Kerry 1-13 0-13 Monaghan

Kerry forward Declan O'Sullivan gets away from Thomas Freeman

Kerry (0-6) 1-13
Goal: Donaghy
Points: Sheehan 5, Cooper 2, Walsh 2, O'Mahony, Scanlon, Donaghy 2

Monaghan (0-3) 0-13
Points: Corry, McQuaid 2, Freeman 5, Lennon, Woods 2, Finlay 2

All-Ireland champions Kerry are into the 2008 quarter-finals after a hard earned win over Monaghan in Sunday's final qualifier at Croke Park.

It was closely fought until Kieran Donaghy's goal on 68 minutes gave the Kingdom some daylight at 1-12 to 0-10.

Monaghan had been six points to three down at half-time but battled back to draw level and then missed a goal chance when Ciaran Hanratty shot wide.

Kerry added a couple of points before Donaghy's goal put them five in front.

A Thomas Freeman free and a Gary McQuaid point from play reduced the deficit.

Brian Sheehan's got his fifth point for Kerry and Freeman his fifth for Monaghan to keep the gap at three.

In the first half Kerry's Colm Cooper sent a penalty wide after Dessie Mone had brought down Tommy Walsh.

The champions also went close to a goal when Walsh's effort hit the bar and from the rebound Donaghy was denied by an excellent save from Padraig McBennett.

After scoring just three points in the first half, Monaghan had an encouraging spell and got it back to 0-10 each.

Then came Hanratty's shot which escaped across the face of goal with team-mates screaming that he should have opted for a pass.