Kildare 1-15 Monaghan 1-11

Kildare qualified for the All-Ireland football quarter-finals for the third successive season with a four-point win over Monaghan at Croke Park.

A dominant second-half display saw Kieran McGeeney's men secure their place in the last eight and underline their reputation as back-door specialists.

Once again Dermot Earley was a hugely influential figure in midfield for the Lilywhites, and while Johnny Doyle had an off-day up front, James Kavanagh stepped up to the mark with five excellent points.

But McGeeney will be somewhat concerned by the manner in which his side allowed a nine-point lead to be trimmed back to four in the closing stages.

Monaghan were 0-04 to 0-01 clear by the 20th minute, showing energy and spirit to confound those who said they would be unable to drag themselves up off the floor following a heavy Ulster final defeat to Tyrone six days earlier.

Tommy Freeman and Ciaran Hanratty were on target inside the opening two minutes, and Ciaran McManus and Owen Lennon added further points in reply to James Kavanagh's Kildare opener.

Despite the Trojan efforts of Dermot Earley and Daryl Flynn in midfield, the Lilywhites were repeatedly frustrated by poor finishing, with ace marksman Johnny Doyle the chief culprit.

He hit six wides in the first half, but Monaghan's wayward passing denied them the opportunity to take full advantage of their opponents' attacking failings.

Finally, it started to happen for Kieran McGeeney's side in the final five minutes of the half, when they hit the last four points to go in front.

Substitute Eoghan O'Flaherty scored with his first touch and set up a point for Eamon Callaghan, with Kavanagh striking another sublime effort.

And Doyle broke his duck in stoppage time from a free to send his side in with a 0-06 to 0-05 interval advantage.

The Lilies made their push for home in the early stages of the second half, with the in-form Kavanagh banging over three points and Eoghan O'Flaherty and Alan Smith also hitting the target.

Monaghan managed just two points in the third quarter, through Paul Finlay and Darren Hughes, and their challenge was effectively killed off when substitute Ronan Sweeney punched Doyle's right-wing cross to the net in the 52nd minute.

Doyle extended the advantage to nine points but, to their credit, Monaghan displayed pride to stage a strong finish.

Finlay, Damien Freeman and Stephen Gollogly all landed points, before Hugh McElroy slid home a late goal.

Kildare: S McCormack, P Kelly, H McGrillen, A MacLochlainn, M O'Flaherty, E Bolton (0-1), B Flanagan, D Flynn (0-1), D Earley, J Kavanagh (0-5, 1f), K Donnelly, P O'Neill, J Doyle (0-2, 2f), A Smith (0-1), E Callaghan (0-2).

Subs: E O'Flaherty (0-2) for Donnelly, R Sweeney (1-1) for O'Neill, G White for Earley, K Cribben for Bolton, D Whyte for M O'Flaherty.

Monaghan: P McBennett, D McArdle, D Mone, C Walshe, D Freeman (0-1), D Hughes (0-1), G McQuaid, O Lennon (0-1), D Clerkin, K Hughes (0-1), P Finlay (0-3, 1f), C Hanratty (0-1), R Woods, C McManus (0-1, f), T Freeman (0-1).

Subs: S Gollogly (0-1) for Hanratty, F Caulfield for Clerkin, H McElroy (1-0) for Walshe, M McElroy for McManus

Referee: J White (Donegal).