Dublin crush Kildare in one-sided Leinster SFC semi-final

Dublin progressed to a 10th Leinster SFC final in 11 seasons after a dominant 5-18 to 0-14 victory over Kildare in Croke Park.

Jim Gavin’s side hit three first-half goals to lead by 3-10 to 0-6 at the interval, and they added two more in the second half as they breezed to a 19-point victory.

The Dublin full-forward line was in devastating form, accounting for 5-11 of their side’s total with Bernard Brogan and Diarmuid Connolly both scoring 2-3.

The teams were level at two points apiece after seven minutes but Dublin then ended the game as a contest by hitting an unanswered 2-5.

Philly McMahon surged forward on eight minutes before picking out Dean Rock, who confidently finished past Mark Donnellan, and the Kildare goalkeeper was beaten for a second time soon afterwards.

This time it was Jack McCaffrey who embarked on a lung-busting run and he showed great awareness to pass across goal to the unmarked Rock, who made a hash of his fisted attempt.

However, the ball fell perfectly for Brogan and he lashed home a left-footed shot that connected with the head of strike partner Connolly, who was standing behind the goal line.

With Ciaran Kilkenny kicking points from all angles, Dublin led by 11 after 23 minutes, while Kildare’s forwards were guilty of some low percentage shots as the wides began to mount.

Cathal McNally registered the Lilywhites’ first point in 18 minutes and they scored three further points late in the half, but they were hit with a hammer blow in injury time when Kilkenny found Connolly and he placed the ball in the corner of Donnellan’s net.

The second half was a procession as Dublin took their foot off the gas, with Alan Brogan coming off the bench to score three points.

A number of skirmishes resulted in the teams sharing 10 yellow cards, and referee David Coldrick brandished a black card to Donnellan on 61 minutes after he brought Connolly down inside the area.

Connolly sent substitute goalkeeper Colin Heeney the wrong way from the spot and he was beaten again with three minutes remaining as great play from Bernard Brogan and Paddy Andrews resulted in the former punching the ball to the net.

Dublin: S Cluxton; J Cooper, R O’Carroll, P McMahon (0-1); B Fenton, J Small, J McCaffrey; C O'Sullivan, MD Macauley; P Flynn, K McManamon, C Kilkenny (0-4); D Rock (1-4, 4f), D Connolly (2-3, 1-0 pen), B Brogan (2-3).

Subs: J McCarthy for Small (42), A Brogan (0-3) for McManamon (42), P Andrews for Flynn (57), M Fitzsimons for O’Carroll (57), E O Conghaile for Fenton (63).

Kildare: M Donnellan; C Fitzpatrick, M O'Grady, O Lyons; K Murnaghan, E Bolton (0-1), E Doyle; G White, P Cribbin (0-1); P O'Neill (0-2), E O'Flaherty (0-4, 2f), C McNally (0-1); E Callaghan, A Smith (0-1), P Fogarty (0-3, 1 ’45).

Subs: D Hyland for Lyons (10), T Moolick for White (46), N Kelly (0-1) for Callaghan (43), H Lynch for McNally (54), C Heeney for Donnellan (62, black card) F Dowling for Bolton (65).

Ref: D Coldrick (Meath).