David Clifford struck for 1-10 as Kerry produced a statement win over Armagh in this afternoon’s hotly-anticipated All-Ireland senior football championship third round tie in Killarney.

It finished 4-18 to 0-17 at a packed Fitzgerald Stadium, where the Ulster champions got out to an early three-point lead before Clifford’s goal in the 12th minute squared matters and the Kingdom would net three more times on route to booking their place in Monday morning’s quarter-final draw.

Clifford’s coolly taken goal would be followed up by points from the Fossa man and Dylan Geaney ahead of the latter nailing a two-pointer in the 26th minute.

Armagh responded with scores from Conor Turbitt (free) and Oisin Conaty, but they were wiped out by a two-pointer free from Clifford and a lapse from the visitors would allow Paul Geaney to hit their net right as the hooter sounded for half-time (2-8 to 0-8).

The game’s second goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Kieran McGeeney’s side who would concede the first two points of the restart via Dylan Geaney and Clifford (free), with the margin between the sides moving up to double figures once Joe O’Connor got in for Kerry’s third major in the 45th minute.

Clifford’s two-pointer in the 50th minute had the scoreboard reading 3-15 to 0-9 in the hosts’ favour and they’d keep it ticking over right to the closing stages when Keith Evans netted their last score in classy fashion after had Armagh registered back-to-back consolation two-pointers through Ross McQuillan and Andrew Murnin.

The results spells an end to the Orchard men’s season while Jack O’Connor’s side now progress to the draw for the last eight the day after tomorrow where none of the awaiting quarter-finalists will want to pick them out of the hat.

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