Worthy Kerry advance over Monaghan

Kerry 1-16 Monaghan 1-12, Killarney

Kerry secured their Allianz NFL Division 1 status for another year with a deserved victory over Monaghan in Killarney.

Despite this loss, Monaghan will remain in Division 1 as their greater scoring total has relegated Derry, with bottom side Tyrone also bowing out of the top flight.

Monaghan, Derry and Tyrone finished level on four league points. Tyrone have a -15 scoring difference and both Monaghan and Derry have -11, but the Farney men's 8-92 haul over the seven-match league campaign, as against Derry's 5-85, sees them stay up.

Paul Galvin returned from suspension to kick three points from play as the Kingdom built a 0-9 to 1-4 interval advantage.

Conor McManus claimed the visitors' goal, netting after his penalty had been initially saved. But Kerry kept ahead with Bryan Sheehan (1-4) and Kieran Donaghy (0-3) both impressing in front of the posts.

Seeking their first win in three league games - they lost to Mayo and Tyrone recently - the reigning All-Ireland champions hit the front early on through Sheehan and Colm Cooper. However, Cooper's afternoon was quickly ended by a head injury.

Galvin delighted the Fitzgerald Stadium crowd with a well-struck point as he made his return to the team, but Monaghan, with plenty to play for, were back on terms by the 11th minute.

Paul Finlay struck two frees and substitute Rory Woods, who came on for ankle injury victim Tommy Freeman, scored from play.

In a competitive opening half, Galvin wielded plenty of influence in the Kerry attack and he kicked two more points from play as the hosts nudged back in front. Sheehan's accuracy from frees - he had three by the interval - also kept Jack O'Connor's men on the right road.

Kerry really should have been further ahead at the break, but Monaghan reduced the arrears to two points on the cusp of half-time.

McManus stepped up to take a penalty, awarded for a foul on Woods, and although his low effort was parried by Kerry net minder Brendan Kealy, he was able to finish the loose ball to the net.

Kerry opened the second half in good stead, watched by a 6,314-strong crowd. Darran O'Sullivan broke through for a point and defender Tomas O Se drew great applause as he rampaged forward for a trademark score from 40 metres.

Centre-back O Se was making his first appearance for his county since last September's All-Ireland final defeat of Cork.

The hosts tightened their grip on the game when Barry John Keane played a high ball in, Kieran Donaghy won it and hand passed for Sheehan to finish neatly past Monaghan stopper Shane Duffy.

Finlay, McManus, Dick Clerkin and Vincent Corey all pointed as Monaghan closed the gap to four, but Kerry kept the scoreboard ticking over through Sheehan and Donaghy.

Monaghan lost Woods to a second yellow card and Kerry's Declan O'Sullivan, who had been troubled by a hamstring injury, also saw red late on, but by that stage the home side had run out worthy winners.

The four-point gap at the final whistle left Monaghan level on scoring difference with Derry, but some high scores earlier in the league, against Cork (3-12), Tyrone (1-14) and Derry (1-16), were enough to see Seamus McEnaney's men retain their Division 1 status.