As routine as Division 1 gets for Kerry as Monaghan start planning for Championship

David Clifford - described by Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan as the best player to play Gaelic football, only played for 15 minutes but scored 1-3 and had two assists

David Clifford of Kerry celebrates after scoring his side's first goal. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Allianz FL: Division 1 Kerry 1-18 Monaghan 0-7 

Maybe this is the piggery to which Geezer refers. A sow’s ear of a day in Killarney, wet and wild, the type of rain that drowns cats and soaks to the marrow. It also render weather decisions decisive. To play with or against it, for instance.

Ultimately, in the crashorama that is League Division 1, this one was borderline routine. A smooth-sailing Kerry neutralising a struggling Monaghan against the wind and doing enough, but little more, to secure their third win of the campaign. If Jack O’Connor’s remote relegation concerns were also dismissed with two games to go, problems are piling up for Gabriel Bannigan and pointless Monaghan.

The All-Ireland champions spent a lot of the first half playing conservatively and managing clock. Monaghan, with first use of buffeting conditions, looked short of two-point strategies though some credit for that must go to the home defence in which the nascent Eddie Healy was sure-handed. Consequently, 24 minutes in, the All-Ireland champions would have been fine and dandy at 0-4 each and sitting pretty.

In fact Paudie Clifford kicked his third point from play of the half to edge the Kingdom a point in front at the interval.

News of David Clifford’s absence was across the local wires by Saturday tea-time and for any lukewarm spectators turned off by the weather warnings, that may have been a tipping point. However his brother was more than happy to polish the family silver, Paudie controlling, probing and kicking sweetly. He even offered a sample of what in the golf bag with a few fades, draws and punched six irons under the wind.

Karl Gallagher and lively inside attacker Oisin McGorman clipped over a pair of nice scores for the Mons but their attacking intent was modest at best – not a good indicator when there is not a lot of outside threat beyond the roaming Rory Beggan. Micheal Bannigan was busy on the 40 but not finding positions to pull the trigger. With a howling help over their shoulder, Gabriel Bannigan’s side were too bashful by far with their outside shooting. Four points was not a good return from the first half.

Kerry, by contrast, were more inventive with the wind after the break, stirring some back doors into the mix even if the wind made fools of some efforts. Tadhg Morley was a forceful instigator of attacks, and Jason Foley kept everything locked tight further back. After a first round clipping by Roscommon’s Daire Cregg, Foley has quickly found his sea legs.

Sean O’Shea, as ever, led from the front, not just with his four second half points, but with his ceaseless work rate and attitude to the stuff, as Paul O’Connell would say, that takes no talent. And the Kenmare man has plenty to use.

Speaking of, Davie Clifford stretched his legs for the last quarter, introduced on 55 minutes and helped himself to the new GAA hat trick – goal, two pointer and single point. He also delivered two scoring assists. Middling for 15 minutes exertion.

Monaghan are mathematically not relegated, but in reality they are. They got Beggan back for this one and more minutes into Jack McCarron, but in their heads, they are turning attention towards the summer.

As were all in the drowned crowd of 4,900 at Fitzgerald Stadium.

Scorers for Kerry: D Clifford (1-3, 1 free), S O’Shea (0-4, 3 frees), P Clifford (0-4), J O’Connor (0-2), D Geaney, T Morley, K Evans, D O’Sullivan, A Heinrich (0-1 each) Scorers for Monaghan: C Dowd, D Ward, K Gallagher, McGorman, Woods, R Hanratty, R O’Toole (0-1 each) 

KERRY: S Murphy; P Murphy, J Foley, D Casey; E Healy, T Morley, A Heinrich; J O’Connor, M O’Shea; C Trant, S O’Shea, G O’Sullivan; K Evans, P Clifford, D Geaney.

Subs for Kerry: T. O’Sullivan for Trant (half time), M Burns for Clifford (46), D O’Sullivan for Healy (53), D Clifford for G O’Sullivan (55), L Smith for D Geaney (62), D Lyne for O’Shea (blood, 67).

MONAGHAN: R Beggan; D McElearney, R O’Toole, R Wylie; C Dowd, D Ward, A Carey; M McCarville, S Hanratty; K Gallagher, M Bannigan, F Carolan; O McGorman, A Woods, L McDonald.

Subs for Monaghan: J McCarron for Carolan (half time), E Walsh for McGorman, R Hanratty for McDonald (both 48), D Treanor for Ward (64), R Mohan for S Hanratty (66).

Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).