Kilkenny race to 19-point win over Dublin

Kilkenny 4-19 Dublin 0-12, Croke Park

Kilkenny's drive for a fifth successive All-Ireland title began at lightning pace at Croke Park, with a brace of second half goals from substitute Aidan Fogarty setting the Cats on the way to a comfortable 19-point win.

Henry Shefflin broke the all-time Championship scoring record with a magnificent 12-point haul, equalling Dublin's tally in the process.

Just five points separated the sides at half-time - Kilkenny leading by 1-10 to 0-8 - but Brian Cody's men came alive in the second half, holding the Metropolitans to just four points in the closing 35 minutes as they booked a Leinster final spot.

The Cats showed no ill effects of their two-month lay-off from competitive action, with a stunning start to this game.

They raced into a goal lead thanks to a precise strike from Eddie Brennan to the net after barely 40 seconds, with TJ Reid providing the scoring pass.

Brennan's effort was the difference between the sides for much of the first half, despite Kilkenny's forward dominance.

The Cats amassed 10 wides during the opening 35 minutes, to Dublin's two, as they gave the Dubs defence plenty of problems.

Shefflin smashed the scoring records in the 17th minute, having fired four first quarter points. Having overhauled the great Eddie Keher in the scoring charts, he pushed his side into a 1-5 to 0-5 advantage.

Free-taker Alan McCrabbe kept Dublin in touch with five first half points, with his side making effective use of their limited scoring chances.

At the opposite end, Dublin goalkeeper Gary Maguire was coming under increasing pressure and he could little in the second half as the Cats pulled clear.

Despite being troubled by a groin injury in the lead-up to this game, Richie Power was in flying form when he cut through the Dublin defence in the 48th minute, beating Tomas Brady for pace and cleverly tapping the ball past Maguire to make it 2-13 to 0-10.

Kilkenny grew in confidence and when Dublin substitute Paul Ryan failed to slot home a penalty as the game entered the final quarter, the result looked beyond doubt.

The Cats gathered further momentum with substitute Fogarty causing the Dublin defence huge problems late on.

The Emeralds clubman bagged two goals in the closing eight minutes. His first arrived in the 64th minute after Michael Rice had powered a long ball in towards the edge of the square. Fogarty pounced on the break to fire to the net.

Kilkenny failed to ease up, and could afford 17 wides in total - three of these in the closing two minutes - as they comfortably booked their place in the July 4 decider.

KILKENNY: PJ Ryan; J Dalton, N Hickey, J Tyrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, JJ Delaney; M Rice (0-2), M Fennelly; M Comerford (0-1), R Hogan (0-1), H Shefflin (0-12, 0-9f, 0-2 '65'); E Brennan (1-1), TJ Reid (0-2), R Power (1-0).

Subs used: E Larkin for R Hogan (43 mins), J Mulhall for TJ Reid, A Fogarty (2-0) for Brennan (both 52), D Lyng for Power (63).

DUBLIN: G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, O Gough; S Hiney, J Boland (0-1), M O'Brien (0-1); J McCaffrey (0-1, 0-1 '65'), S Durkin; S Lambert, P Kelly (0-2), L Ryan; D O'Callaghan (0-1), L Rushe, A McCrabbe (0-6, 0-6f).

Subs used: P Ryan for Lambert (half-time), D O'Dwyer for Durkin, M Carton for O'Brien (both 44 mins), D Treacy for O'Callaghan (51).

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)