Donegal's 15-year unbroken run in Division One came to a sad end at Fr Tierney Park - this was also their fifth league defeat in a row, something unprecedented for them.
And they can have no excuse after a game in which they posted 12 wides, many from good positions. Kerry, in contrast, were clinical in their finishing and will hardly ever get League points away from home so easily.
Playing against the breeze, Kerry were two points ahead at the break and never looked in any danger thereafter. From excellent full back Michael McCarthy to the lively Declan Quill at corner forward, they were able to score almost at will.
They received a veritable gift after eight minutes, Declan O'Sullivan availing of slackness in the home defence to goal after Tony Blake had stopped an effort from Paul Galvin, and from then on were never headed.
Donegal had plenty of possession in the first half, but made very poor use of it - something that has plagued them throughout this year's campaign.
They had to start without the injured Michael Hegarty, and his pivotal influence at centre forward has been badly missed since he was injured against Armagh.
By half-time Kerry were 1-4 to 0-5 ahead, with Quill and Declan O'Sullivan accounting for their total.
By the end of the game Quill had added four more points, and along with O'Sullivan and Galvin gave the mentors a welcome problem when they come to select a championship side, with the likes of Colm Cooper, Mike Frank Russell, Dara Ó Cinnéide and Aodhán Mac Gearailt still in reserve.
Donegal are at the other end of the table. The county was dogged by controversy in the aftermath of Mickey Moran stepping down and their inability to select a manager until after Christmas has been a factor in their decline.
They had a number of good performances yesterday - notably from Brian Roper, Kevin Cassidy and Noel McGinley, but overall the performance underlined the low confidence and morale in the team at the moment.
Former midfielder Martin Coll is due home from the US this week and Brendan Devenney made a return yesterday as a sub.
Manager Brian McEniff has plenty of work to turn the county around for a championship encounter with Fermanagh in June.
DONEGAL: T Blake; N McGinley, R Sweeney, N McCready; D Diver, E Reddin, K Cassidy; J Ruane, J McGuinness; C Toye (0-1), B Monaghan (0-1), R Kavanagh (0-1); B Roper, A Sweeney (0-4, 4f), C Dunne. Subs: B Devenney (0-1,f) for B Monaghan (35); J Gildea for Dunne (53), M Hegarty for Toye (55); J McCafferty for Roper (65).
KERRY: D Murphy; T Ó Sé, M McCarthy, M Lyons; E Fitzmaurice, S Moynihan, J Sheehan; D O Sé, D Daly (0-1); L Hassett, E Brosnan, P Galvin (0-1); D Quill (0-7, 3f), D O'Sullivan (1-1), R O'Connor. Subs: S O'Sullivan (0-1) for O'Connor (31); T O'Sullivan for Fitzmaurice (46); S Scanlon for Hassett (54); B Sheehan (0-1) for Brosnan (65).
Referee: E. Murtagh (Longford).
