Kerry 6-27
Kildare 0-9

Kerry avenged their shock defeat to Kildare in last year's Christy Ring Cup final with a devastating display in today's semi-final at Newbridge.

The back-to-back Division 2A champions qualified for next Saturday's decider against Derry or Down with a 36-point drubbing of the hosts, who were had substitute Mark Grace sent within three minutes of his introduction in the 26th minute. Mikey Boyle was the Kerry scoring hero, finishing with a personal tally of 4-1 after grabbing a first half hat-trick.

After Shane Nolan had an early penalty saved, Boyle scored the opening goal to give the winners a 1-2 to 0-0 lead after five minutes.

Boyle raised his second green flag in the 20th minute before completing his hat-trick on the half-hour mark to leave it 3-13 to 0-3 at the break, with Colum Harty, Michael O'Leary, John Egan and Shane Nolan also keeping the scoreboard operator busy.

It continued to be one-way traffic in the second half as Nolan, Boyle and Harty added further goals.

On this evidence, Eamonn Kelly's charges will travel to Croke Park next weekend as hot favourites to claim their second piece of silverware of the season.

Kerry - S Murphy; R Horgan, P Costelloe, B Murphy; D Collins (0-1), D Dineen, K Carmody (0-1); J Griffin (0-2), J Egan (0-2); M O'Leary (0-4), S Nolan (1-7, 0-5f, 0-2'65), C Harty (1-1); M Boyle (4-1), P Boyle (0-5), D Butler. Subs: J O'Neill (0-2) for D Butler, J Flaherty for M O'Leary, S Weir for M Boyle, B O'Leary (0-1) for J Egan, T Casey for J Griffin.

Kildare - P Dermody; N O Muineachain (0-1), F O Muineachain, J Doran; D Stapleton (0-1), M Moloney, E O'Neill (0-1); M Fitzgerald (0-2), P Divilly (0-1f); B Deay, E Dempsey, W Greene; G Keegan (0-1f), D Flaherty (0-1), M Delaney (0-1f). Subs: M Grace for J Doran, L Quinn for M Delaney, J Byrne for W Greene, K Whelan for M Moloney, N Kenny for P Divilly.

Referee - S Cleere.

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