Kerry took a decisive victory over Monaghan on Saturday afternoon to get their All-Ireland campaign off to a solid start.
The Munster champions had home advantage in Killarney for round one, and they ultimately ran out ten-point victors over last year's All-Ireland semi-finalists.
In truth, all of the work was done in the first half, with the Kingdom going in at the break 13 points up after Monaghan managed just two points in the opening 35 minutes.
Kerry appeared to take their foot off the gas in the second period, with Monaghan racking up 1-9 - but the home side were ultiamtely good for a 0-24 to 1-11 victory.
Despite their ten-point victory, there was one thing missing from Kerry's play which concerned Kingdom legend Marc Ó Sé.
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Marc Ó Sé concerned about lack of Kerry goal threat
18 May 2024; David Clifford of Kerry in action against Killian Lavelle of Monaghan during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 1 match between Kerry and Monaghan at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
For the third successive championship game, Kerry failed to register a goal. Their last goal in inter-county football came in March's Allianz League trip to Roscommon.
Three-time All-Star winner Marc Ó Sé was in attendance at Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday and, though he was satisfied with the end result, he said that Kerry's general performance was less than impressive.
More specifically, Ó Sé raised concern with the side's inability to convert their multiple goal chances against a poor Monaghan side:
For me, Kerry were poor. You're looking at the second half, Kerry didn't have the same intensity they played with in the first half. They thought that game was won...and it was won.
You roll the bench and you expect the lads who come in to make an impact because you're trying to fight for a spot on the pitch. The consistency, for me, wasn't there.
Kerry didn't get a goal, again they failed to register a goal. That, for me, is very disappointing. There was an opportunity, I thought Seánie O'Shea should have got one, he passed to Joe O'Connor.
Another game has come and gone and Kerry haven't scored a goal. Goals win matches.
The inefficiency in front of goal will certainly be a cause for concern for Kerry manager Jack O'Connor.
Their next assignment in the All-Ireland group phase is an away task against Meath in two weeks, before they round off the round-robin against Louth a fortnight later.
Kerry have set themselves up well in Group 4, but their lack of goals will be something to look out for in the games to come.
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