IT ENDS IN TEARS IN KERRY

IN the end the result didn’t matter as Kerry’s once-promising Championship fizzled out at a shell-shocked Killarney.

And all that was before Kingdom boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice delivered the news he is stepping down after six years at the helm.

Kerry always knew their fate lay in the hands of Galway but their home defeat to Monaghan was the final nail in the coffin.

Kildare, already gone from the equation, finished the game with 12 men after picking up two red and one black card but Kerry’s 12-point victory was a hollow one.

The Lilywhites did make a fight of it and even led by four points, 1-12 to 1-8, at half-time despite having goal scorer Neil Flynn controversially dismissed on 35 minutes.

His team-mate David Hyland followed soon after for a black card offence.

Kerry emerged with renewed vigour and David Clifford – who had netted a first half penalty after a foul on David Moran – grabbed a second goal.

James O’donoghue – with his first Championship goal in three years on 45 minutes – ensured Kerry were keeping their end of the bargain.

But the home fans in the 18,000 crowd knew the score and the Kingdom’s easy stroll to the finish was all in vain.

Kildare did grab a consolation goal through Paul Cribbin but Mick O’grady was also show a red card after seemingly lifting his hands.

And so the Kerry hunt for a new boss begins as they contemplate a rare non-appearance at the final

four stage.

B Kelly; J Foley, P Crowley, T O’sullivan; P Murphy, K Young, G White; D Moran 0-1, J Barry 0-3; M Burns 0-2, S O’shea 0-5 (3f, 2 45), S O’brien 0-1; D Clifford 2-6 (1-0pen, 0-1f), K Donaghy 0-1, P Geaney 0-2 (1f). Mccarthy 0-1 for Young (HT), J O’donoghue 1-2 for Donaghy (HT), D O’sullivan for Burns (57), T Morley 0-1 for J Foley (59), A Maher for O’shea (67), B 0 Beaglaioch for G White (69).

M Donnellan; P Kelly 0-1, D Hyland, M O’grady; J Byrne 0-1, E Doyle, K Flynn 0-1; K Feely 0-3f, T Moolick 0-1; F Conway, P Cribbin 1-5, K Cribbin; N Flynn 1-3 (0-1f, 0-1 45), N Kelly 0-1, P Brophy. C Healy for K Cribbin (27), J Murray for Hyland (b/c, HT), C Mcnally for O’grady (47), E Callaghan for Conway (51), F Dowling for Moolick (56), Mark Hyland for P Kelly (62). K