Kerry 1-17
Monaghan 1-9
VETERAN DUO COLM Cooper and Kieran Donaghy rolled back the years in Clones with strong performances to help secure victory for Kerry.
The Kingdom are all but certain of knock-out football at this stage having bounced back from opening round defeats with four wins on the bounce.
The sides were level at half-time in Clones though six points in a row from the Kingdom early in the second-half and a 61st minute David Moran penalty conversion helped secure a comfortable away win.
Cooper finished with six points while Donaghy was named man of the match.
Darran O’Sullivan impressed in the first while Paul Murphy had a strong game in the half-forwards and sub Alan Fitzgerald scored four points in the second-half.
Monaghan got the margin back to three points after a Darren Hughes palmed goal with 11 minutes remaining but that Moran penalty was an emphatic response from Kerry.
Monaghan are now perched nervously above the relegation zone ahead of a round 7 clash with Donegal and a bad day in front of their home fans ended with a red card for Dessie Mone for two yellow card offences.
Malachy O’Rourke’s Monaghan looked nervous in the first-half and played with 13 behind the ball at times despite having a stiff wind behind them.
The sides were level six times up to 0-6 apiece at half-time before Kerry pulled clear with those six points in a row including two each from Cooper and Fitzgerald.
Kerry ultimately outscored Monaghan by 1-11 to 1-3 in the second-half as they took a giant step towards a first ever semi-final place under Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s time in charge.
Barry John Keaney also chipped in two points while Moran’s penalty came after ‘keeper Rory Beggan’s foul on Murphy.
Scorers for Kerry: Colm Cooper 0-6 (0-4f), David Moran 1-1 (1-0 pen), Alan Fitzgerald 0-4 (0-1f), Kieran Donaghy 0-2, Barry John Keane 0-2, Paul Murphy 0-1, Darran O’Sullivan 0-1
Scorers for Monaghan: Conor McManus 0-5 (0-3f), Darren Hughes 1-0, Dessie Mone 0-1, Karl O’Connell 0-1, Rory Beggan 0-1 (0-1f), Ryan McAnespie 0-1.
Kerry
1. Brian Kelly (Legion)
4. Shane Enright (Tarbert)
3. Mark Griffin (St Michael’s, Foilmore)
2. Marc O Se (An Ghaeltacht)
7. Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes)
5. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
6. Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore)
8. Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks)
9. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)
11. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
10. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)
13. Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh Glencar)
14. Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes)
15. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare)
Subs
18. Alan Fitzgerald (Castlegregory) for O’Brien (29)
17. Killian Young (Renard) for Crowley (50)
19. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys) for O’Sullivan (56)
21. Brendan O’Sullivan (Valentia) for Buckley (61)
25. Paul Geaney (Dingle) for Cooper (64)
26. Aidan Walsh (Naomh Mhuire) for Walsh (68)
Monaghan
1. Rory Beggan (Scotstown)
4. Ryan Wylie (Ballybay)
3. Drew Wylie (Ballybay)
2. Colin Walshe (Doohamlet)
20. Vinny Corey (Clontibret)
7. Karl O’Connell (Tyholland)
6. Fintan Kelly (Clones)
8. Neil McAdam (Monaghan Harps)
22. Kieran Hughes (Scotstown)
5. Dessie Mone (Clontibret)
12. Thomas Kerr (Ballybay)
11. Dermot Malone (Castleblayney)
9. Darren Hughes (Scotstown)
15. Conor McManus (Clontibret)
10. Shane Carey (Scotstown)
Subs
23. Owen Duffy (Latton) for Carey (46)
13. Ryan McAnespie (Scairbh na gCaorach) for Kerr (46)
27. Dick Clerkin (Currin) for Malone (62)
Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).
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