Armagh were on the receiving end of a comprehensive defeat at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, yesterday.

Kerry, who go top of the table, faced an Armagh side who clearly missed their five Crossmaglen players.

Kerry opened in whirlwind fashion and were 1-5 to no score in front after 12 minutes. Dara O Cinneide, John Crowley and Enda Galvin with two points had Armagh on the back foot and their poor start was compounded when John Crowley got on the end of an O Cinneide through ball in the 12th minute to find the Armagh net.

The visitors' midfield pairing of Alan O'Neill and Paul McGrane were dominant as they fought back and points from Kieran McGeeney, Cathal O'Rourke and Steven McDonnell, saw them close the gap. They were given a further boost on the stroke of half time when McDonnell shot low into the Kerry net.

Kerry led 1-7 to 1-4 at the break; but Armagh levelled four minutes into the second half when Diarmuid Marsden availed of a Mike Hassett slip to blast the ball to the net.

The unerring accuracy of O Cinneide kept Kerry on level terms before they struck for the crucial goal in the 19th minute.

Kerry then cruised to victory without ever maintaining a level of consistency which will be required against stronger opponents.

Kerry: D O'Keeffe; M McCarthy, B O'Shea, T O'Sullivan; S Moynihan, E Fitzmorris, M Hassett; D O Se (0-1), D Daly; E Galvin (0-2), N Kennelly (0- 1), D O'Dwyer; M F Russell (1-2), D O Cinneide (0-7), J Crowley (1-1). Subs: S O'Sullivan for T O'Sullivan; A McGearailt (1-2) for Galvin; K Dillon for Daly; T Griffin for Fitzmorris.

Armagh: B Tierney; E McNulty, G Reid, J McNulty; J Byrne, K McGeeney 0-1, A McCann; P McGrane (0-1), A O'Neill; C O'Rourke (0-2), G Houlihan (0-1), P McKeever (0-1); P Loughran, D Marsden (1-1), S McDonnell (1-1). Subs: D Wilson for Loughran; D Mackin for O'Rourke; S Maxwell for McCann; M McNeill for Justin Mcnulty; M McRory for McKeever.

Referee: M Monaghan (Kildare).