Clifford class the difference as Kerry maintain winning against Armagh

David Clifford's goal separated the sides as Kerry dented Armagh’s hope of reaching the Allianz Football League final.

It was a hectic game with some fantastic scores, big hits - albeit with plenty of much poor shooting - and played at championship pace.

Kerry led Armagh by double scores at the break and the Kingdom could have been further ahead had any of their eight scoreable wides went over.

It was feisty encounter in front of an almost sell-out crowd (11, 314) at the Athletic Grounds, which was delayed by ten minutes due to the volume of traffic.

The Orchard, wearing black, took the lead in the opening minute, with Tiernan Kelly on target but it was the Kingdom who picked off the next six scores before Armagh replied.

There were plenty of interesting battles, including that between Armagh’s James Morgan and Paudie Clifford and Kerry’s Jason Foley and Rian O’Neill.

Jack Savage got Kerry off the mark and, with midfielder Diarmuid O’Connor the chief provider, Kerry rattled off impressive scores with Clifford, Savage again, O’Connor and the lively Tony Brosnan stretching Kerry’s lead to four points with only 15 minutes gone.

Kerry’s hard working defence disrupted Armagh’s often over-complicated attacks, with Jack Barry and Clifford tracking back to make important interceptions.

Stephen O’Brien’s point was a score of class after Barry’s huge midfield mark and Savage’s third point put some daylight between the teams.

But the Orchard finished the half strongly, scoring three of the next four points and they might have nicked a goal had Greg McCabe not passed back to Morgan.

Kelly grabbed his and Armagh’s second point, then Morgan fired over and Rian O’Neill (free) scored the Orchard’s fourth point but not before Brian O Beaglaioch