15:56: Well that's where we'll leave it for this afternoon. Remember there's live coverage of the Munster hurling final on RTÉ TV and radio. The draw for the SFC qualifiers will also be shown later. Until next time, take it easy.
15:53: Dublin manager Pat Gilroy says he didn't see the incident which saw Ger Brennan sent off. He adds that the win is just a means to an end and their target is to reach the All-Ireland final.
FULL TIME - Dublin 2-15 Kildare 0-18: 14-man Dublin emerged victorious after an epic encounter with Kildare. Bernard Brogan came up trumps for the Dubs in the closing stages. Kildare weren't the same side after the break, and will probably accept they were second best on the day. Dublin collect the Delaney Cup for the fifth consecutive year, but perhaps more importantly have been given a tough test before the head into the All-Ireland series. Kildare will no doubt have a big say in the qualifiers.
70 min + 4: Another free floats wide just before Pat McEnaney blows the final whistle.
70 min + 3: Doyle drops a free into the square but the Dublin defence stands firm.
70 min + 2: Man of the Match Bernard Brogan makes up for his error by taking a point. Dublin 2-15 Kildare 0-18
70 min: Bernard Brogan misses a glorious chance to goal and kille the game off. keaney maybe should have gone himself. There will be three minutes additional time. The rain is pouring at Croker.
69 min: Bernard Brogan holds his nerve to convert a free. It was a soft decision by referee McEnaney. Dublin 2-14 Kildare 0-18
67 min: Bernard Brogan gives the Dubs the lead again. It's gripping stuff. Dublin 2-13 Kildare 0-18
66 min: Conway gets forward and his trusty left boot brings the sides level again. Dublin 2-12 Kildare 0-18
65 min: Doyle atones for his earlier miss by curling over a huge point to put just the minimum between the sides. Dublin 2-12 Kildare 0-17
64 min: Bernard Brogan steps up to the plate again and his shot creeps inside the upright. Dublin 2-12 Kildare 0-16
63 min: Bernard Brogan converts a free he won to put the Dubs back in front. Dublin 2-12 Kildare 0-16
61 min: Robert Kelly lands a point after an excellent build-up by Kildare. Dublin 2-10 Kildare 0-16
60 min: Doyle misses a relatively simple free for Kildare.
58 min: The umpire takes an age about but eventually flags a point for Mikey Conway's effort. Dublin 2-10 Kildare 0-15
55 min: Barry Cahill gets forward to good effect as the Dublin wing-back brings his tally to 1-01. Shane Ryan comes on in place of Ross McConnell for the Metropolitans. Dublin 2-10 Kildare 0-14
55 min: Eamonn Callahan, on as a blood sub for Doyle, kicks a superb point for Kildare. Dublin 2-09 Kildare 0-14
53 min: The Dubs play a bit of keep-ball as the pace slows and space becomes abundantly available.
51 min: Tomás Quinn replaces injured Dublin goalscorer Sherlock.
50 min: Robert Kelly comes on at midfield for Kildare in place of Daryl Flynn.
46 min: Padraig O'Neill gets Kildare's first point of the second half after a neat one-two with Ronan Sweeney. Dublin's Paul Flynn is booked for a late tackle on Dermot Earley. Dublin 2-09 Kildare 0-13
44 min: Johnny Doyle is left with a nasty cut in the head after a clash of heads with Dennis Bastick. Both men should be alright to continue.
43 min: Conal Keaney converts a free the give 14-man Dublin a three-point advantage. Dublin 2-09 Kildare 0-12
42 min: Bernard Brogan curls over a beautiful point from play despite the attention of Andrew McLoughlin. Dermot Earley has gone in the book for a high tackle on Paul Flynn. Dublin 2-08 Kildare 0-12
37 min: Alan Brogan follows up with a marvellous point from an acute angle to put the Dubs in front. Dublin 2-07 Kildare 0-12
37 min: Whelan mades an immediate impact with a marvellous point from all of 40 metres out. Dublin 2-06 Kildare 0-12
14:58: The second half begins.
14:57: The Lilywhites are back out now. Darren Magee made has made way for the Dubs. The attendance has been confirmed at 74,573.
14:55: Ciaran Whelan is on for Dublin. The Sky Blues are out on the pitch but there is no sign of Kildare yet.
HALF TIME - Dublin 2-05 Kildare 0-12. Kildare lead by a point at the end of an absorbing opening half. The Dubs have netted twice through Barry Cahill and Jason Sherlock, but the sending off of Ger Brennan for a ludicrous punch on Ken Donnelly has been the key moment thus far. Kildare got off to a terrible start, but even before the red card they had fought their way back into the game. You would have to make them favourites to win at this stage, but anything could happen after the break. It could turn out to be a classic.
