Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Clifford contributed 1-10 in Kerry's big win over Armagh
ByLauren McCannBBC Sport NI Journalist- Published10 minutes ago
Holders Kerry produced a ruthless display to see off Armagh 4-18 to 0-17 in round three of the All-Ireland SFC at Fitzgerald Stadium.
The Kingdom led 2-8 to 0-8 at the break in Killarney, with David Clifford and Paul Geaney scoring the goals for the hosts, the latter's coming just before half-time which proved crucial in changing the dynamic of the game.
Joe O'Connor netted a third goal for Jack O'Connor's side early in the second half with Keith Evans scoring a late fourth in an emphatic victory.
David Clifford starred as he contributed 1-10 as Kerry booked their place in the quarter-finals and sent out a statement of intent.
For Armagh, their quest to regain Sam Maguire is brought to a stuttering end after back-to-back defeats, heartbreakingly late against Louth last week and a dismantling at the hands of the Kingdom on Saturday.
Pulsating first half in Killarney
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Paul Geaney's goal just before half-time stretched Kerry's lead out to six points
Armagh made a storming start in Killarney with Joe McElroy going close to an early goal, but his shot landed the wrong side of the post.
Paul Geaney got the first point of the game for the hosts, but Armagh's incisive play paid dividends as they rattled off the next four scores to move ahead.
They were soon pegged back however, through a combination of their own wastefulness and some David Clifford brilliance.
The Orchard County hit four wides in a row before Kerry and David Clifford, who had been quiet up until the 12-minute mark, sparked into life as, on his 50th championship appearance, he fired low into the far corner for his 26th goal after latching onto a fine pass from Dylan Geaney.
He followed that up with another score before momentum swayed back in the favour of Armagh through points from Ross McQuillan and Jason Duffy.
The end-to-end nature of the absorbing contest continued as Clifford notched another point and Dylan Geaney added three, including a two-pointer, to move Kerry ahead.
A close-range free from Conor Turbitt and a score from Oisin Conaty brought Armagh back within a point, but not for long as a two-pointer from David Clifford increased Kerry's lead back out to three.
Armagh then suffered a hammer blow on the stroke of half-time as they conceded a second goal as a result of some poor game management.
As Kieran McGeeney's side pushed for a late point before the hooter, Jarly Og Burns surrendered possession cheaply and, with Ethan Rafferty out of his net, Paul Geaney collected a long pass and stroked the ball into an empty net to give the Kingdom a six-point lead at the break.
Kerry pull away in strong second-half showing
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Kerry sent out a statement with their ruthless second-half display at Fitzgerald Stadium
Kerry continued in a similar ruthless vein in the second half, with points from Dylan Geaney and David Clifford extending their advantage before Turbitt got Armagh back on the scoreboard.
It counted for little with David Clifford moving up the gears as he registered another score before O'Connor blasted in a third goal on 37 minutes after a well-worked move to all but put the result beyond doubt.
Kerry continued to push for more and moved 13 ahead with three more points in a row, including a two-pointer from David Clifford as, like in last year's All-Ireland quarter-final, the hosts just seemed to have too much for Armagh.
Jason Foley then popped up with a rare point before Ethan Rafferty kicked a two-pointer for a shell-shocked Armagh.
Shane Murphy produced two big saves to deny goals for Conaty and Callum O'Neill, before substitute Evans scooped the ball over Rafferty for his first championship goal at the other end as Kerry racked up a big win.
On six occasions, the winner of a Kerry v Armagh championship game has proven to be the catalyst for Sam Maguire success and when the Kingdom are in this kind of form, it is hard to look past them going all the way again this year.
