Kerry were crowned Munster Champions on the 84th occasion, as the Kingdom showed their class to complete a three in a row in a commanding performance over Clare at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

In what was a day where sport took a backseat to life elsewhere, the Clifford boys lined out to play the sport they loved for years, a wish of their family and no doubt their late mother Ellen.

The Clifford boys bossed proceedings, David with 2-6 and Paudie notching a goal, the Kerry side took command of the game and never looked troubled.

An opening half dominated by the Kingdom’s scoring ability to get three goals to put Clare to the sword, David Clifford shining as he always does, a difficult day for him but on the field he was leading by example.

The second two further goals added, both Clifford brothers getting in to hit the back of the net, Kerry sauntered home in the second half, prevailing by 14 points, as the job to defend Sam comes next.

The Kingdom started bright, some quick hand passing and movement allowed them build an early lead, Dylan Casey marauded up from the back, with Dara Moynihan and David Clifford also getting scores for a three point lead in the 4th minute.

Goalkeeper Stephen Ryan came up to score a free for the Banner to get them on the board, but Kerry replied through Gavin White. Clare did cause threat to the Kerry backline but they were composed to deal with the danger, in a quick counter movement they went up to the city end and Tony Brosnan was found in space and the Dr Crokes man raised the green flag after 15 minutes.

Emmet McMahon added a second point for Clare but they were wayward with their scoring and their passing overall wasn’t going to the intended man, Kerry punished them with a lovely move, starting with a crossfield ball, passed back inside Moynihan had time and space to ripple the Banner net for the second Kerry goal.

Clifford pointed his second free in the 21st minute as Kerry moved ahead 2-5 to 0-2, Keelan Sexton got the first Clare score from play after 23 minutes, as Clifford and Cleary both exchanged frees.

Cleary added a second in succession to make it 2-6 to 0-5, but the Kingdom came back as Brosnan and Clifford raised the white flag, before the Fossa forward rolled the ball past Ryan after the half hour mark, goal three, the writing on the wall.

Clare finished the half with a flurry as Ryan pointed another free from the ground, before Emmet McMahon was given too much space by the Kerry defence and made it a ten point margin at the interval.

It was almost a magical start to the second half for the Banner, half time substitute Ronan Lanigan fired at goal but Shane Ryan produced a super save to deny him, McMahon had pointed for the Banner but that would have changed the dynamic early.

Instead at the other end Kerry were putting more daylight between the teams, David Clifford hit goal number four with a piece of basketball skill to get space before hitting the net, he then added a point before brother Paudie was played in behind by Sean O’Shea for the fifth.

Clare through Sexton and Cleary reduced the gap to 14 points after 49 minutes, but Kerry still had control as Clifford notched his sixth point, but at the other end another Cleary free had them back on the board. Sean O’Shea and Cleary both swapped scores as the excitement was starting to die out.

Cleary added his sixth point with five to go, but Kerry ahead 5-12 to 0-14, cruised home, O’Shea and Killian Spillane adding scores, McMahon would hit a consolation for Clare but it was Kerry who headed down the road the happier.