Out of really tight spot

– and push on in the second half.

For a time it appeared that was going to be the case. A misfiring midfield started the second half a lot more strongly. Griffin, moved from the full-back position, began to find expression and, with Monaghan beginning to show the weight of expectation on their shoulders, Kerry started to chase down the lead.

An early pointed free from O’Shea – after Griffin was fouled – a point from play by the hugely impressive Tom O’Sullivan and another by David Moran (following a Kieran Donaghy assist) had the gap down to a single point by the forty fifth minute.

It really felt as though the worm had turned. Monaghan though regained their composure when Kieran Duffy set up McManus for his sole point from play in the second half (Ronan Shanahan can consider that a job well done) and by the fifty third minute the lead stood again at four points – 0-13 to 1-14.

Monaghan had weathered

MAIN MAN

Overall ithastobe Conor McManus,closely followed by Rory Beggan (thebest keeper inthecountry thisseason),but fromKerrythere wereanumber ofcontenders. TomO’Sullivan, Seán O’Shea, David Clifford (the saviour ofaseason),but we’d nearly markGavin White down as Kerry’s most influential performer in Clones. Was sensationally good.

KEY MOMENT

What elsecould it be otherthan David Clifford’s goal? Without that Kerry would be staringdown thebarrell of a dead rubber game against Kildarein Fitzgerald Stadium.

TALKING POINT

TheKerry management team made a numberof strange calls againonSunday afternoon. First of all startingMarkGriffin on Conor McManus and leaving him on him as longasthey did. Thentaking off Seán O’Shea, who was probably Kerry’s most influential player atthe time, midway throughthe second half. WithdrawingPaul Geaney – who admittedlywasn’t athis best – whenthe game was in the melting pot wasodd too astheDingle man is always capable ofdoing something special, something they belatedly acknowledged lateronwhenthey put him back on with five or six minutes to go. the storm and come through as strongly as ever. By the sixtieth minute they’d extended the lead back to five and they looked every inch the winners of this contest.

Even when Kerry pulled back to within three thanks to Clifford and O’Brien (a free), Monaghan were able to push back four clear minutes later through McManus. It wasn’t until the final minute of ordinary time that Kerry pulled it back to a three point game through second half substitute Anthony Maher.

And that’s what we’re talking about when we say Monaghan always give you a chance. A three point lead is precarious, especially when you’re playing a necklace of passes in and around your own full-back line with five minutes still on the clock.

Monaghan had done just about enough to win a game they should have won much more easily. They left the door ever so slightly ajar, against Kerry, against a Kerry containing a player of the quality of David Clifford that’s just asking for trouble.

Monaghan paid the ultimate price for it. With James O’Donoghue and Donaghy combining to set up Clifford for a dramatic denouement to a stirring championship game.

Kerry live to fight another day.

KERRY: Brian Kelly, Ronan Shanahan, Mark Griffin, Tom O’Sullivan (0-2), Paul Murphy (0-1), Peter Crowley, Gavin White, David Moran (0-1), Jack Barry, Kevin McCarthy, Seán O’Shea (0-8, 6f, 1 ‘45), Stephen O’Brien (0-1f), David Clifford (1-3), Kieran Donaghy, Paul Geaney Subs: Micheál Burns for K McCarthy, half-time, James O’Donoghue for P Geaney, 50, Brian Ó Beaglaoich for M Griffin, 50, Darran O’Sullivan for S O’Shea, 54, Anthony Maher (0-1) for J Barry, 63, Paul Geaney for T O’Sullivan, 71

MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan (0-4f), Kieran Duffy, Vinnie Corey, Ryan Wylie, Colin Walshe, Drew Wylie, Karl O’Connell (0-1), Niall Kearns (0-1), Darren Hughes (0-1), Ryan McAnespie, Shane Carey (0-1), Dermot Malone, Conor McCarthy, Fintan Kelly, Conor McManus (1-9, 5f) Subs: Kieran Hughes for C McCarthy, 43, Owen Duffy for S Carey, 62, Dessie Mone for F Kelly, 68

REFEREE: Maurice Deegan (Laois)