Kerry too good for Tyrone as Monaghan survival hopes fade

David Clifford scored 0-8 as Kerry all but secured their Division One status while Tyrone are far from safe after falling to a third league defeat.

Ciaran Daly scored a late consolation goal for the Red Hands who lost 0-18 to 1-11 in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

Tyrone led several times in the opening quarter, but lost their way after a scuffle midway through the half.

Kerry scored six points in a row either side of the break to take the game completely away from Tyrone.

The Red Hands were already understrength and then lost Peter Harte and Conn Kilpatrick to injury during the game and their young inexperienced players were given a reality check against one of the best sides in the country.

Tyrone only took six of 15 scoring chances in the first half, and had Niall Morgan to thank for a strong body save from Sean O'Shea.

Paudie Clifford was just as clinical as his brother and finished the game with 0-3 from play while the support cast played their part.

Diarmuid O'Connor got through a lot of work and linked play well in the middle third.

Darragh Canavan battled hard up front, scoring three points from play for Tyrone, but he had little support.

He ended 19 long minutes without a Tyrone score either side of half-time, but Kerry were relentless and relished the space and room they were given to run into.

With so much space and time, their forwards could hardly miss making it a long, difficult afternoon for Tyrone, who will target next Saturday's home game against relegation-threatened Monaghan as a must-win.