Monaghan suffered a second straight defeat in Allianz football league division one losing 3-16 to 0-14 to Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.
Kerry led 0-10 to 0-6 at the interval before a dominant second-half display saw the hosts run out convincing winners.
The sides traded five points each during the opening 17 minutes. Conor McCarthy and Micheal Bannigan registered two points each for Monaghan while Dessie Ward was also on target.
11 minutes later Kerry moved two points clear. Further points from Donal O’Sullivan and Micheal Burns gave the Kingdom a four-point buffer at half-time.
Kerry started the second half impressively. The Kingdom doubled their advantage four minutes after the restart when Darragh Roche found the net.
Conor McCarthy reduced the margin to five points on 48 minutes before Kerry’s Paudie Clifford found the net two minutes later. Suddenly it was a nine-point game.
Monaghan’s problems were compounded on 54 minutes. Ryan O’Toole was sent off and the visitors were reduced to 14 men.
Kerry were still nine points clear two minutes from time and Donal O’Sullivan added another goal of the day resulting in a heavy defeat for Monaghan.
