KERRY 1-13 DONEGAL 0-7
David Clifford needed just six minutes to make his mark off the bench in a comfortable victory for Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium.
The Kingdom star was on the bench from the start after playing in UL's Sigerson Cup final loss to NUIG in midweek.
Kerry were seven points ahead at half-time after playing with the strong wind into the Lewis Road end in the opening period, and Clifford was sent into the fray in the 43rd minute.
And he struck for the game's only goal in the 49th minute - but Donegal netminder Shaun Patton will have nightmares about it.
Clifford did well to cut inside from the right flank, out-muscling young full-back Brendan McCole before getting off a shot.
It was mis-hit but bounced in front of Patton - and it bounced off the keeper and into the net.
It was a killer goal as far as Donegal were concerned who had initially done well to contain Kerry in the first half.
The visitors' possession game worked in the opening quarter - by the 12th minute they made it 0-2 apiece from Shane O'Donnell's fisted pass - and Donegal made no apologies for passing it around in their own half and in midfield for long periods, with Patton centrally involved in holding onto the ball.
But Clifford's fortunate goal made it 1-9 to 0-3 and while Donegal tacked on a few scores at the other end, the Fossa man almost hit the back of the net again just before the hour mark when he fired over Patton but watched his strike hit the crossbar.
However his consolation was to score two points late on, much to the delight of the Kerry faithful who braved the wind and rain in Killarney.
Ryan McHugh could have made it a dramatic finish had he gone for goal after a bad error by Jack Savage instead of attempting to find Paddy McBrearty, but it wasn't to be.
It was a deserved victory for the Kingdom, who played the more positive, direct football, and Sean O'Shea contributed seven points to the total.
Kingdom boss O'Connor said he was happy to throw Clifford into the fray after his exertions during the week.
"Ah yeah, he's fine, he's played a lot of games in the last three or four weeks and it was great to be able to bring him on there, he gave us a huge lift there 10 minutes into the second half," commented O'Connor.
"Killian (Spillane) had done very well, he had kicked two great points, but obviously David gave us a great lift when he came in, as did Tony Brosnan as well, he was very lively as well.
"We needed that from our forwards to give us a bit of a release up the field.`"
Scorers for Kerry: Sean O’Shea 0-7 (0-2f, 0-1 sideline), David Clifford 1-1, Killian Spillane 0-2, Dan O’Donoghue 0-1, Paul Geaney 0-1, Paudie Clifford 0-1.
Scorers for Donegal: Patrick McBrearty 0-2 (0-1f), Shane O’Donnell 0-2, Conor O’Donnell 0-2, Eoghan Ban Gallagher 0-1.
KERRY: S Ryan; D O’Donoghue, J Foley, T O’Sullivan; P Murphy, T Morley, B Ó Beaglaíoch; D O’Connor, J Barry; A Spillane, S O’Shea, D Moynihan; K Spillane, P Geaney, P Clifford.
Subs: S O’Brien for A Spillane (13-21 mins, temporary); D Clifford for K Spillane (43); S O’Brien for A Spillane (54); T Brosnan for Geaney (57); J Savage for Clifford (64); G Horgan for Barry (66).
DONEGAL: S Patton; B McCole, C Ward, O McFadden Ferry; E Bán Gallagher, P Brennan, P Mogan; J McGee, H McFadden; S O’Donnell, C Thompson, R O’Donnell; R McHugh, C O’Donnell, P McBrearty.
Subs: S McMenamin for Brennan (41); N O’Donnell for R O’Donnell (43); O Gallen for McFadden (50); D Ó Baoill for S O’Donnell (66); E O’Donnell for McFadden Ferry (70).
Referee: M Deegan (Laois).
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