Kerry 1-12 Monaghan 1-11, by Marty Morrissey

It was the last of this season's Bank of Ireland SFC quarter-finals and perceived as the easiest, at least for Kerry. Not so at all. Not even remotely true.

Watch brief highlights here (island of Ireland only).

A wonderful game of football highlighted by some hard but fair hitting in the truest sense of Gaelic football. Heartbreak in the end for Monaghan and relief for the Kingdom of Kerry.

The statistics will reveal that Monagahan lost by a point but won the hearts and minds of thousands of supporters from all over the country.

The saga continues for Monaghan - they have met Kerry five times now and never won. They have been close before, like the 1985 All-Ireland semi-final when Eamon McEnaney, the current Louth manager, kicked a massive free to force a replay.

Kerry won that replay handily enough but somehow today for the Oriel County was even closer. Kerry lined out as selected but the big question was where would Seamus McEnaney play Vincent Corey? Full-back or full-forward? Answer: full-forward.

The game began with an intensity that one hardly envisaged, especially from Monaghan.

They were winning ball that nobody expected them to win and consequently were putting pressure on the Kerry defence.

After eight minutes' play, that defence creaked and gave way as Conor Hanratty, wearing 30 on his back, easily got inside the cover to be brought down eventually by Eoin Brosnan inside the large rectangle. Penalty.

Thomas Freemann stroked it beautifully along the carpet to beat Kerry All Star goalkeeper Diarmuid Murphy and, incredibly, Monaghan led 1-02 to 0-01.

Early days yet, but for the next 28 minutes Monaghan chased and harassed but slowly the All-Ireland champions found their rhythm.

The Ó Sé brothers in particular gave them solace and comfort despite at times ferocious pressure from Monaghan.

Over the 36 minutes of the first half the sides were level twice, so it was no surprise that the counties headed for the dressing room at the break level at 1-05 to 0-08.

The second half was as tense and as pulsating as one could wish for.

Monaghan had to reproduce the intensity of the first period and they did. The long ball strategy for Kerry was not working despite Kieran Donaghy causing problems every time the ball fell from the skies.

Monaghan backs defended bravely, especially the Corey brothers Dessie and John Paul Mone, Dermot McArdle and Gary McQuaid.

Dick Clerkin and Eoin Lennon were battling bravely at centre-field and falling deep 90% of the time.

Up front, Hanratty and Freeman were major problems for the Kerry backs, while Corey got more involved, especially when the ball was delivered long and fast.

With 13 minutes left, the long ball finally worked for the Kingdom. It was actually a Monaghan defender that knocked it down and coming in was Kerry captain Declan O'Sullivan, who stroked it past Monaghan goalkeeper Shane Duffy at the Hill 16 end.

It was now 1-09 to 1-09.  Within a minute, Monaghan had responded with a free from Thomas Freeman. Three minutes later, in the 61st minute, they were two points in front again. What a challenge to the All Ireland champions!

However, it's here that Monaghan lost and Kerry won the right to play Dublin on 26 August in the All-Ireland semi-final.

For the remaining nine minutes of normal-time and three minutes of injury-time, Monaghan failed to raise a single white flag. 

The experience of Munster and All-Ireland glory stood to Kerry well and this afternoon players like the Ó Sé brothers, Aidan O'Mahony, Killian Young and brilliant substitute Bryan Sheehan, who scored two vital points, came to the fore.

They were patient and worked and worked until they regained control. Just like 1985, it looked like we were heading for another draw but three unanswered points eased Kerry through.

The winning point was scored by Tomás Ó Sé in the 69th minute when he came from deep inside his own defence to fist over.

Clerkin was sent off for a second yellow card offence in the last seconds of the match but at that stage Monaghan were dead and gone.

Their failure to score, or indeed create a worthwhile opportunity, in the last 12 minutes effectively killed off their chance of producing a shock. 

The full-time whistle was greeted by sighs of relief that could be heard as far away as Kenmare and Valentia.

For Monaghan, it was heartbreak and devastation. They know they had their chance today. But maybe they will find some consolation in this; they have a fine team, a really good manager and all they need to do is stick together, for their day is surely not far away.

For the rest of us mere mortals, it's Dublin v Kerry in an All-Ireland semi-final on 26 August and Cork v Meath next Sunday.  It's turning out to be a really good Championship!

With those two games alone to look forward to, sure isn't it great to be alive?