KERRY CAN’T BE STOPPED AS VINNIE LOOKS TO NEXT BIG BATTLE

Both teams were much-changed from their last meeting 11 months ago, but the outcome was all too familiar. Kerry made light of the absence of star names like David Clifford and Seán O’Shea (who left Inniskeen with a combined 3-5) to rack up another impressive tally that must have left managers the length and breadth of the country envying the depth and quality of Jack O’Connor’s panel. On a day where seven of the eight teams in Division One finished goalless, Kerry hit the net three times in the second half alone to leave Monaghan having conceded eight majors in four games so far this year, while only having hit the net once themselves.

Their best chance of doubling their own goals tally came on 42 minutes when Stephen O’Hanlon showed his turn of pace to glide past a couple of defenders, only for his low shot to be parried by Shane Murphy. The Carrickmacross forward – back in the fold after opting out in 2021 – has been a bright spark in the early days of the new season, notably upping his productivity in front of the posts. Just four games in, his eight points so far already makes this his highest-scoring campaign for the county seniors.

At the other end of the pitch, Monaghan struggled to get to grips with Dónal O’Sullivan and…