Kerry's history-making All-Ireland MFC four-in-a-row bid remains intact after they saw off the spirited challenge of Cavan by 2-22 to 2-10 in today's semi-final at Croke Park.

A third quarter scoring burst that yielded 1-6 without reply from the Kingdom effectively but the contest beyond the Breffni County's reach and, not for the first time in his burgeoning gaelic football career, the prodigious David Clifford grabbed all the headlines with a personal return of 1-10 (1-7 from play).

The reigning champions held a slender 0-4 to 0-3 advantage by the end of the opening quarter with captain Clifford registering three of his team's points in that period.

As the half wore on, Kerry began to stamp their authority on proceedings but the defeated Ulster finalists were given a glimmer of hope when the impressive Oisin Pierson found the back of the Kingdom's net just before the break.

The number 13 capitalised on some indecision in the Kerry defence to bundle the ball over the line in the 27th minute and that left John Brady's team trailing by 1-4 to 0-11 at the break.

Clifford (0-5) and Pierson (1-2) shared the scoring honours in the opening 30 minutes but the second-half was only five minutes old when Clifford pounced for the first of Kerry's two goals.

The Munster champions went on a scoring spree with an unanswered 1-6 during the third quarter to open up a 13 point gap (1-17 to 1-4).

However, to their credit, the Breffni boys refused to throw in the towel and with midfielder James Smith driving them on they managed to cut the deficit down to five points by the 56th minute.

Smith powered forward to net their goal in the 53rd minute but late scores from Clifford, Brian Friel and Eddie Horan, as well as 1-1 from substitute Jack Griffin, extinguished any hopes of a miraculous Cavan comeback.

Kerry will now await the winners of next Sunday's penultimate stage clash between Dublin and Derry in the Tom Markham Cup decider on the third Sunday in September.

Kerry - D Uosis; N Donohue, C O'Donoghue, S O'Leary; P Warren, M Potts, C Gammell; B Mahony (0-1), D O'Connor (0-1); A Donoghue, B Friel (0-4), F Clifford (0-2); D Clifford (1-10, 0-2'45, 0-1f), Donnchadh O'Sullivan (0-1), Donal O'Sullivan (0-1f). Subs: J Griffin (1-1) for Donnchadh O'Sullivan, E Horan (0-1) for P Warren, C Ferriter for Donal O'Sullivan, C O'Reilly for F Clifford, M O'Leary for B Mahony, R O'Neill for C Gammell.

Cavan - G O'Rourke; J Cooke, E Fortune, C Timoney; R Coyle, P Nulty, D Cusack; R Patterson (0-1), O Kiernan; R Curran, C Madden (0-1), P Rogers (0-1); J Smith (1-2), O Pierson (1-5, 0-2f), P Lynch. Subs: S Keogan for O Kiernan, K Brady for R Coyle, N McCabe for P Lynch, T Reilly for R Curran, P Meade for R Patterson, R Madden for C Timoney.

Referee - L Devenney.

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