Goals from Patrick Curtin and Bryan Sheehan helped Kerry to a comprehensive win over Donegal in Fitzgerald Stadium.
The Kingdom led by 1-08 to 0-06 at the break with Curtin netting after Donegal had earlier hit the first three scores.
Kerry pulled away in the second period with Sheehan scoring the three-pointer.
Michael Murphy's penalty was a consolation for Donegal but Curtin's final point sealed an 11-point success.
Jim McGuinness returned to the Kingdom on Sunday where he was once King, in his days playing and winning Sigerson Cup’s with IT Tralee in the late nineties.
But Jack O’Connor and his rampant Kerry side did not treat him like royalty as the 6,023 present in the Fitzgerald Stadium witnessed a Kerry rout.
Kerry, even without the likes of Tomas O’Se, Colm Cooper, James O’Donoghue and Donnchadh Walsh, made a slow start as Donegal raced 0-03 to 0-00 in front inside the opening five minutes with points from Patrick McBrearty, Anthony Thompson and Michael Murphy.
However, once Anthony Maher and Bryan Sheehan got going at midfield, the home side took over as Sheehan levelled the contest with three well struck frees and then Anthony Maher gave Kerry the lead in the 14th minute after excellent work by Kieran Donaghy who excelled in his new role at wing forward.
Then in 17th minute came the sucker punch that Donegal never recovered from when Paul Galvin raced through from midfield and he found Anthony Maher inside the Donegal cover.
Maher passed inside to Darran O’Sullivan, who quickly slipped the ball across to an unmarked Curtin and he rifled the ball to Donegal net with left foot.
Despite the efforts of Michael Murphy who kicked two points, Kerry were in complete control in the half back line with man of the match Peter Crowley, captain Eoin Brosnan and impressive newcomer Brian McGuire holding their Donegal opponents scoreless.
The loudest cheer of the afternoon came when Donaghy kicked two massive points from the right wing, in front of the stand, in the 25th and 27th minutes, and when Bryan Sheehan landed a 60-metre free four minutes before the break, Donegal were in big trouble as Kerry led 1-08 to 0-06 at the interval.
The game was finished as a contest within a minute of the restart when Patrick Curtin was hauled down for a penalty and Bryan Sheehan shot low to the corner of the Donegal net.
Two quick points from Bryan McGuire and Sheehan stretched Kerry’s lead to ten (2-10 to 0-06) with only six minutes gone in the second half and the game drifted after that to its inevitable conclusion.
Murphy, Donegal’s only attacking threat, kicked two points one from a free and one from play.
Kerry were allowed play possession football with Sheehan, Galvin, Crowley, Maher and Curtin all adding late points with Donegal’s sole score being a soft looking 53rd minute penalty from the boot of their captain.
Donegal had Eamon McGee sent off in the 55th minute for a second yellow card.
But Kerry had long since wrapped up two easier than expected two points that has them sitting on top of the Allianz Division 1 table.
