Armagh 0-13 Kerry 1-13
A second half David Clifford goal was the difference between the sides in the end and Kerry were fully deserving of their victory.
Armagh rallied after a lethargic first half, but some wasted chances along with a bit of Clifford class, saw Kerry comfortably through to the league final.
Tiernan Kelly grabbed the first point of the day, but Kerry went on a scoring spree. They nailed seven in a row before Armagh replied, through Kelly once again.
Stephen O’Brien and Paudie Clifford were proving handfuls in attack while Jack Savage carried most of the scoring burden.
James Morgan popped up for a point, soon cancelled out by Brian O Beaglaioch. Rian O’Neill struck the final point of the half with Armagh trailing 8-4.
Jack Savage was sent to the line for a black card offence just before the short whistle, offering Armagh a glimmer of hope for the second period.
And when Stefan Campbell curled over the opener, the comeback was on. But Kerry responded emphatically to silence the home support.
Clifford goal
Paudie Clifford traded scores with Greg McCabe before older brother David claimed the decisive score.
A beautiful diagonal ball from O’Brien sent Clifford though and the Kingdom attack aces rolled the ball to the net, helped by an unfortunate loss of footing by Ethan Rafferty.
The sides traded scores while an O’Neill free cut the deficit to four. Armagh pushed hard on the Kingdom’s restarts but couldn’t get the scores their fighting spirit deserved.
While the Orchard were reeling from missed chances, Clifford was running the show. His dazzling bounce-dummy and point extending their lead.
Armagh needed a goal, but Jason Duffy’s effort was straight at Shane Ryan and the Orchard wouldn’t get a better chance.
The claimed the last two scores. A Rory Grugan free and a Jarly Og Burns effort after an enormous midfield catch by Connaire Mackin.
Armagh’s hopes of reaching a league decider hang on next week’s outing against Donegal. A win in Letterkenny will send them through if Mayo fail to earn victory against Kildare.
Armagh: Ethan Rafferty, Greg McCabe 0-1, James Morgan 0-1, Aidan Forker 0-1, Aaron McKay, Niall Rowland, Jarly Og Burns 0-1, Ciaran Mackin, Ben Crealey, Jemar Hall, Ciaron O’Hanlon, Tiernan Kelly 0-2, Rian O’Neill 0-5 (5f), Andrew Murnin, Rory Grugan 0-2 (2f). Subs: Jason Duffy for C. O’Hanlon, Stefan Campbell 0-1 for J. Hall, Connaire Mackin for N. Rowland, Niall Grimley for Ciaran Mackin, Conor O’Neill for A. Murnin.
Kerry: Shane Ryan, Dylan Casey, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan, Graham O’Sullivan, Tadgh Morley, Brian O Beaglaioch 0-1, Diarmuid O’Connor 0-1, Jack Barry 0-1, Paudie Clifford 0-2, Jack Savage 0-5 (2f), Adrian Spillane, Tony Brosnan 0-2 (1f), Killian Spillane, Stephen O’Brien. Subs: David Clifford 1-2 for K. Spillane, Paul Geaney for T. Brosnan, Micheal Burns for A. Spillane, Joe O’Connor for J. Barry, Greg Horan for S. O’Brien.
