David Clifford returns as Kerry power past Monaghan
- Published
David Clifford scored a goal and a point on his return to inter-county action
David Clifford returned with a goal and a point as Kerry picked up their first league win in 2024 with a 3-15 to 1-12 victory over Monaghan in Clones.
Footballer of the year Clifford scored a fine individual goal late on as Kerry outscored their opponents 2-6 to 0-7 in the second half.
Elsewhere, Jim McGuinness' Donegal held off Ulster rivals Cavan to win by 0-13 to 0-12 in Division Two.
Antrim edged past Offaly by 2-5 to 1-7 in Division Three.
Kerry too strong for Monaghan
Jason Irwin opened the scoring for Monaghan on seven minutes but Kerry would soon take over with five scores in as many minutes without reply.
Sean O'Shea, Dara Moynihan, Dylan Casey and Conor Geaney all raising white flags as Jack O'Connor's men played with the aid of the breeze.
Monaghan needed a spark, and it came from an unlikely source as two members of the full-back line combined for a goal on sixteen minute. Killian Lavelle squared across the face of goal to find corner back Ryan O'Toole, who punched high into the roof of the net.
Jack McCarron, Michael Hamill and captain Kieran Duffy landed as the Farney hit a quickfire 1-3 without reply.
Kerry steadied and outscored Monaghan 1-4 to a single point for the remainder of the half. The vital score came in the form of a goal, when Graham O'Sullivan found Cillian Burke, who unleashed an unstoppable effort into the top right-hand corner of the net.
O'Connor sprung All-Star Clifford from the bench before half-time and, although the forward was booked with his first action, his team led 1-9 to 1-5 at the break.
Kerry picked up their first win of the league campaign in Clones
Ciaran McNulty, Gary Mohan and O'Shea exchanged scores early in the second half.
As Jason Foley and Paudie Clifford pointed to ensure the visitors kept their noses in front, Monaghan struggling to get close to the 2022 All-Ireland champions.
The game was really ended as a contest with ten minutes to play when Clifford shirked off numerous challenges before shooting low under Darren McDonnell into the back of the net.
The icing on the cake was applied by the Kingdom in injury time when O'Shea's effort for a point looked to be heading wide before dropping into the back of the net, ensuring the two points would go south with the men in green and gold.
Donegal see off Cavan as Antrim edge Offaly
Jim McGuinness' Donegal side were pushed all the way by Cavan, but they did just enough to squeeze past their Ulster rivals and join Armagh at the top of the Division Two table.
Donegal - who played Division One football last year - were the pre-match favourites to overcome a Cavan side who played in the third tier last season, and although they didn't reach the same levels as they did in their win over Cork last week, all that will matter for McGuinness is the win.
Oisin Gallen and Patrick McBrearty were the stand-out forwards for the victors, as they tallied 10 of Donegal's 13 points.
The away side led 0-8 to 0-4 at the break, but it was Cavan - spearheaded by Paddy Lynch and substitute Caoimhin O'Reilly - who had the better of the second half, cutting Donegal's lead to a solitary point on three different occasions.
However, Raymond Galligan's side could never reel Donegal in and they eventually ran out of time in their efforts for a comeback.
Jim McGuinness' Donegal have made an unbeaten start to the campaign
In Division Three, Antrim held on by their fingernails to claim a tense one-point victory with a 2-5 to 1-7 win over Offaly at Corrigan Park.
The home side seemed to be in cruise control following first-half goals from Ronan Boyle and a Dominic McEnhill penalty, and they pushed their lead out to 2-5 to 1-2 early in the second half, with Offaly's goal coming through Anton Sullivan.
However, from the 46th minute onwards, they never scored again and had to hold out as Offaly chipped away at their lead.
Andy McEntee's side were reduced to 14 men when substitute Conor Hand was shown a straight red card, and as Offaly scored five points in succession, Antrim were under serious pressure of throwing away their lead in stoppage time.
But Antrim held on for the win and now sit with four points on the table after two games, which sets up a tantalising clash against Ulster rivals Down in their next fixture.