Bottom of the table Kildare’s revival came to an end as they finished with ten men at Station Road.

Brian Gartland’s scuffed shot gave Monaghan a seventh minutes lead.

County’s hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow eight minutes into the second half when defender Craig Purcell was rather harshly shown a straight red card by Cork referee Graham Kelly for a foul on Karl Bermingham.

Bermingham then sealed Monaghan’s win ten minutes later when tapping home Darragh Hanaphy’s cross.

The win moves Mick Cooke’s Monaghan back up to sixth place in the table.