Allianz FL D1: Kerry finish strongly

Allianz Football League Division One

Kerry 1-18 Monaghan 0-7

By Paul Brennan at Fitzerald Stadium, Killarney

An expected win for Kerry over Monaghan in Killarney pushes the defending league champions closer to the top two places and moves the Farney county over the relegation trapdoor with little chance of a reprieve at this stage.

Leading by just a point at half time, 0-5 to 0-4, Kerry were in no mood to get dragged into an unnecessary battle in the wind and rain, and to that end they sent on David Clifford after 56 minutes to close the game out.

Kerry were four up, 0-10 to 0-6, when Clifford arrived, and they were comfortable 14-point winners at the hooter, the Footballer of the Year scoring the game’s only goal and two-pointer with his first two involvements, before converting a free and assisting a couple of other scores.

A fifth defeat leaves Monaghan still searching for a league point, but even if they mine a maximum four from their remaining two games, it’s doubtful it will be enough to save them from an immediate return to Division 2.

At a rain and windswept Killarney, it took Kerry 27 minutes to take the lead, with Paudie Clifford’s third point putting them 0-5 to 0-4 in front, a lead they took to the half-time.

David Clifford and Tony Brosnan’s withdrawal from Kerry’s starting team would have encouraged Monaghan to pull off a miracle, and a couple of early points from Cameron Dowd and Oisin McGorman gave them early grounds for hope.

Kerry were level by the ninth minute with a pair of Paudie Clifford points before Monaghan went two ahead again through Karl Gallager and Dessie Ward.

In front of 5,000 spectators, the tempo of the game was low-energy and passive, the conditions certainly not helping in adding any great urgency or anger to the contest.

Kerry closed out the half, playing against the wind, with points from Keith Evans, Joe O’Connor and Paudie Clifford to lead by one at the interval.

Sensing Monaghan might be a tough nut to crack in the second half if given a foothold, Kerry upped the ante straight away, with Sean O’Shea scored three early points (two from play) and Paudie Clifford punching over his fourth to put Kerry five ahead.

Monaghan replied with scores from Robbie Hanratty and then Andrew Woods to make it 0-9 to 0-6, but that was as good as it got for the Ulster men.

David Clifford’s introduction energised the Kerry supporters as much as it did his team mates, and his first touch saw him score the game’s only two-pointer. A couple of minutes later he was played through on goal, gave Rory Beggan the eyes, and kicked Kerry into a 1-13 to 0-6 lead. Game, set and match.

O’Shea, Clifford, Joe O’Connor, Donagh O’Sullivan and Armin Heinrich added late points with Kerry having scoring difference in mind as the league enters the sharp end with two rounds to go.

It’s doubtful Monaghan’s skin can be saved at this stage.

Scorers for Kerry: D Clifford 1-3 (tp, 0-1f), P Clifford 0-4, S O’Shea 0-4 (2f), J O’Connor 0-2, K Evans 0-1, D Geaney 0-1, T Morley 0-1, D O’Sullivan 0-1, A Heinrich 0-1

Scorers for Monaghan: O McGorman 0-1, K Gallagher 0-1, C Dowd 0-1, D Ward 0-1, R Hanratty 0-1, A Woods 0-1, R O’Toole 0-1

Kerry: Shane Murphy, Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey, Eddie Healy, Tadhg Morley, Armin Heinrrich, Joe O’Connor, Mark O’Shea, Keith Evans, Sean O’Shea, Graham O’Sullivan, Dylan Geaney, Cillian Trant, Paudie Clifford.

Subs: Tom O’Sullivan for C Trant (HT), Micheal Burns for P Clifford (47), Donagh O’Sullivan for E Healy (53), David Clifford for G O’Sullivan (56), Liam Smith for D Geaney (62), Darragh Lyne for M O’Shea (temp, 66-ft).

Monaghan: Rory Beggan, Darragh McElearney, Ryan O’Toole, Ryan Wylie, Cameron Dowd, Dessie Ward, Aaron Carey, Michael McCarville, Shane Hanratty, Karl Gallagher, Micheal Bannigan, Fionan Carolan, Oisin McGorman, Andrew Woods, Liam McDonald.

Subs: Jack McCarron for F Carolan (HT), Robbie Hanratty for L McDonald (49), Eddie Walsh for O McGorman (49), Darragh Treanor for D Ward (64), Ryan Mohan for S Hanratty (66)

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).