More a workmanlike start than a spectacular one for defending Munster and All-Ireland champions Kerry as they garnered a 15th successive championship victory over hosts Clare in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg, Ennis.
34 years since Clare's famous Munster final triumph, Kerry had to be alert to ward off their gamey hosts who never made it as comfortable as last year’s provincial decider in Killarney.
Goals at either side of the second period eased the pressure valve though as in the 42nd minute, a David Clifford two-point attempt dropped short and Paudie Clifford seized on the break to kick to the net at 1-15 to 1-07.
Six points was the margin when the clinching goal went in on the hour mark, again stemming from a David Clifford two-point effort that this time nestled into the far top corner of the home net amidst a goalmouth scramble.
Footballer of the Year Clifford had an eventful afternoon as he found shadower Ikem Ugwueru a tough opponent, but did manage arrow over a brace of two-point frees and total 1-07 before being black-carded entering the final 10 minutes.
Both Clifford brothers had converted two point frees by the end of the opening quarter at 0-07 to 0-03. However, any thoughts that the holders would pull away would be shelved when Brian McNamara hand passed across the square for Alan Sweeney to flick to the net and slash the arrears to the minimum in the 17th minute.
A five-point unanswered blitz - three from David Clifford - stretched the gap to six nearing the break but again a resilient Clare hit back, with Mark McInerney scoring a two-pointer before Fionn Kelleher’s point blank shot would be superbly repelled by goalkeeper Shane Murphy at 0-13 to 1-06 by the break.
Aaron Griffin lessened the damage to three on the restart but that Paudie Clifford goal helped the Kingdom to put eight between the sides.
McInerney responded with his second double pointer though and after Connor Meaney matched a Diarmuid O’Connor point, Clare lowered the deficit to just five entering the final quarter at 1-16 to 1-11.
Kerry substitute Sean O’Brien did have a shot saved by home goalkeeper Tristan O’Callaghan, but the concession of a much softer goal only three minutes later would prove the final nail in Clare’s provincial coffin for another year.
Instead, a 14-man Kerry took their six-in-a-row Munster bid one step further to tee up a final showdown with neighbours Cork on Sunday week.
Kerry: Shane Murphy; Tom O’Sullivan, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey (0-1); Tadhg Morley, Mike Breen, Armin Heinrich; Mark O’Shea, Diarmuid O’Connor (0-3); Micheál Burns (0-2), Paudie Clifford (1-3, 1tpf), Cillian Trant; David Clifford (1-7, 2tpf), Paul Geaney, Keith Evans (0-1)
Subs: Sean O’Brien for Trant (HT), Evan Looney for O’Sullivan (39, inj), Killian Spillane (0-2) for Geaney (51), Tony Brosnan for P. Clifford (51), Gavin White for Heinrich (55)
Clare: Tristan O’Callaghan; Manus Doherty, Ronan Lanigan, Ikem Ugwueru; Alan Sweeney (1-0), Cillian Rouine, Brendy Rouine; Brian McNamara (0-1), Cillian Brennan; Connor Meaney (0-2), Gavin Murray, Fionn Kelleher; Mark McInerney (0-6, 2tp, 1f), Eoin Cleary, Aaron Griffin (0-4)
Subs: Cormac Murray (0-1) for Cleary (34, inj), Joe Rafferty for Sweeney (45), Daniel Walsh for Meaney (51), Josh Vaughan for G. Murray (52), Darragh Bohannon for Doherty (60, inj)
Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway)
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