Sure-footed Kerry move into second place

Monaghan 0-11 Kerry 1-14, Inniskeen, Allianz Football League

Kerry moved menacingly into second place in Division 1 with a polished performance against Monaghan In Inniskeen.

Relegation-doomed Monaghan opted to play into the wind in the first half and were left trailing by 1-09 to 0-01 at half-time.

Kieran Donaghy had a key presence at full-forward for the Kingdom, whose 35th-minute goal was scored by Declan O’Sullivan.

Substitute Tommy Freeman helped Monaghan improve in the second period, but points from Paul Galvin, Kieran O’Leary and David Geaney settled the issue.

The result leaves an injury-hit Monaghan needing to beat Mayo in their final game next Sunday and hope that the results involving fellow strugglers Armagh and Galway go their way. The bottom two sides will be playing in Division 2 next year.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Kerry will hope that they can get the better of Down in their final round fixture and join Dublin in the Division 1 final. Kerry, Down and reigning champions Cork are all still in contention to reach the decider.

The decision to play into the elements in the opening 35 minutes backfired on Monaghan who were 0-03 to 0-00 behind midway through the half.

Kieran O'Leary, Kerry's captain for the day, pointed a free in the 10th minute, then the returning Declan O'Sullivan provided the assist for a David Geaney score and opened his own account.

Jack O'Connor's side kept their foot on the gas without playing anywhere near their best. Kieran Donaghy provided the fulcrum as the target man after a brief early spell at midfield.

The Tralee giant gave his marker Ciaran Duffy a torrid time and Kerry had five scorers on the board by the half-time whistle. It took Monaghan all of 32 minutes to register their first point from full-forward Owen Duffy.

Three minutes later, O'Sullivan drifted into the danger area and rolled the ball into the net for a well-taken Kerry goal. The former captain ended the half with 1-02.

Darren Hughes and Tommy Freeman were introduced by Monaghan manager Eamon McEneaney and the Farney men can draw some positives from their second half performance.

Freeman raised a white flag after barely 15 seconds and Conor McManus, whose level of effort could not be questioned, fired over two more points. Indeed, Monaghan struck six of the first seven points after the break.

Paul Galvin, who was making his first start in this year's league, replied for Kerry who kept the scoreboard ticking over and made sure Monaghan did not get too close. McManus finished with 0-04 for the hosts, a tally which was matched by Kerry's Geaney.