kerry’s first point from a free but coughed up two frees at the other end, which Conor McManus converted, and another which the inside forward left short.

Scorers for Monaghan: C McManus (0-5, 3 frees); D Hughes (1-0); D Mone, K O’Connell, R Beggan (free), R McAnespie (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kerry: C Cooper (0-6, 4 frees); D Moran (1-1, 1-0 pen); A Fitzgerald (0-4, 1 free); K Donaghy, BJ Keane (0-2 each); D O’Sullivan, P Murphy (0-1 each).

MONAGHAN: R Beggan; C Walshe, D Wylie, R Wylie; V Corey, K O’Connell, F Kelly; K Hughes, N McAdam; D Mone, T Kerr, D Malone; D Hughes, C McManus, S Carey.

Subs for Monaghan: O Duffy for S Carey; R McAnespie for T Kerr (both 46); D Clerkin for D Malone (62).

KERRY: B Kelly; S Enright, M Griffin, M Ó Sé; F Fitzgerald, P Crowley, A O’Mahony; K Donaghy, D Moran; D Walsh, P Murphy, J Buckley; D O’Sullivan, C Cooper, S O’Brien.

Subs for Kerry: A Fitzgerald for S O’Brien (29); K Young for P Crowley (50); BJ Keane for D O’Sullivan (56); B O’Sullivan for J Buckley (62); P Geaney for C Cooper (64); A Walsh for D Walsh (68).

Referee: D Coldrick (Kerry)