Kildare progressed with an easy 0-17 to 0-4 victory over Offaly at Newbridge.

Winning manager Kieran McGeeney predicted during the week that Offaly would "get stuck in" but maybe the Armagh man better check the warranty on his crystal ball because the Faithful County hardly showed up today.

The game was a complete mismatch, Kildare bossing possession all over the field, scoring at will, even if they didn't create a meaningful goal chance.

James Kavanagh top-scored with 0-4, two in either half; midfielder Ronan Sweeney ran the show from the engine-room and scored three times; and seven Kildare men got on the scoresheet.

It was all one-way traffic before the turnaround, the hosts leading by 0-10 to no score at the interval.

The Lilywhites controlled every aspect of the first half with full forward Tomas O'Connor and Sweeney showing up particularly well.

Gerry Cooney's men struggled in their manager's absence (the Offaly boss is in Namibia doing charity work) and they trailed by 0-13 to 0-1 at the end of the third quarter.

Willie Mulhall hit the losers' first point - the opening score of the second half - but an Alan Smith brace pushed the home side further in front.

Walsh Island cousins Willie and Alan Mulhall got all Faithful scores between them.

Kildare will play Dublin in a mouth-watering early-season semi-final - the first big GAA clash of 2012! Tweet

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