35 min + 1: Ronan Sweeney gets on the end of lovely move involving Kavanagh and Smith to kick Kildare into the lead. All six Lilywhite forwards have scored from play. Dublin 2-05 Kildare 0-12
33 min: Bryan Cullen came on for the Dubs a while back. But he can nothing as Dermot Earley fists over the draw the game level yet again. Dublin 2-05 Kildare 0-11
31 min: Keaney converts a free that was awarded after Sherlock was felled. Dublin 2-05 Kildare 0-10
30 min: Cluxton is lucky not to penalised for putting a hand into Smith's face as he came out with the ball.
30 min: Kavanagh levels the game for the second time as Kildare get back on top again. Dublin 2-04 Kildare 0-10
29 min: Kildare captain Johnny Doyle puts just enough power on his fisted effort to clear the crossbar. Dublin 2-04 Kildare 0-09
28 min: Whelan is only on as a blood sub for the Dubs. Conway hits the upright from a free for Kildare. Magee re-enters the fray as Whelan's brief cameo comes to an end.
26 min: GOAL FOR DUBLIN - A pinpoint long pass from Alan Brogan is caught by Sherlock and the 33-year-old applies an excellent left-footed finish. Dublin 2-04 Kildare 0-08
24 min: Dublin midfielder Ross McConnell is off target with a '45. Dublin have brought on Ciaran Whelan for Darren Magee.
23 min: Kildare take the lead for the first time with Sweeney popping the ball over off his left boot. Dublin 1-04 Kildare 0-08
20 min: Donnelly recovers from the incident by kicking an equalising point. Dublin are rocking. Dublin 1-04 Kildare 0-07
19 min: SENDING OFF - Dublin centre-back Ger Brennan is rightly dimissed for a punch he landed on Ken Donnelly. Dublin 1-04 Kildare 0-07
18 min: James Kavanagh puts over a masterful point just as the first raindrops start to fall at the famous venue. Dublin 1-04 Kildare 0-06
17 min: Donnelly fists over as Kildare start to look a force. Dublin 1-04 Kildare 0-05
16 min: Kildare make an early change with Andrew McLoughlin coming on for Hugh McGrillen. The corner-back was being given a torrid time by Keaney.
14 min: Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton completely misjudges a high ball and is lucky to see the ball bounce wide.
13 min: Alan Smith eludes Dennis Bastick and fires over left-footed from close range. Dublin 1-04 Kildare 0-04
12 min: A clever pass from Ger Brennan sets up Conal Keaney for the Ballyboden St Enda's clubman's first point of the game. Dublin 1-04 Kildare 0-03
10 min: Padraig O'Neill finds himself in oceans of space and makes no mistake with his effort to reduce Kildare's arrears to three points. Dublin 1-03 Kildare 0-03
8 min: Dublin corner-back David Henry is the first man to be booked after a high tackle on Kildare wing-back Mikey Conway.
7 min: Ronan Sweeney picks out Alan Smith and the Kildare corner-forward splits the posts with an instinctive shot. Dublin 1-03 Kildare 0-02
6 min: Ken Donnelly gets the Lilywhites' opening score and stops the rot as fas as Kieran McGeeney's charges are concerned. Dublin 1-03 Kildare 0-01
4 min: Sherlock extends Dublin's lead to six points as Kildare struggle to get a foothold in the game. Dublin 1-03 Kildare 0-00
3 min: GOAL FOR DUBLIN - Barry Cahill makes a foray forward and blasts past Tom Corley in the Kildare goal as the Dubs' start gets even better. Dublin 1-02 Kildare 0-00
2 min: The other Brogan brother Bernard gets on the scoresheet as the Metropolitans get off to an excellent start. Dublin 0-02 Kildare 0-00
1 min: There are just under 40 seconds gone when Alan Brogan opens the scoring after taking a handpass from Jason Sherlock. The Dubs are shooting into the Hill in the first half. Dublin 0-01 Kildare 0-00
14:03: The parade and national anthem have been completed. We're all set for the 122nd Leinster final. Referee Pat McEnaney throws the ball in and we're off.
13:56: There is one change to the Kildare side, with Ken Donnelly set to start at full-forward. Dublin line out as selected.
13:53: I was accused of having an anti-Dublin bias in my previews for this weekend's game, which is strange seeing as I was born and reared in Coolock. I'll do my best to remain impartial throughout the afternoon.
13:48: Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon's matchtracker. It's a beautiful day at Headquarters and we hope the fare will match the conditions. Dublin are looking to win their fifth provincial title, while the Lilywhites are hoping for their first success since 2000.
Dublin: S Cluxton; D Henry, D Bastick, P Andrews; P Griffin (captain), G Brennan, B Cahill; R McConnell, D Magee; P Flynn, A Brogan, D Connolly; C Keaney, B Brogan, J Sherlock.
Kildare: T Corley; H McGrillen, M Foley, E Bolton; M O'Flaherty, B Flanagan, M Conway; D Flynn, D Earley; J Kavanagh, P O'Neill, R Sweeney; A Smith, K Donnelly, J Doyle (capt)
