Kerry's clinical finishing, best epitomised by right corner forward Michael Slattery, earned them a handsome victory over Armagh yesterday.

The heavy, clinging underfoot conditions may have been far from ideal for hurling skills, but they certainly did not militate against Slattery's flair and opportunism. The Ballyheigue marksman swooped for three goals and added seven points for good measure as he ripped the home defence to shreds.

Kerry cleverly deployed their substitutes and, in the final minutes, rattled over six points to emphasise their superiority.

ARMAGH: S Hughes, K P Mone, D McKee, M Gillespie, P Harvey, M Fox, J Breen, N Traynor, M Lennon, N McCann, P McCormack (0-3), B McCormack, R Digby (1-1), G Enright (1-0), M McEvoy. Subs: S McCann for Traynor; D Reilly for P McCormack A Rafferty for K P Moan. M Enright for Digby.

KERRY: J Healy, C Boyle, C Lyons, M Lucid, W J Leen, J Wharton, J McCarthy, B O'Sullivan (0-2), Pat Cronin (0-1), S Brick (0-3), M Murnane (0-1), Padraic Cronin (0-1), M Slattery (3-7), B O'Mahony, J Deely (0-1), Subs: I Brick for Murnane; A Keane (0-1) for Pat Cronin. C Flaherty for Wharton; S Harty (0- 1) for O'Sullivan; A Cronin for Leen.

Referee: E Morris (Dublin).