Cliffords inspire Kerry to one-sided win in Killarney

NFL Division 1 round 5

Kerry 1-18

Monaghan 0-7

Colm Shalvey at Fitzgerald Stadium

Monaghan’s winless run in Division 1 of the NFL continued with a loss to All-Ireland champions Kerry in Killarney on Sunday.

Not for the first time this year, the game was played amid incessant rain and a strong wind. Monaghan had it at their backs for the first half – for the first time in this year’s league – but despite a decent start, they couldn’t make enough use of it and they ended up trailing by a point at the break. Kerry also struggled to find their range from outside the arc, but they eventually nailed one via David Clifford, whose introduction with 15 minutes to go inspired a strong finish by the home side.

Despite going more than half an hour without scoring, Monaghan had moved back within three points with a brief rally, only for Kerry to kick 1-9 from the 53rd minute on, including 1-3 from three-time Footballer of the Year Clifford. Seán O’Shea and the Clifford brothers accounted for a total of 1-11 on a day where no Monaghan player scored more than a point.

With Gary Mohan and Stephen O’Hanlon having been added to Monaghan’s extensive injury list, the team showed five changes from the heavy loss to Mayo. Kian Mulligan, Ryan Mohan and Thomas Hughes were the others who dropped out, with Rory Beggan returning in goals, while Karl Gallagher, Shane Hanratty, Fionán Carolan and Liam McDonald were also brought in. Carolan and McDonald both made their maiden NFL starts, with Hanratty getting his first league appearance of the season.

Cameron Dowd and Oisín McGorman were both on target early on for Monaghan – the latter after some confusion as the officials eventually made the right decision, having initially indicated a ‘four-back’ breach against the visitors – but a brace of points from Paudie Clifford brought Kerry level. Karl Gallagher popped up on the right wing to regain the lead for Monaghan, before a left-footed effort from a similar zone by Dessie Ward, which followed a patient attack, made it 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of the opening quarter. That was as good as it got for Monaghan, however, as they would have to wait until the 50th minute for their fifth score of the match.

Amid some lengthy spells of possession football by both teams, Kerry made better use of their attacks, with points from Keith Evans, Joe O’Connor and Clifford sending them in at half-time content, leading by 0-5 to 0-4, while Mark O’Shea went close to punching to the net when he rose highest to meet a high ball on the edge of the square.

Seán O’Shea opened his account soon after the restart and Kerry pounced on cheap turnovers for further scores from O’Shea (free) and Clifford as they began to move through the gears. A third point from O’Shea, which looked to have gone to the left and wide from the press box, was awarded by the officials, before Monaghan ended their long scoring drought when sub Robbie Hanratty split the uprights from his first touch. Andrew Woods added his name to the scoresheet with a right-footed effort after good work by Mícheál Bannigan as Monaghan cut their deficit to three, only for Kerry to respond through Dylan Geaney and Tadhg Morley.

The home supporters found their voice during the final quarter as Jack O’Connor introduced David Clifford, who promptly announced his arrival with a superb outside-of-the-boot score that saw the umpires belatedly reach for the orange flag for the only time in the game. Monaghan then conceded a seventh goal off a turnover in the space of five matches, as Ryan Wylie’s pass just over-shot Ryan O’Toole and was intercepted by Geaney, leading to Clifford being put through by O’Shea to send a composed finish to the net. O’Toole replied with Monaghan’s only point of the final quarter, but O’Shea tapped over a free after he had been dragged back on the edge of the square, before Donagh O’Sullivan added to Kerry’s list of scorers.

Clifford went on to convert a free, as well as providing assists for points by Joe O’Connor (who blazed over from a goal chance) and Armin Heinrich as Kerry eased to their third win of the campaign. They are on home soil again in round six against Mayo on March 14, the day before Monaghan’s clash with Galway.

Kerry: Shane Murphy; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Eddie Healy, Tadhg Morley (0-1), Armin Heinrich (0-1); Joe O’Connor (0-2), Mark O’Shea; Paudie Clifford (0-4), Seán O’Shea (Capt., 0-4, 2f), Graham O’Sullivan; Cillian Trant, Dylan Geaney (0-1), Keith Evans (0-1).

Subs: Tom O’Sullivan for Trant (H-T); Mícheál Burns for Clifford (46); Donagh O’Sullivan (0-1) for Healy (52); David Clifford (1-3, 1 2-pt, 0-1f) for G O’Sullivan (55); Darragh Lyne for M O’Shea (65).

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Daragh McElearney, Ryan O’Toole (0-1), Ryan Wylie; Dessie Ward (0-1), Cameron Dowd (0-1), Shane Hanratty; Mícheál McCarville, Karl Gallagher (0-1); Fionán Carolan, Mícheál Bannigan (Capt.), Aaron Carey; Liam McDonald, Andrew Woods (0-1), Oisín McGorman (0-1).

Subs: Jack McCarron for Carolan (H-T); Robbie Hanratty (0-1) for McDonald, Eddie Walsh for McGorman (both 48); Darragh Treanor for Ward (63); Ryan Mohan for S Hanratty (65).

Ref: Noel Mooney (Cavan)