Kildare 1-15 Monaghan 1-11:Kildare are through to their third successive All-Ireland quarter-final after a convincing win over Monaghan in the qualifiers at Croke Park. The Lilywhites were uncharacteristically wasteful in the first half but scored 1-09 after the break to end Monaghan's campaign for the year.
Kildare were in front at halftime, despite some awful misses from their usually reliable marksman John Doyle.
The forward was off target eight times before scoring Kildare’s sixth from a free just before Donegal referee Jimmy White whistled for the interval.
It was last of three quickfire points from the Lilywhites that dragged them back into a game they were second best in until then.
It took Monaghan’s Tommy Freeman just 11 seconds to get off the mark and the lead was doubled by Colin Hanratty.
Kildare were enjoying their fair share of possession and creating chances, but Doyle’s radar was offline.
James Kavanagh got the ball rolling in the 11th minute but Conor McManus and Eoin Lennon restored the two point lead before Ciaran Hughes added Monaghan's fifth and last point of the half.
Kieren McGeeney then brought Eoin O’Flaherty on for Ken Donnelly and the substitute made an immediate impact with a point for Kildare.
Kavanagh, who was outstanding throughout, notched another and Doyle’s long overdue score gave Kildare a barely deserved lead at the break.
O’Flaherty could have had a goal early in the second half but opted to take his point. The scores kept coming for Kildare from then on as Kavanagh assumed free-taking duties opened the gap further with two points in quick succession.
Paul Finlay kept Monaghan ticking over but Ronan Sweeney and Kavanagh, with his fifth, kept them at arm’s length.
The latter then turned provider for the substitute when bursting in behind the Monaghan defence and centring for Sweeney to fist home from close range.
It was game over for Monaghan really, though they tried gamely to close the gap. A questionable goal from Hugh McIlroy, who looked to inside the small square, gave them hope but Kildare had put enough daylight between them by that stage and were comfortable winners in the end.