Reigning champions Kerry fired themselves straight into the All-Ireland quarter-final with an imposing 28-point victory over Louth at Laois Hire O'Moore Park.
Jack O’Connor’s side set the pace in the opening half with the foundation firmly laid in a stunning 20-minute shooting blitz during that opening half where Kerry notched 2-10 without reply.
Kerry didn’t kick a wide that half also, while David Clifford slotted home and Mike Breen rewarded his manager's recall with two measured goals.
Sean O’Shea however, was the star player on show, using the All-Ireland series to find his groove the Kenmare man finished with 1-08 and was in menacing form throughout.
Louth were chasing long Portlaoise shadows when Clifford added a second along with his brother Paudie and O’Shea in what was a gruelling second half for the Leinster men.
The game began at a frantic pace. Tony Brosnan came into the Kerry side and Paudie Clifford was positioned on the 40. Both switches from Jack O'Connor were well thought out with a view to cope with Louth’s mass defence and both worked a treat.
Brosnan, along with Sean O’Shea inside, had Louth’s full-back line in trouble from off.
David Clifford, happy to be on the game's periphery, smacked two efforts over the blanket to amuse both sets of supporters greatly.
O’Shea had four points in the opening half and although Dr Crokes man Brosnan only had an advanced mark beside his name, the game was all but over partially down to both.
Although Louth missed an early goal chance when Conor Grimes skied over the bar for their opening point, Ciaran Downey would land their second point after 13 minutes and while the game was lost in between, Sam Mulroy made it 2-15 to 0-03 at half-time.
The pace never relented. Substitute Liam Jackson halted another Kingdom scoring burst after Paudie Clifford palmed home.
David Clifford slotted home a 53rd-minute penalty, both sides ran the bench and Sean O’Shea capped his impressive showing with a late goal.
Louth’s Dylan McKeown shone with a brace off the bench but with the added luxury of a week's break, stiffer tests for Kerry await.
Kerry: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan (0-02); Graham O’Sullivan, Tadhg Morley, Mike Breen; Diarmuid O’Connor (0-03), Jack Barry; Dara Moynihan (0-02), Paudie Clifford (1-02), Adrian Spillane; Tony Brosnan (0-03 0-01m), David Clifford (2-04, 1-00pen, 0-01mark), Sean O’Shea (1-08, 0-03f, 0-01m, 0-01'45).
Subs: Barry Dan O’Sullivan for Barry (47), Brian Ó Beaglaoich for Breen (47), Ruairí Murphy for Moynihan (52), Stephen O’Brien for Spillane (52), Micheál Burns for D Clifford (55).
Louth: James Califf; Dan Corcoran, Peter Lynch, Donal McKenny; Leonard Grey, Niall Sharkey (0-01), Conall McKeever; Tommy Durnin, Conor Early (0-01); Ciarán Murphy; Ciarán Downey (0-02), Conor Grimes (0-02); Craig Lennon, Sam Mulroy (0-01, 0-01f), Conall McCaul.
Subs: Bevan Duffy for Murphy (h/t), Liam Jackson (0-01) for McCaul (h/t), Anthony Williams (0-01) for Corcoran (44), Dylan Mckeown(0-02, 0-01f) for Mulroy (46), Jonathan Commins for Lynch (66)
