By Robbie J Dunne
Kildare 0-09 Kerry 6-27
Kildare's bid to retain the Christy Ring Cup was ended by a ruthless Kerry side in Newbridge on Saturday afternoon on a scoreline of 6-27 to 0-09.
Kerry return to the final, which is their third in a row and fifth in six years, thanks to their 36-point defeat of Kildare.
Mikey Boyle was Kerry's hero on the day as he notched up four goals and one point before being substituted to a hero's applause in St Conleth's Park.
He had a hat-trick in the first half before Kildare substitute Mark Grace was sent off just three minutes after coming on and it was all downhill for the Lilywhites after that.
Kerry will play Derry, who overcame Down in the other semi-final, and will be aiming for the round-robin stage of the Liam MacCarthy cup when it kicks off next year.
Kerry led 2-09 to 0-03 after 25 minutes thanks to two goals from Boyle and some sharp shooting from placed balls by Shane Nolan.
At this point, Kildare substitute Grace was sent off for an incident off the ball and Kildare found themselves in serious trouble.
Matters would only worsen for Kildare when Boyle secured his hat-trick just minutes later and sent Kerry on the road to victory.
Further points from Padraig Boyle, Michael O'Leary and Shane Nolan would push Kerry's lead out to 19 at half time as they lead 3-13 to 0-03 at the break.
Michael O'Leary and Eanna O'Neill would trade points to begin the second half but Kerry would go on to land 2-08 without reply to really bury any chance of a Kildare comeback with 20 minutes still to play.
Another goal from Colum Harty really left the scoreline looking disastrous for Kildare as Kerry continued to compound their misery on home soil.
Despite the heavy deficit Kildare would finish strongest with scores from Dinny Stapleton, Gerry Keegan, Martin Fitzgerald and Niall O'Muineachain. It was too little too late for Kildare at that stage as the game petered out in the dying stages.
Boyle finished with 4-01 before being substituted to the applause of the travelling Kerry support.
Kildare: P Dermody; N O'Muineachain (0-01), F O'Muineachain, J Doran; D Stapleton (0-01), M Moloney, E O'Neill (0-01); M Fitzgerald (0-02), P Divilly (0-01f); B Deay, E Dempsey, W Greene; G Keegan (0-01), D Flaherty (0-01), M Delaney (0-01f)
Subs: M Grace for J Doran (25), L Quinn for M Delaney(ht), J Byrne for W Green (HT), K Whelan for M Moloney (45), N Kenny for P Divilly (63),
Kerry: S Murphy; R Horgan, P Costelloe, B Murphy; D Collins(0-01), D Dineen, K Carmody (0-01); J Griffin (0-02), J Egan (0-02); M O'Leary (0-04), S Nolan (1-07, 0-05f, 0-02'65), C Harty (1-01); M Boyle (4-01), P Boyle (0-05), D Butler
Subs: J O'Neill (0-01) for D Butler(ht), J Flaherty (0-01) for M O'Leary (56), S Weir for M Boyle (56), T Casey for S Nolan(56), B O'Leary (0-01) for J Egan (56)
Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny)
